In a fight that should have a lot to say about his immediate future in the sport, Manny Pacquiao will look to regain his welterweight title and prove the validity of his career in Saturday’s rematch against Timothy Bradley Jr. at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
Pacquiao (55-5-2, 38 KOs), 35, will look to avenge a controversial split-decision loss to Bradley (31-0, 12 KOs) from their first meeting in June 2012. The Filipino icon ended a two-fight losing streak in his last bout when he defeated Brandon Rios by unanimous decision last November.
The final picturePacquiao has a tough test ahead of him that could prove to be a reproduction of their first fight, which most believed PacMan had won. Perhaps his mistake was to believe late in the fight that he had done enough to win. This time he can’t be overconfident and needs to be more active offensively each round. If he can do this, and get the better of Bradley during each exchange, nobody will steal the victory from him.
Concentration and energyIt seems silly to advise Pacquiao on his concentration, but as unbelievable as this can be, it could be the determining factor in fight. Lately, his focus has appeared to wane significantly. A pair of recent defeats, his life outside the ring and the media attack from Bradley and his team — accusing Pacquiao of being “finished” — could have an effect on his performance. He needs to start the engine and focus or Bradley just might surprise him.
Speed and effectivenessBradley will look to use angles and try to surprise Pacquiao with fleeting punches. He also won’t hesitate to tie up if things get complicated. It’s simply his style. Given this scenario, Manny should use his speed with discretion. Cutting off the ring, throwing punches on the outside of the guard and knocking back any threat of a tie-up will be necessary for Pacquiao to achieve victory.
Be careful!The stunning right hand from Juan Manuel Marquez that knocked Pacquiao cold in their fourth fight and the image of his lifeless body on the canvas are inevitable incentives for any opponent with thoughts of stopping Pacquiao. Bradley dreams of ending the rematch the same way. He has said it publicly and even his trainer, Joel Diaz, has said his pupil has worked on adding strength in order to go for the knockout. Maybe Pacquiao can simply say the knockout against Marquez was the result of one lucky punch. But he shouldn’t be sloppy or he could end up having a second serving of the same dish.
In Roach he trustsFreddie Roach, Pacquiao’s acclaimed trainer, has a lot at stake in this fight. Any time an aging fighter enters a big bout, the possibility of retirement if he should lose hangs in the balance. Winning is not only an option in the rematch with Bradley, it’s an obligation. A victory for Pacquiao will depend a lot on what Roach has planned and how well he has prepared his fighter physically to counter his opponent’s strategy.
