Philippines, 03 Mar 2026
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


REAL WAR THE THIRD TIME AROUND


PhilBoxing.com




THERE?S a possible Fight of the Year cooking down the Las Vegas Strip, but don?t look hard at Canelo Alvarez and Amir Khan. Their main encounter doesn?t take place until the Cinco de Mayo (May 7) weekend yet.

But that?s my top candidate, cries veteran international referee Bruce McTavish, WBC?s most outstanding refereee in 2015.
Khan is smaller, patently inferior, the famous ring official gets reminded.

?Brains, utak,? McTavish defends Khan.

**

Yes, Canelo-vs-Khan, despite the disparity, should be counted in as possible best fight of 2016.

OK, no flag has so far been raised but, with the new hot interest being drawn by the main offering at the MGM Grand Las Vegas this weekend, shouldn?t the third encounter between Manny Pacquiao and Tim Bradley also start being listed as Fight of the Year candidate?

For one, fresh bets, obviously from American home fans, have started to pour for Bradley, thereby narrowing the once awful gap over the sportsbook windows in Las Vegas to less than 2-1 (for Pacquiao).

**

It?s indeed too early to tell if Pacquiao-Bradley Part 3 could end up stealing the thunder ahead from the hotly hyped Alvarez-Khan bout.

For starters, the Pacquiao-Bradley trilogy took off inauspiciously, likened to a tough burned steak that?s being re-invented.

There was nothing new to see or discover, and the third meeting could dip ignominously into a ho-hum rehash of Pacquiao?s vast superiority.

**

Meanwhile, Bradley proceeded to train in seclusion under the respected Teddy Atlas in Palm Springs.

For his part, Pacquiao started working out a little late in his General Santos City camp.

Pacquiao was next joined by trainer Freddie Roach in GenSan.

**

There would be no explanation why Pacquiao had decided to pack up ahead and fly to California for a full-blast regimen under Roach.

This was totally unexpected. Pacquiao had supposedly been keeping himself trim and fit away from the boxing ring. But Roach would come up with a verdict after Pacquiao?s first workout at Wild Card that the Filipino boxing superhero has slowed down.

This would be followed by two cancelled workouts in California due to fatigue.

**

Still Roach went out of his way to assure Pacquiao diehards there was nothing to worry, vowing it would be an explosive, dangerous Pacquiao at his best that Bradley will have to contend with in the third encounter.

Summing up, it can?t be denied that the Pacquiao-Bradley trilogy has suddenly drawn fresh attention also on the merits of how Atlas has supposedly transformed and resharpened Bradley into a hybrid boxing beast capable of upsetting Pacquiao.

Although Bradley and Atlas trained and plotted behind closed doors, they nevertheless succeeded in sending the strong message that the Third Encounter would be real war.

Photo: Manny Pacquiao (L) and Timothy Bradley (R) face off during Friday's weighin at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. Photo by Wendell Rupert Alinea.


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Recah Trinidad.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • STACKED MARCH 14 UNDERCARD SHOWCASES GOLDEN BOY’S NEXT GENERATION OF CHAMPIONS 
    , Tue, 03 Mar 2026
  • The Perfect Boxing Prospect 12-0 Marco Romero
    , Tue, 03 Mar 2026
  • Quietly formidable boxers Kristian Prenga & Pyrce Taylor continue Their assault on the heavyweight division
    , Tue, 03 Mar 2026
  • “Prince” Albert Pagara Flies to Perth for WBC Australasia Title Fight
    By Carlos Costa, , Mon, 02 Mar 2026
  • Ryan Daye vows a dominant standout performance in WBC title Clash March 13 in Perth Thunderdome 53
    , Mon, 02 Mar 2026
  • Moncal, Mag-aso rule Legacy Run
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Mon, 02 Mar 2026
  • Lavant Brownlee Earns Gold, Lorenzo Patricio Earns Silver at Strandja 2026 Boxing Tournament
    , Mon, 02 Mar 2026
  • Influencer Brooklyn Barwick Disputes hometown decision for NBA Americas Featherweight title
    , Mon, 02 Mar 2026
  • HALL OF FAMER WINKY WRIGHT TO PARTICIPATE IN 2026 HALL OF FAME INDUCTION WEEKEND FESTIVITIES
    , Mon, 02 Mar 2026
  • Reyes Siblings New Champions in US chess tourney
    , Mon, 02 Mar 2026
  • Lorenzo Parra Delivers Stunning Second-Round Knockout at Sold-Out Manny Pacquiao Promotions Event at Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, N.Y.
    , Sun, 01 Mar 2026
  • Almacen Bros Score Knockout Wins in Exciting Brico Santig Show in Thailand Live on TrillerTV
    By Carlos Costa, , Sun, 01 Mar 2026
  • Lorenzo Patricio and Lavant Brownlee Advance to Gold Medal Round in Bulgaria
    , Sun, 01 Mar 2026
  • HALL OF FAMER TIMOTHY BRADLEY JR. TO RETURN TO CANASTOTA FOR 2026 HALL OF FAME INDUCTION WEEKEND
    , Sun, 01 Mar 2026
  • Paras stops Abcede in 2nd round
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Sun, 01 Mar 2026
  • Undefeated Welterweight Ruben Aguilar Stops Luis Lopez in Eight Brutal Rounds in Main Event of ProBoxTV’s ‘The Contender Series’ at University of Texas in Arlington
    , Sun, 01 Mar 2026
  • Patricio, Brownlee and Awinongya Enter Medal Rounds on Day Five of Strandja 2026 Boxing Tournament
    , Sun, 01 Mar 2026
  • Matthew James Sugatan wins Flash-ADV 160 9-Ball Tournament at Pacman's Cue Club; pockets P30,000
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sun, 01 Mar 2026
  • IM Arca finishes in eight place in Pacquiao chess; NM Ilar pockets P100,000
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sun, 01 Mar 2026
  • DC Half Marathon on March 8 at Freedom Park
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Sun, 01 Mar 2026
  • Athletics Festival Season 4 on March 21-22
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Sun, 01 Mar 2026
  • Nuñez vs Navarrete: Knuckle Up for a Certified Banger
    By Chris Carlson, , Sat, 28 Feb 2026
  • ‘There's no way I'm going to lose’ -- Holly McMath looks to make a statement in high-stakes trilogy fight
    , Sat, 28 Feb 2026
  • WEIGHTS, RUNNING ORDER AND FINAL WORDS FOR NAVARRETE VS. NUNEZ
    , Sat, 28 Feb 2026
  • WEIGH-IN RESULTS FOR MANNY PACQUIAO PROMOTIONS: PIERCE VS. PARRA
    , Sat, 28 Feb 2026




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2026 philboxing.com.