MANILA, Philippines – After what transpired in the first fight, a rematch with Manny Pacquiao is something Timothy Bradley said he can?t live without.
Bradley beat Pacquiao on points in June 2012 when a lot of people thought and felt Pacquiao won. Now he?s out to prove it to the world.
In a interview with On the Ropes boxing radio program, the unbeaten WBO welterweight champion said he?s ready to fight Pacquiao again.
?I need to get the credit I deserve and I feel I?m in a better position now and more experienced that I did then,? he told Jenna Jay in a lengthy one-on-one.
Bradley, who outclassed Juan Manuel Marquez after the ageless Mexican knocked Pacquiao out, said he needed the rematch with Pacquiao ? at any cost.
?I don?t think I?ll be able to rest my mind without getting in the ring with Pacquiao again. I don?t think I will be able to rest my mind at all. I can be in my deathbed Sportshub ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1
?This is one thing I want to be able to get over and move past. Whether I win or lose I just need to get this fight out of the way,? said Bradley, the rematch underdog.
?I need to close this chapter in my life and my career. If I didn?t take this fight, I can?t live and go one with that cloud every single day of my life.?
Bradley said he will do everything to prove that he?s better than Pacquiao.
?I?m willing to die for it,? he said.
?It?s not gonna be easy. Nothing?s easy especially when you?re on top of boxing. It will be another night at the office. I?m gonna be victorious once again,? Bradley added.
The rematch takes place on April 12 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. The last time Pacquiao was there, it was a pretty scary scene.
Bradley said the pressure is on Pacquiao and it?s very hard to disagree.
Pacquiao is 1-2 in his last three fights after following an impressive win over Brandon Rios last November in Macau, and needs to be even more impressive against Bradley.
If he does, then it puts the pressure on Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Bradley insists it won?t be easy.
?I?m the champion. The pressure is not on me. The pressure is on him (Pacquiao). He?s the one who?s gotta shine. He?s the superstar. He?s the icon. He?s the legend,? said Bradley.
Pacquiao is guaranteed $20 million for the rematch while Bradley is getting $6 million and a juicy contract extension with Top Rank.
But there?s more than that riding on this fight ? especially for Pacquiao, now trying to stretch his best years as a fighter.
?Pacquiao has his back against the wall right now. If he loses to me his career is over. So, the pressure is on him. He has to shine. I beat him once,? said Bradley.
He said he?d do it again.
