HOLLYWOOD ? Manny Pacquiao?s chief trainer came short of begging for a furious showdown with Timothy Bradley on April 9 (April 10 in Manila) at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
If Bradley comes to fight toe to toe, well and good.
?If he (Bradley) will be more aggressive I will be happy for that,? said Freddie Roach, six days before Pacquiao and Bradley clash for the third and last time.
Pacquiao is retiring after this fight.
Twice since 2012, the two welterweights have fought inside the ring, dancing to the music. The first time, it ended with Bradley winning a hotly-contested decision. Sportshub ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1
In their rematch, Pacquiao won hands down. In those two meetings, neither fighter had gone down.
Pacquiao said he?s going for an impressive win, a knockout if it comes, because doing so might help him earn more votes in the coming elections.
The Filipino boxer hasn?t scored a stoppage since 2009, when the wide-bodied, heavy-handed Puerto Rican, Miguel Cotto, was stopped in the 12th round.
?If his (Teddy Atlas) fighter fights a little harder we will fight back. Manny is ready for whatever he (Bradley) brings to the table,? said Roach.
Bradley and those around him think that he has changed because of his new trainer. But Roach said it doesn?t matter, maybe because Bradley, 32, may be too old to change.
?We see the adjustments he is trying to make but once Manny hits him, he will revert back to what he does best. I am not worried about Teddy Atlas, believe me,? said Roach.
Pinoy scribes who visited Bradley in Indio, California, two days ago, tried to show Roach a video of the American boxer shadow boxing inside the ring.
Roach looked the other day, and walked away.
Pacquiao also spoke to scribes, and said he can almost guarantee a better fight than the two previous ones because Bradley insists that he has changed as a fighter.
Pacquiao must be keeping his finger crossed that Bradley comes to fight.
?Mas maraming action ito (This will provide more action),? said Pacquiao. ?Yung style niya hindi na masyado takbo (His style now is not about running).?
?Pasok na nang pasok (He?s now coming in more). Gusto ko yan (I like that). Mas maganda (It?s nicer). Mas madaming action (More action),? he said.
