Harry How - Getty Images
Timothy Bradley is now the front-runner to face Manny Pacquiao on June 9. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Manny Pacquiao's next fight will be decided soon, perhaps in a matter of days, and more and more it looks like Timothy Bradley, the top junior welterweight in the world, will be his next opponent.
From RingTV.com and promoter Bob Arum:
"Does it look closer to being Bradley? It looks closer to being Bradley, obviously, by the process of elimination. Pacquiao's opponent will be decided late this week. We've got plenty of time."
Pacquiao (54-3-2, 38 KO) and Bradley (28-0, 12 KO) were both featured on the November 12 pay-per-view show in Las Vegas. Pacquiao narrowly escaped defeat against rival Juan Manuel Marquez, while Bradley easily defeated washed-up ex-lightweight champ Joel Casamayor.
To say the Casamayor fight wasn't the best audition for a Pacquiao fight would be an understatement, but Top Rank is about out of options. It was always going to be either Cotto, Marquez, or Bradley. Cotto won't fight at 147. Marquez has been too difficult to deal with for a fourth fight. Bradley's ready and willing.
Arum does say that Cotto could re-enter the picture. It's no real secret that he was Pacquiao's choice for June 9, and that Top Rank was good to go with that fight. It not happening is up to Cotto refusing to drain back down to 147, where he hasn't fought since November 2009, when he lost to Pacquiao with a 145-pound catchweight.
Right now, though, all signs are pointing to Tim Bradley. And though the Casamayor fight was underwhelming, and his last fight prior to that was the snoozer against Devon Alexander, and Bradley has no fanbase, the fact is that Timothy Bradley can fight, and there are many in and around boxing who think he could be very dangerous against Manny Pacquiao, that he has the style to give the Filipino serious problems.
Do you think Bradley can do it? Is he the type of fighter who can give the 33-year-old Pacquiao his first loss in six years?
0 recs | 76 comments
No
I’ve said this a few times before, but I’ll say it again: what does Bradley have to threaten Manny? He doesn’t hit hard, so Manny doesn’t have to worry about that. He’s not especially fast. He’s not a Marquez-esque sharpshooting counter-puncher. He’s not that much bigger than Manny.
Bradley is what he is: a technically sound boxer who can fight on the outside or pressure and a guy with excellent cardio. Other than a really excellent headbutt, there’s nothing special about Tim Bradley. He’s a B+ fighter who sometimes fights like an A- fighter.
In other words, unless Manny has really lost something, he goes through Bradley like Tyson went through Spinks.
Verklemptomaniac - January 29, 2012
I don’t think he blows Bradley away quite that easily, but I agree that it appears to be a favorable matchup for Manny.
Sammlung - January 29, 2012
Uh, no way. Manny may win, but Bradley is a tough out for anyone…………the dude is young, ambitous, and has the skillset to trouble anyone.
DPlainview - January 30, 2012
I wasn’t actually suggesting that he KOs Bradley in the first round. That’s just my go-to phrase for ‘is going to walk over the guy.’
Verklemptomaniac - January 30, 2012
Always get a chuckle when someone posts this.
xFenixKnightx - January 30, 2012
He has 12 KOs in 28 fights as a pressure fighter. Before stopping Cassamayor, his last stoppage (not for headbutt-related cuts) was in 2007 against a journeyman named Nasser Athumani. Since the beginning of 2007, he’s had 12 fights, and had non-headbutt stoppages in two of them.
He hits harder than I do, sure, but by the standards of professional fighters, he’s not much of a puncher.
Verklemptomaniac - January 30, 2012
He's also knocked down several guys with solid chins
He’s a horrible, horrible finisher, and he doesn’t sit down on his punches much, but when he does, he has better power than his KO record indicates.
Brickhaus - January 30, 2012
he doesn’t hit hard, he is like ward, devon and floyd, they just mark the punches…
EL CIERTO (VEN) - January 30, 2012
Floyd punches firmly. Make no mistake.
Oli Goldstein - January 30, 2012
Right, and Bradley has that same type of power. Opponents may not fear his power, but it gets respect.
DPlainview - January 30, 2012
Don’t forget Malignaggi
Clove_art - January 30, 2012
I’m a fan of Malignaggi, but he abs had NO power whatsever, but a HUGE heart and some boxing skills.
cylee1180 - January 30, 2012
He has a very heavy jab.
Scott Christ - January 30, 2012
mali?
cylee1180 - January 30, 2012
Yeah. Very heavy jab. Everyone knows about his very heavy jab.
Scott Christ - January 30, 2012
cool! didnt know. was it the one that floored lovemore ndou or a cross? thanks!
cylee1180 - January 30, 2012
we’ll know a Bradley fight is imminent once roach starts complaining about headbutts. which is, incidentally, how I think Bradley can make this interesting. but seriously, I’d be interested to see if Bradley would be as aggressive as he likes to be against Pac and how that would play out. could be a short night or a good scrap.
Sentimental - January 29, 2012 via Android app
This is the fight I want to see.
Bradley is the youngest, freshest and best of all potential opponents with the exception Mayweather. And he is unbeaten against strong competition.
I am curious to see just how good he is.
pakinpower - January 29, 2012
yesss… good fight… bradley by ud… you heard it here! he’ll box pacs ears off.
cylee1180 - January 29, 2012
not at all
honorablecbm - January 30, 2012 via iPhone app
I’m with you. Bradley doesn’t get enough credit for the skillset he possesses, he got to the top of his division by being a very versatile, well-rounded and intelligent fighter. His footwork is phenomenal and he relies on movement for defense, which leaves his hands free to fire back at Manny. I think he’s got a very good chance of winning the fight provided the weight jump to welter doesn’t cause him too many problems.
theninthlayer - January 30, 2012
Bradley is
A pressure fighter with no power. He cannot box outside, cannot counter punch and has no defense. Short night for Manny and an unfortunate second fight under the Top Rank banner for Bradley. Roach will nullify the overhand right Bradley looks for and he will be no threat.
honorablecbm - January 30, 2012 via iPhone app
Bradley can’t fight on the outside? News to me. Maybe you should watch some more of his fights?
theninthlayer - January 30, 2012
Yes
An offense that consist of a double jab, bull rush with his head leading and throw the overhand right. Rinse, wash and repeat.
honorablecbm - January 30, 2012 via iPhone app
Can’t counter punch?
FrontHandMan - January 30, 2012
Bradley's style of fighting is
applying pressure, Manny is an ambush fighter and Mayweather has the counter attack. Timothy doesn’t pick accurate shots, set up his opponent to make & pay for mistakes. He uses his head in a different way.
honorablecbm - January 30, 2012 via iPhone app
he has no power, but he has defense, and he can box outside…
EL CIERTO (VEN) - January 30, 2012
I’m excited about a Manny-Bradley match-up. This is good news.
A.F. - January 30, 2012
Young skilled opponent.
Cant complain. This choice would be a breath of fresh air compared to some of the recent Pac opponents.
Although i am a little worried about PPV buys..
I can see Mayweather/Cotto blowing this fight out the water in terms of PPV… which would undoubtedly make Mayweather further push for a lions shair of the purse in May/Pac “negotioations”
TheBod - January 30, 2012
i think bradley can box manny, he is very fast, he has the same american school style, (like floyd, devon, ward), i’m not a big fan of that style but it looks like a really awkward style to fight with, so i think manny could get in trouble in this fight, like he did with juan manuel marquez…
EL CIERTO (VEN) - January 30, 2012
Il pick Manny
By bullshit decs.
It will be a close fight, but Bradley will have nicked the win on many scorecards. The judges will have it wide Manny
Sweet science - January 30, 2012
The excitement of the fight will depend on how motivated Manny is for the fight, but ultimately I think he wins by UD.
RRod806 - January 30, 2012 via iPhone app
I will be rooting for whoever Floyd and Manny fight next
The only way big time boxing can survive is if a young fighter comes along and beats one, or both of them.
It would also be nice to see the Pac-Mayweather fight disappear after all the BS.
Lee Payton - January 30, 2012
Agree. I like Pac, but I’m sick of this pathetic soap opera. WAR BRADLEY!
DPlainview - January 30, 2012
Pac beats Bradley all day long
but I agree it would be nice if he didn’t, and maybe boxing could be boxing again, not a fantasy wannabe match which, while never going to happen, sucks the life out of the air we breathe in the boxing media.
BoxAnne - January 30, 2012
Not only do I think that Bradley can win, I think that he can win in a style that makes both boxers less marketable than they were before the fight.
The fight intrigues me, but doesn’t excite me. Though Pacquiao fighting anyone other than Mayweather doesn’t really excite me. Maybe Brandon Rios, but that is never going to happen, plus the Rios v Gamboa fight is a cracker if it does happen.
Eoin_not_ian - January 30, 2012
I understand what you're saying
re: marketability, but both bradley and manny have that thing where when they get buzzed once they like to stand and trade for a bit. i think it should make for some entertaining exchanges. as a bradley fan, i also worry it’s what’s gonna cost him the fight.
Victor Schultz - January 30, 2012
Yes, maybe I was being a bit harsh, as the awfulness of Bradley v Alexander was not really Bradley’s fault. I do think that Bradley could really win this fight, and I’m sure that he will be prepared to ‘win ugly’ to do it.
Eoin_not_ian - January 30, 2012
yeah i could def see it going that way too.
Victor Schultz - January 30, 2012
Anybody who says Bradley can’t box should watch his fight with Peterson. He boxed in tight circles and controlled Peterson with his jab, much more so than Khan did against Peterson, not to mention he also dropped Peterson….
mambocowboy - January 30, 2012
Word.
cylee1180 - January 30, 2012
Yes I have seen the fight
It was a war fought inside for 12 rounds. Manny is not an easy target like Peterson. You can’t plant your feet an unload hooks to the body and head on Manny. To beat him you need timing. It’s my opinion, I’m not bad mouthing the guy, he’s a class act. Anyhow, I will watch the match and hope for a dog fight.
honorablecbm - January 30, 2012 via iPhone app
Maybe you should rewatch it. Bradley stopped fighting on the inside after the fourth round, and went on to display some of the best footwork I have seen in the sport while effectively nullifying Peterson’s offense with good, sharp boxing.
theninthlayer - January 30, 2012
Thanks, I will watch it again
If you have speed and punch in volumes, you can look good against Peterson. Khan’s issue was he cannot fight inside and didn’t stick to Freddie’s game plan (shoot down the middle and move). No more knocking Bradley, he deserves the best and big payday. I wish him the all the luck in the world, because I do not think Manny has lost a step.
honorablecbm - January 30, 2012 via iPhone app
Khan lost b/c like you said, he can’t fight on the inside, and he does run instead of box. He is also incapable of making tactical adjustments, and his defense kind of sucks. You make sound like beating Peterson is easy if you have X, Y, and Z, I honestly think we haven’t seen the best of Peterson yet. If you watch his workouts, he does display more skills and complex stuff in the gym, and there was some very nice stuff he also displayed in the Victor Cayo fight. I think as Peterson gets used to the nerves and world level he’ll keep improving.
cylee1180 - January 30, 2012
This could get ugly
The two times Bradley fought a southpaw, the fights were just terrible to watch.
If Manny’s legs are still there, he takes this one, probably looking like a version of Khan-Maidana if Khan never got hurt.
Brickhaus - January 30, 2012 via mobile
good eye
honorablecbm - January 30, 2012 via iPhone app
I haven’t watched a ton of Bradley, but from what I’ve seen I tend to agree with the assessment that he’s a B+/A- fighter who looks excellent against inferior competition, but might not quite have enough for the next level. The question is, is Pacquiao still an A+/A fighter, or has he also dropped to the A- level?
I’m still not convinced Manny’s lost a step. Marquez has always been a sylistic nightmare for him, and Mosley, Margarito, and Clottey were just nothings for him to punch at for 12 rounds. This fight will tell us much more about how much he has in the tank than any of the last four have.
AndrewDM - January 30, 2012
Bradley has the higher Ring IQ. Bradley be decision baby! Bradley has made adjustments (downed by Holt, though an ugly fight he did control Alexander, he controlled Peterson). Pple are also underestimating the degree of power. I think it’s being presumptuous to say that because he doesn’t have a high KO rate that he can’t punch. Peterson doesn’t have a high KO rate either, but both Bradley and Peterson have the power to keep opponents honest and hurt them from time to time. I mean there’s a big difference between Malignaggi and Sweet Pea power, and their power. Also, the sweet science says that he or she that dictates the rhythm of the fight and can "hit and not get hit will be the winner of the fight. This is a response to pple who are citing “power” as being the biggest teller of the outcome of the fight. I mean Randall Bailey and Juanma aren’t exactly the best fighters in the sport b/c of their power and Peterson did beat the stronger ortiz aroudn.
cylee1180 - January 30, 2012
I like what you’re saying about power. A lot of people tend to overrate one-punch power. Plenty of guys have had less-than-devastating one-punch power but still manage to be hugely effective and even drive up decent KO rates. Hell, Mayweather is not a big-time single punch guy, but he’ll absolutely murder you with good, clean, hard punches all night long and a lot of those accumulate and end in KOs.
AndrewDM - January 30, 2012
Plus Bradley is strong
His on punch power is so-so (though a bit underrated), but his upper body strength is great and he’s usually able to manhandle opponents, which wears guys down a well.
Brickhaus - January 30, 2012 via mobile
Physically the guy’s body is like a small Holyfield. He must be in great shape all the time. I do think Floyd punches harder than Bradley and has better leverage, but I think Bradley’s punches can accumulate and he has high volume.
cylee1180 - January 30, 2012
Agreed. Just because Floyd and Bradley don’t score a ton of knockouts doesn’t make them weak punchers by any means. They’ve both got more than enough power to keep an opponent honest.
Oli Goldstein - January 30, 2012
every time Tim Bradley weighs in, I just think to myself, “GOD I’m sick of these out of shape boxers.”
Scott Christ - January 30, 2012
I don’t think so.
BoxAnne - January 30, 2012
disagree
Bradley has shown he can make adjustments. Manny has failed to do so
Sweet science - January 30, 2012
Manny has fought some of the best fighters in the world
Bradley but a few good ones of his time.
You dont have a Pacquiao record without a high IQ. I could argue thayt he is an offensive genius….but some other time
pakinpower - January 30, 2012
If Manny’s IQ is so high, why did he keep on walking into the Straight right of JMM all night? Why didn’t he change tactics at all?
Manny is alot of things. Offensive genius included. His Ring IQ is not great for a boxer of his magnitude though
Sweet science - January 30, 2012
Bradley can match Pacquiao’s speed, power, energy.
He’s a better technician.
Bradley wins a close decision.
BoxingOutlivesFads - January 30, 2012
i agree, bradley should win by decision, but maybe arum’s tournament idea won’t let that happen, and the decision goes to pacquiao!!
EL CIERTO (VEN) - January 30, 2012
so does this mean cotto faces canelo or floyd?
Vicmatic1 - January 30, 2012
Cotto vs Cinnamon at Azteca stadium.
BoxingOutlivesFads - January 30, 2012
I doubt very much Cotto would go to Mexico. They’re both very popular, but I think Cotto calls the shots in that negotiation. Canelo needs him, not the other way around.
Apprentice - January 30, 2012
I sort of doubt Cotto and Canelo fight each other. I mean, ONE of them has to fight Floyd, right? Would be a huge payday, and who the hell else would Mayweather fight if not one of them? Lamont Peterson?
AndrewDM - January 30, 2012
my guess if floyd fights canelo or berto if he wins..
Vicmatic1 - January 30, 2012
I doubt Berto, if he wins, is in any shape to turn around and have another full camp to prepare for Floyd Mayweather in less than three months.
Plus they’re both Haymon fighters and The Big Albowski doesn’t cross streams, you dig?
Scott Christ - January 30, 2012
agreed with the berto points..so i guess all fingers point to canelo then?
Vicmatic1 - January 30, 2012
My guess at this point is Cotto.
Scott Christ - January 30, 2012
Peterson supposedly beat up Floyd in sparring in Vegas before the Marquez fight… of course it’s just sparring, but who knows, maybe he has a troubling style for Floyd?
cylee1180 - January 30, 2012
Maybe Floyd should fight Spadafora too.
Scott Christ - January 30, 2012
as i said it was only sparring. its not a big deal. still itd be fun to watch that session. i wonder if it looked like this…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YnROy5y3jYg
cylee1180 - January 30, 2012
Have I fallen back into 2009?
Sweet science - January 30, 2012
Haha, this sparring session was 2005, before the first Pac Morales fight…
cylee1180 - January 30, 2012
But the talk of a Spadafora fight heated up for Floyds return I believe
Sweet science - January 30, 2012
It will be cool to see Manny in there with someone fresh for a change.
There are things about Bradley that could really mess things up.
For instance, he’s a much rougher fighter and a better in-fighter.
Lee Payton - January 30, 2012
Yeah, I’m very intrigued by his ability to muscle Manny. I think he can, which makes the fight really interesting. I was late coming around on Pacquiao-Bradley for June, but at the moment I really love the fight. It really intrigues me.
Scott Christ - January 30, 2012
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