Thursday at the Fortune Gym in Los Angeles, California, WBO Welterweight Champion Tim Bradley held a media workout to give the always inquisitive boxing press an idea of what to expect when he faces Filipino puncher and superstar Manny Pacquiao on Saturday, April 12th, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
After working the mitts with head trainer and former Lightweight contender Joel Diaz for a full three minute round, it was obvious that Tim and Joel were trying to let the media in on what seems to be a secret within the boxing community.
?I work the mitts with Tim everday, and he hits much harder than most people realize,? insists the hard working trainer from Indio, CA.
?He really does damage.”
“Tim just doesn?t have that snapping, one-punch knock-out power that everyone seems to be looking for these days. But he has power. If he didn?t, his opponents wouldn?t respect him as much as they do.?
Despite having undeniable athleticism and an elite level ring IQ, most boxing pundits and fight fans are under the strong impression that the 30 year old title holder doesn?t possess power in the ring. Most of the popular sentiment stems from the lack of stoppages on his resume.
Of his 30 bouts as a professional, only 12 twelve have ended in knock-out. Tim?s most recent KO victim was former Lightweight Champion Joel Casamayor in 2011.
Diaz argues that the statistic doesn?t tell the entire picture.
?In boxing, especially as a professional, if you fight a guy who doesn?t have any serious power, you?re going to move forward with confidence because you don?t feel like you?re at risk to get hurt. So why don?t any of Tim?s opponents walk straight through him if he doesn?t have any power??
?Look at Ruslan Provodnikov?s face after their fight last year. Timmy hurt him several times in that fight and busted him up over twelve hard rounds. If he didn?t have any power, a fighter like Ruslan would have simply walked right through him.”
“But in the middle rounds, Ruslan became a more tentative fighter because he was getting busted up in the ring.?
The veteran fight trainer claims that Bradley has deceptive power that stays with him throughout the entire fight. While many power punchers often fade in the back half of a twelve round fight, Joel insists that Bradley holdS his pop to the final bell.
?My brother Julio has stated after sparring with Tim that he hits harder as the rounds go on. Because he doesn?t fight flat footed and doesn?t load up on his shots, Tim carries his power in the back half of the fight and seems to get more dangerous as the fight plays out.?
?That?s when Timmy is most dangerous, after the fourth or fifth round. When he loosens up and gets a bit more flexible, his punches start to affect his opponents a lot more. At least that?s the way it?s been in previous fights.?
?But for this fight, you guys are going to see a different version of Tim Bradley. I guarantee that the whole world is going to see a different Tim Bradley?a version the world has never seen before.?
?As far as punching power, I guarantee it?you guys are going to see a very different version of Tim Bradley.?
