Manny Pacquiao appears to be in happy spirits and in good mood heading to Sunday?s rematch with American Timothy Bradley.
Not much distractions, unlike in his previous fights. No elections to worry about, no taxmen breathing down his neck. No creditors knocking on his doors. No serious doubts about his ability to bounce back from a devastating loss. And the ghosts of 2012 already behind his back.
With a Top Rank contract already renewed and locked up, all Pacquiao needs to take care of the man who will be in front of him across the ring on April 13 (April 12 in Las Vegas).
Pacquiao has been in many crossroads before. Sunday’s will be another one.Pic by Edwin Espejo
Bradley stole a victory from Pacquiao the first time they met in 2012, more than 22 months ago.
But as he said in his first ever privilege speech in Philippine Congress, Pacquiao the congressman still has plenty of miles to keep before he will call it quits. There are more than the millions of dollar of reasons why the fighter in him still persists and insists.
Pacquiao cannot stop fighting with some of his legacies tarnished. He will have to clean up the messes that are Bradley and Marquez. And hopefully clinch that crowning glory of a fight with verbal tormentor Floyd Mayweather. He will have to settle obligations that will keep coming back at him.
But for the moment, it is Bradley, Bradley and Bradley between now and Sunday.
Pacquiao has admitted he took the American the first time around very lightly.
Bradley, too, has all the motivation to prove his victory was not the doings of the ?goodfellas? in Las Vegas.
While both have contrasting fighting styles, their thirsts for a resounding victory may result into a different outcome.
Bradley took some considerable risks in engaging Pacquiao sparring partner Ruslan Provodnikov in a phone booth brawl in their fight in March last year. Bradley almost paid dearly but he showed doubters he has what it takes to square up with Pacquiao. Then he conquered Marquez, Pacquiao?s long time tormentor.
Bradley knows he may not get a decision in a close fight, a make-up call for his controversial split decision against Pacquiao.
Yes, Bradley will still try to use his speed in frustrating Pacquiao early in the fight. But he will jump at any opportunity whenever he will get the good measure out of Filipino.
But more than Bradley, it is Pacquiao who needs a very conclusive victory to regain lost prestige and slow down critics who see him as a fighter already on the decline.
Bradley is right and Pacquiao is out to prove the former wrong.
The fire in Pacquiao needs to come out. Pacquiao could no longer afford to fight in bursts and be contented with a decision victory.
He has to batter Bradley so badly to set up a payback fight with Marquez. He needs a definitive victory to keep Mayweather from claiming the greatest in their generation. These are the two elephants in Pacquiao?s room he needs to do away with although he will be just okay without them.
But with two more years of boxing, Pacquiao needs to step up and be the Pacquiao of old.
After all, he has scores and debs to settle.
