HOT POTATO EXCLUSIVE via INDIO, CA – For Joel Diaz, trainer of undefeated light welterweight champion Timothy Bradley, Welterweight Champion Manny Pacquiao is a big challenge: “He is much more intimadating than any other fighters, not only because we’re fighting Manny Pacquiao, we’re fighting the name.”
Diaz, who was too surprise of Top Rank Godfather Robert “Bob” Arum’s pick for Pacquiao to fight this June 9 at the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, thinks Bradley deserves Arum’s choice.
“I was really surprise of Arum’s choice. But, well, I think Bradley deserves it. Who else the better fighter out there who can beat Pacquiao?”
Diaz says Bradley has already defeated the best fighters out there in the light welterweight division and that Pacquiao must beat a much younger fighter who is not washed-up, unlike Oscar de la Hoya, Antonio Margarito, Ricky Hatton, Miguel Cotto, Shane Mosley, and more.
“It’s the only way Pacquiao can silence his critics if he beats Bradley.”
Diaz continues: “Pacquiao needs to show to the entire world that he can knockout the best, undefeated young fighter and that is Timothy Bradley.”
Even then, Diaz’s target plan is to shape up Bradley, who still walks 165 pounds, to 147 pounds on the scales.
Pacquiao, who started his professional boxing career in 1995 in the flyweight and fought at 107 pounds, is seen as the smaller guy than Bradley who started the same career in 2004 in the light welterweight and fought at 145 pounds. Since then, Bradley has shown 41.38% win by knockout out of 28 fights while Pacquiao, 64.41% out of 54. Pacquiao incurs 3 losses, two of which by knockout, and has 2 draws.
Diaz, nonetheless, till sees his protege as the bigger guy who can withstand Pacquiao’s blinding power punch.
“Pacquiao hits you with a punch that you don’t see and he knocks you out,” says Diaz who is banking on Bradley’s ability and strength to mix with Pacquiao in heavy exchanges. He expects the fight to go the distance. He believes both Pacquiao and Bradley do not have enough power to knock each other’s head off.
“Bradley will outbox Pacquiao.”
Meanwhile, “I know we’re fighting the man on the throne who is the greatest fighter of the era, but my main task is to take this kind of thinking away from his (Bradley’s) mind.”
Diaz believes fighting Pacquiao is a tough task. And he believes as well it’s going to be a tough task for Pacquiao’s corner when the fight hour comes.
But, “we will show up on that hour to win.”
Afterall, “the only difference is the bigger hype with Pacquiao.” Diaz adds.
But, for Bradley, “Pacquiao is just another name that will pass away.”
Bradley is set to kick off his tactical training soon.
