WILL Manny Pacquiao fight Tim Bradley twice?
It?s possible.
Scheduled on June 10 (PHL time), the fight is set for 12 rounds at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, venue of many of Pacquiao?s victories that helped catapult him to the apex of pugilism.
Pacquiao is staking his WBO world welterweight crown (147 lb) against Bradley, himself the junior welterweight champion of the world.
But Bradley?s record, it looks puny compared to Pacquiao?s.
Oh, yes, Bradley is unbeaten in 28 fights. But the dotted line shows Bradley won by knockout for only 12 times.
In 59 fights, Pacquiao has lost three times and drawn twice. But 39 of his 54 wins all came by knockout ? and many of them against topnotch fighters like Lehweba, Barrera, Diaz, Hatton, De La Hoya, Morales (two times) and Cotto, among others.
In short, Pacquiao has beaten the best of the best in his 17 years in the prizefight business. Bradley hasn?t really fought a toughie.
So, ranged against Bradley, Pacquiao is miles and miles ahead in virtually all aspects of the game.
However, after having said that, Bradley seems to wield some mystique, if not mystery, in his armor if we go by the details of the fight contract with Pacquiao.
A clause in the contract says Pacquiao is assured of a rematch should Bradley score an upset.
Is this some kind of a joke? Pacquiao can lose?
If memory serves, this is the first time that a Pacquiao contract has stipulated a return bout in case Pacquiao loses.
So, do we honestly feel Pacquiao can lose this one?
Is Bradley that good as to be able to turn the tables on Pacquiao, who is unbeaten since 2006?
A Bradley win should automatically rank as the upset of the decade.
The last time an upset of earthquake proportions has happened more than 20 years ago, when Buster Douglas knocked out the undefeated Mike Tyson for the world heavyweight title.
Is the rematch with Bradley the ?one of the last two fights? before Pacquiao would call it a day?
A Bradley win is unbelievable, but the thought seems scary enough as to make me drink single malt to calm me down. Make that Tomatin, please?
Down the hatch, that is.
