Comments Thread For: Tim Bradley: Spence Should Have No Problem Beating Pacquiao If He Keeps Fight On Outside

[Jdasilva2012]

Can't stand Bradley. Became a ESPN company man trying to talk smack about fighters not aligned with ESPN. What gets me he has the nerve to run his mouth about bad judging and fighters getting a gift decision but will not acknowledge Manny was robbed against him.

Wow. well said. I used to love Bradley but after the Pacquiao's robbery I can't stand the guy let alone now with that biased commentary.

[Jdasilva2012]

For ESJ to win this fight, he definitively will need to engage with Pacquiao at some points of the fight. I don't see him winning the fight by simply trying to keep Pacquiao at bay with his jab and going toe to toe with Manny, don't expect an easy outlet like in the Porter fight because Manny has way more power and is more accurate with his punches.

[CornerCutman]

Pacquiao does not even really do damage on the inside. He’s not an inside boxer. Pacquiao does his best work midrange honestly he doesn’t have a lot of inside game.

If anything, inside would still favor Spence just because he can use his size to his advantage and he does pretty good work to the body.

Pacquiaos best suited to use a lot of in and out movement and using the pivots and angles like he normally does. He has the speed advantage over Spence for sure even at his age.

He should use his speed in spots and try to force Spence to keep his hands at home blocking. We’ll know right off the bat if Pacquiao still has power. If Spence plays it extra cautious, then we’ll know that Spence respects Pacquiao’s power. If Spence really starts going after Pacquiao, then Pacquiao lost his power from old age and Spence will start attacking.

Great post - I think Pac's issue will be that he is so much smaller that he's going to need to cross more no-man's land than typical just to get into that mid-range. Using angles to do that is the way to go, as you mention, but against another southpaw with a stiff jab - it's a tall order. He also doesn't have the size to bully Spence and, as you mention, isn't really that type of fighter.

I'd also agree with you that Pac's power is key. I don't think he can win if he can't hurt Spence. Power is often the last thing to go. Can't wait for August 21!

[b Murphington]

Great post - I think Pac's issue will be that he is so much smaller that he's going to need to cross more no-man's land than typical just to get into that mid-range. Using angles to do that is the way to go, as you mention, but against another southpaw with a stiff jab - it's a tall order. He also doesn't have the size to bully Spence and, as you mention, isn't really that type of fighter.

I'd also agree with you that Pac's power is key. I don't think he can win if he can't hurt Spence. Power is often the last thing to go. Can't wait for August 21!

Yes. It is always an interesting bout when Pacquiao is involved. I think Pac at some point will need to create doubt in Spences mind. Hurt Spence at some point, the same way he hurt Thurman. But I think Spence is much more durable than Thurman, so we will see.

[Spoon23]

Can't stand Bradley. Became a ESPN company man trying to talk smack about fighters not aligned with ESPN. What gets me he has the nerve to run his mouth about bad judging and fighters getting a gift decision but will not acknowledge Manny was robbed against him.

He actually said before his 3rd fight with Pacquiao, if Pac beats him in their 3rd fight he will acknowledge that he lost the first fight.

I still haven't heard him admit he lost the first after being beat in the third fight, but at least that phrase that he said means he now knows he lost the first fight, buy admittance of his own words.

[champion4ever]

Here are the keys to victory. Pac needs to circle Spence for the first half of the fight without making it a firefight by avoiding the exchanges while conserving his energy early by not absorbing many power punches.

Spence keys to victory is to fight at a much slower pace. Work behind the jab by walking Pac down and keeping him on the back foot while not throwing many power punches in the process.

Then Allow Pac to engage him first then fight him at his normal work rate and high punch volume.