Tim Bradley: Pacquiao killer instinct gone

MANILA, Philippines – Has Manny Pacquiao lost his killer instinct? Timothy Bradley thinks so, and believes it will serve him in good stead when they clash anew for the World Boxing Organization welterweight crown on April 12 in Las Vegas. “He (Pacquiao) doesn’t have that killer instinct,” Bradley told fighthype.com. Sunday. “Yeah, he didn’t have that killer instinct in that (Brandon) Rios fight.” Bradley was referring to the Filipino ring superstar’s 12-round domination of Rios last Nov. 24 in Macau. Though Pacquiao won lopsidedly, Bradley felt there were instances when the Fighter of the Decade could’ve finished off Rios, but didn’t do so. Instead, he said, Pacquiao chose to play it safe and coasted to victory. Bradley said he believed that Pacquiao was a “little scared” of Rios’ punching power. The undefeated American noted that Pacquiao’s reluctance to mix it up will work to his advantage when he dangles the title he wrested from the Filipino by a widely disputed split decision on June 9, 2012. According to Bradley, he will legitimize that victory by beating Pacquiao convincingly this time. Having repeatedly watched the tapes of their first encounter, Bradley said that though he isn’t a power puncher in the mold of Rios, he was able to hurt Pacquiao that time. Bradley also noted that Pacquiao turned defensive in that first fight and “only worked like, maybe, a minute in every round.” Bradley, who bolstered his stock with victories over Ruslan Provodnikov and Juan Manuel Marquez, respectively, said he expects Pacquiao to be on the defensive in their rematch. “I don’t think he’s going to engage that much, man,” said Bradley. Boxing pundits have actually noticed Pacquiao’s diminished finishing kick in his fights since 2010. They felt that Pacquiao was in a position to stop Antonio Margarito in 2010, Shane Mosley in 2012 and Bradley, but did not go for the kill. Read more: http://sports.inquirer.net/142049/tim-bradley-manny-pacquiao-killer-instinct-gone#ixzz2rgLWiqX7 Follow us: @inquirerdotnet on Twitter | inquirerdotnet on Facebook http://sports.inquirer.net/142049/tim-bradley-manny-pacquiao-killer-instinct-gone

Comments (20)

Imagine the butthurt if Pac gets cut from a headbutt and goes on to drop a decision.

12y ago

_JSFD26_

Quote: Originally Posted by .:: JSFD26 ::. I never said Pacquiao wasn't 100%. I said he wasn't GOING 100%. And that was clear as day. Posted from Boxingscene.com App for Android Why would he fight half a$$ed?? That's rather stupid. Please explain. Did you not watch the fight? Pacquiao only fought 1 minute of every round. When has Pacquiao been known to do that? As for your question, only Pacquiao and Arum can answer that for you. Posted from Boxingscene.com App for Android

12y ago

Bushbaby

I never said Pacquiao wasn't 100%. I said he wasn't GOING 100%. And that was clear as day. Posted from Boxingscene.com App for Android Why would he fight half a$$ed?? That's rather stupid. Please explain.

12y ago

bboy80

wtf is up with boxing when you sweep all 12 rounds and you still get labeled "scared", lmao Its called goading. Bradley wants Pacman to come out swinging, he belives the answer will be the counter punch. I honeslty wouldnt be suprised if Bradley wins. I think he's learnt quite alot in the past 3 fights.. 60/40 for me in fav of Pacman.. I think its going to be very close.

12y ago

_JSFD26_

Quote: Originally Posted by .:: JSFD26 ::. Do you realize how big these guys are that he's been fighting? And Bradley was getting wobbled with grazing shots and Pacman wasn't even going 100%... Posted from Boxingscene.com App for Android Pacman wasn't 100%?? Don't rewrite history. Bradley was the crippled fighter that night. I never said Pacquiao wasn't 100%. I said he wasn't GOING 100%. And that was clear as day. Posted from Boxingscene.com App for Android

12y ago

Bushbaby

I'm gonna go with age. Cotto been stopped before and that was absolute prime PAC imo. Rios loss by decision and Alvarado looked more hurt in the rematch. Margarito and Rios still suffered their worst beatings against PAC though. Age can be a good reason. But it's still a reason. Something's definitely not the same, period.

12y ago

Bushbaby

Do you realize how big these guys are that he's been fighting? And Bradley was getting wobbled with grazing shots and Pacman wasn't even going 100%... Posted from Boxingscene.com App for Android Pacman wasn't 100%?? Don't rewrite history. Bradley was the crippled fighter that night.

12y ago

_JSFD26_

Whenever this guy gets on my nerves I just put the 1st round of the Provodnikov fight on repeat. :lol1: Posted from Boxingscene.com App for Android

12y ago

G_G_G

"Having repeatedly watched the tapes of their first encounter, Bradley said that though he isn’t a power puncher in the mold of Rios, he was able to hurt Pacquiao that time." cool story Tim, so when exactly did you hurt Pacquiao? When he says "tapes", I wouldn't put it past him that he actually saw a VHS of the fight.

12y ago

bojangles1987

Pretty much the only guy I know for a fact would still bring out the killer in Pac is Marquez. If there's anyone else who could, Bradley might be it, just because of the robbery in the first fight. Both these guys are going to walk in that ring wanting to prove a lot of people wrong, I think. Can't wait.

12y ago

_JSFD26_

Something definitely happened with Pacman. He hasn't ko'd anyone in ages and didn't look too hot in 3 of his last 4 fights. I mean how do you go from stopping Cotto to not stopping Rios, at welterweight?? Do you realize how big these guys are that he's been fighting? And Bradley was getting wobbled with grazing shots and Pacman wasn't even going 100%... Posted from Boxingscene.com App for Android

12y ago

Ko_King_212

Dude is allowed to say what the hell he wants. You dont have to like it. On top of that he has a very valid point.

12y ago

BuckToothed

Something definitely happened with Pacman. He hasn't ko'd anyone in ages and didn't look too hot in 3 of his last 4 fights. I mean how do you go from stopping Cotto to not stopping Rios, at welterweight?? I'm gonna go with age. Cotto been stopped before and that was absolute prime PAC imo. Rios loss by decision and Alvarado looked more hurt in the rematch. Margarito and Rios still suffered their worst beatings against PAC though.

12y ago

Slip_Stream

Manny lost his "killer instinct" when he lost Ariza.

12y ago

BuckToothed

Nothing new, Bradley talking smack that his mouth can't cash, like the first fight. PAC also didn't have the killer instinct against Bradley the first time, but he managed to slap him around the ring anyways. Just yesterday Bradley was reported saying PAC only fights one way, now he is saying PAC won't engage? Sounds like a contradiction.

12y ago

Bushbaby

12y ago

BartBears

12y ago

G_G_G

http://www.interaksyon.com/interaktv/assets/2012/06/bradley-wheelchair.jpg Delusional Timmy is back. :lol1: :lol1:

12y ago

Check_hooks

Bradley is an idiot for talking like this to the media The last thing you wanna do is make Pacquiao angry. When Pacquiao is training, someone is gonna bring these quotes up and Pacquiao will train even harder. And I think Pacquiao did enough to TKO a non roided Rios, but when your on a PED stimulant, that takes the pain away. Same with crack or meth

12y ago

MindBat

Not that Pac needed to waste his killer instinct against Rios. I mean c'mon... It was Rios. Spanish for "rivers". Besides, Rios wasn't going down no matter how much killer instinct Manny used. .

12y ago