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Philippines, 07 May 2024 |
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SPORTS SHORTS 109: MANNY PACQUIAO IS A DANGEROUS OPPONENT FOR TERENCE CRAWFORD SAYS TIMOTHY BRADLEY, PACMAN WILL BE THE BEST EVER IF HE DEFEATS BUD COMMENTS ROBERT GARCIA By Maloney L. Samaco PhilBoxing.com Tue, 20 Apr 2021  For most boxing enthusiasts, Terence Crawford has the clear advantage if the match up with Manny Pacquiao pushes through. The present WBO welterweight champion is the top three if not the top pound-for-pound boxer in the world and is considered indomitable at the prime of his career. * * * Pacquiao, differently, is already 42-years-old and already past his heyday. He has not fought competitively since July 2019 when he was triumphant against Keith Thurman. The former eight-division world champion sent Thurman to the canvas in the very first round before eking out a split decision however a clear victory. * * * Former WBO welterweight champion Timothy Bradley who fought Pacquiao three times and sparred against Crawford for many rounds, is not ready to concede that Pacman will be stopped by Bud. * * * “That’s a mean name,” said Bradley over ESPN. “I been in the ring over 36 rounds with that guy (Pacquiao) and I been over a hundred rounds with Terence Crawford. This was earlier in Terence’s career and I understand he’s gotten a lot better from when I sparred him but those tendencies are still the same.” * * * During those times when Crawford was not yet the top pound-for-pound fighter, Bradley ranted about the talents of the Nebraska-born titlist when they were engaged in numerous sparring sessions. Even one time Bradley has stated that Crawford could beat Floyd Mayweather Jr. in his best years. * * * However, Bradley can pinpoint several weaknesses in the way Crawford fights and he is confident that Pacquiao would prey on them in a flash. * * * “Manny Pacquiao loves when guys pull back and that’s a problem. We also know that Terence Crawford gets hit early and he gets hit often early. Manny Pacquiao is a quick starter as well and he still has that blazing left hand that possesses a massive amount of punching power," said Bradley. * * * Bradley knows that Pacquiao is a deadly opponent. "Manny Pacquiao is a dangerous fight. I would slightly favor Terence Crawford but its a dangerous fight,” warned Bradley. * * * Bradley held multiple world championships in two weight classes, including the WBC light welterweight title twice, the WBO light welterweight title and the WBO welterweight title twice. * * * In October 2013, Bradley was ranked as the world's third best active boxer, pound for pound, by The Ring. He became popular for his trilogy fights against Manny Pacquiao, whom he engaged in 2012, 2014, and 2016. He lost in the second and third fights. * * * For trainer Robert Garcia, the question of who is the best fighter in boxing history could be answered after Pacquiao's fight with Crawford. If the former eight-division world champion comes out victorious, then he will become the best ever, according to Garcia. * * * “I think that just tells you that Pacquiao is going to be probably the best in boxing history by doing s**t like that,” said Garcia during an interview with ESNews. “He doesn’t need to but that’s why he’s going to be the best f*****g fighter ever," said Garcia. * * * "Even if he loses, he challenged himself at 43 to go fight against the best welterweight in the world? Nobody else does s**t like that. There are people in their prime that don’t want that fight. Imagine if Pacquiao wins? He’s the best ever. He’s a bad mother f****r," continued Garcia. * * * Robert Garcia was the IBF junior lightweight champion from 1998 to 1999. He is now a boxing trainer, and was voted Trainer of the Year by The Ring in 2011, and by the Boxing Writers Association of America in 2012. He is the older brother of Mikey Garcia, another rumored Pacquiao foe. * * * Garcia, now age 46 years, from San Pedro, Los Angeles, California, retired with a career record of 34-3-0, 25 KOs. He won his IBF super featherweight title by defeating Harold Warren via unanimous decision in March 1998. In his third defense he lost the title to the legendary Diego Corrales by 7th round TKO in October 1999. * * * Recently, a schedule of June 5 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates has been floated. Crawford (37-0, 28 KOs), age 33 years, last fought in November 2020 demolishing former IBF welterweight champion Kell Brook via fourth-round TKO. * * * Pacquiao (62-7-2, 39 KOs) has been inactive for almost two years since his split decision win over Keith Thurman in July 2019. Thurman was a decade younger, but Pacquiao knocked him down in the first round before winning a split decision. * * * Garcia seemed dumbfounded that Pacquiao will clash with the one of the best if not the best fighter in the world at this point in his career. "There are so many other fights. They were talking about him fighting McGregor, even Mikey but what does he do? He fights the best f*****g welterweight in the world at 43," said Garcia. * * * Kevin Durant left the Nets’ game in Miami on Sunday early in the first quarter with an injured left thigh, and Brooklyn coach Steve Nash said most likely Monday will be the earliest before the team would know whether the two-time NBA Finals MVP will be out for more games. * * * Durant has already missed 33 games this season, with 24 of those related to a left hamstring injury. He missed six other games to comply with the league’s health and safety protocols related to the coronavirus and was out for three games more for injury management. * * * Weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz formally earned a spot at the Tokyo Olympics after finishing fourth in the Asian Weightlifting Championships in Tashkent, Uzbekistan on Sunday evening. * * * The 2016 Rio Olympic silver medalist became the seventh Filipino to make it to the Summer Games after pole vaulter EJ Obiena, gymnast Carlos Yulo, boxers Irish Magno, Eumir Marcial, Nesthy Petecio, and Carlo Paalam booked tickets to Tokyo. * * * Diaz will also be competing in her fourth straight Olympics, her first was the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. Diaz last competed in the 2020 Weightlifting World Cup in Italy in late January 2020 where she won three gold medals. Click here to view a list of other articles written by Maloney L. Samaco.  |
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