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PACQUIAO WILL BE TOO MUCH FOR BRADLEY COME SATURDAY NIGHT By Dong Secuya PhilBoxing.com Sun, 13 Apr 2014  CEBU ? Since the June 9, 2012 first fight between Filipino superstar Manny Pacquiao and Cathedral City's Timothy Bradley wherein Bradley wrested Pacquiao's WBO welterweight championship belt courtesy of judges Duane Ford's and CJ Ross's highly unpopular scores giving Bradley a split decision victory, a lot of things have changed for both Pacquiao and Bradley ? but for both of them also, some things remain the same. First off for Bradley, who now projects an exceptionally high level of confidence, he fought twice since then, against Russia's Ruslan Provodnikov on March 16, 2013 and against Mexican great Juan Manuel Marquez on Oct. 12, 2013, where Bradley won both to successfully defend his WBO welterweight title twice. In a highly entertaining fight of the year contest against Provodnikov, Bradley displayed heart and bravado, exchanging bombs with the 'Siberian Rocky', qualities he seldom displayed in his previous fights, he rose from the canvas and eventually won by a very close unanimous decision with scores of 114-113 twice and 115-112. Bradley was staggered several times by the heavy-handed Provodnikov and received heavy punishment to the head and body resulting for Bradley to have concussions (head trauma) after the bout. "A few weeks after the fight, I was still affected by the damage that was done," Bradley told Max Kellerman of HBO in the runup to his fight against Marquez. "My speech was a little bit off. I was slurring a little bit. But after about two months, I cleared up and I have my wits about me now." Although Bradley gained a lot of fans after his performance against Provodnikov, still it was a performance not to crow about. Provodnikov, Pacquiao's former sparring partner with a come forward style well suited for Bradley, was supposed to be Bradley's comeback fight to make him look good. However, the 'Siberian Rocky' almost finished him up in the final round and a lot of fans thought Provodnikov won the fight. Last October Bradley earned a well deserved split decision victory over Juan Manuel Marquez although Marquez and Marquez's hall of fame trainer Nacho Beristain disagreed with the decision. The Marquez that Bradley defeated however, from our view, is a far cry from the Marquez who defeated Pacquiao on Dec. 12, 2012. Marquez had a life-long obsession to convincingly defeat Pacquiao borne out of anger from his three previous fights with Pacquiao whom he thought he had all won but ended up 2-0-1 win-loss-draw in Pacquiao's favor. Marquez capitalized on a split-second opportunity towards the end of the 6th round during their 4th encounter and poured all his anger, anguish and sacrifice on his right fist and threw it all up to Pacquiao's face to score a one-punch knockout victory over Pacquiao that totally changed the boxing landscape afterwards. Having his wish fulfilled and and his craving satiated, Marquez went into the Bradley fight with less intensity and urgency and the fight was transformed into a contest between a declining 39-year-old fighter against prime 30-year-old champion. Nevertheless, Bradley had to use all his wits to outpoint an old lion. Pacquiao, on the other hand, warded off retirement talks after he laid motionless on the canvas on that fateful December night in Las Vegas more than a year ago by transforming Oxnard slugger Brandon Rios into a target practice and a punching bag for 12 rounds in Macau last November. Although Pacquiao suffered a terrible knockout loss to Marquez in 2012, Bradley suffered more damage in his last three fights than Pacquiao in his last 18 fights in a span of 11 years. Pacquiao's last considerable hit was during his 12-round decision loss to Erik Morales in 2005. From then on, Pacquiao went into a rampage in five weight divisions and dominated all but one of his elite opponents and sustained lesser damage along the way. Morales, Larios, Barrera, Diaz, De La Hoya, Hatton, Cotto, Margarito, Mosley, Bradley and Rios ? they fell or were totally dominated. Only Marquez gave him considerable difficulty every time they meet. A lot of people say Bradley has improved ? maybe ? but his close decision wins over Provodnikov and Marquez would not be enough measurement to give him the edge over Pacquiao. Additionally, the concussion he suffered from the Provodnikov fight will come haunting him down. A lot of people say Pacquiao has diminished ? maybe ? but his last performance over Rios would suggest that he is still at the very top of the game. Pacquiao's failure to stop his opponent since a TKO victory over Cotto in 2009 is largely attributed to Pacquiao's religious influence and compassion not to put more damage to his opponent more than what is necessary. Pacquiao dominated Bradley during their first encounter while fighting only in the last minute of every round during the second half of the fight. This time, a well-motivated and well-trained Pacquiao who is still in his prime will be a totally different animal that Bradley will be facing. Bradley's seeming boundless confidence and bravado is based on a lie and illusion ? believing in himself that he won the first fight and his victories over Provodnikov and Marquez had somehow reinforced it. Saturday night in Las Vegas, under the klieg lights of the MGM Grand Garden Arena surrounded by shrieking multitudes ? the lie and illusion will come crashing down to the ring canvas, either literally or figuratively. Pacquiao by late stoppage. Click here to view a list of other articles written by Dong Secuya.  |
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