Timothy Bradley is one of only a hand full of fighters to face Manny Pacquiao more than one time. On June of 2012, Bradley became the first fighter to defeat Pacquiao in more than 7 years, and while that decision was highly debated, Bradley ended up getting a rematch, losing over 12 rounds this past April. Having fought the most recent version of Pacquiao, Bradley knows better than anyone the type of fighter the Filipino star is today.
In part 2 of my ?On The Ropes? interview with Timothy Bradley, I get his views on potentially facing a Freddie Roach trained Miguel Cotto and if he thinks Mayweather should have a rematch with the now middleweight champion. Bradley also shares his thoughts on who he thinks Floyd Mayweather should fight next, and how the current version of Manny Pacquiao would do with Mayweather Jr. Here is what Timothy Bradley had to say.
Jenna J: Miguel Cotto is now training with Freddie Roach and he seems to be more aggressive. How would you go about fighting that version of Miguel Cotto?
Timothy Bradley: Well Freddie knows me pretty well now, I?m not actually sure how I would attack that fight. I do know how exactly but I don?t want to give away anything if the fight was to happen, I don?t want to say too much. We know that speed kills and I know I have the speed advantage in that fight and I know he?s gonna probably try to apply pressure, but I know his corner knows that I?m quick enough to get out of the way.
I have a lot of experience, I?ve been in there with some of the best. The only fighter I haven?t been in there with yet is Miguel Cotto and Floyd Mayweather, and I would love to fight either of the guys. I?d like to fight Mayweather too but we know that fight will never materialize. I know now that the Cotto fight could materialize in the future.
My IQ for boxing, I can figure these guys out. I?ve been a big fan of Cotto for many years and I know what he likes to do, I know his style very well. I just gotta get in the ring and outthink him that night, that?s pretty much it.
Jenna J: You mentioned Floyd Mayweather, and he?s been making news as of late. What do you think of the situation that Floyd is in right now? Do you think he owes anything to the fans, do you think he should fight someone like Manny Pacquiao or Miguel Cotto to make the fans happy?
Timothy Bradley: He already fought Miguel Cotto, I don?t think the rematch with Miguel Cotto really makes any sense although they say it was a close fight, he beat him already. A Manny Pacquiao fight is something that fans and millions around the world want to see ? the two best fighters pound for pound go at it.
I think that?s a fight that should happen but we don?t know if it ever will happen. I?m unsure right now, it hasn?t happened in that last three or four years. If that fight was to materialize and Floyd was to win that fight, I think fans would definitely be a lot more pleased with what?s going on.
Floyd at this point ? being the best ? it?s really hard to please the fans, it really is because of his style of fighting. If he was a little bit more aggressive and took more shots, then the fans would probably be a little bit more into it. Still with his style or not, this guy sells an extreme amount of Pay-per-views, he?s still the number one guy in boxing. He has his remedy and it?s working for him. Me as a fan of boxing, I know that I would love to see him and Manny Pacquiao fight, I would love see those guys fight.
Jenna J: You were in the ring with the latest version of Manny Pacquiao. How do you think he does with the current version of Floyd Mayweather Jr, a fighter who is more flat footed?
Timothy Bradley: I think he does well, I honestly think it goes well. I think that the fight is a little more even now. I?m gonna have to favor Floyd Mayweather because he?s just brilliant in his boxing ability but you can?t take anything away from Manny Pacquiao. I?m not trying to blow smoke up my ass but I?m a really difficult fighter to deal with and Manny Pacquiao was able to deal with me, and if Manny Pacquiao is able to deal with me, he?s able to deal with anybody else, I truly believe that.
I have a lot of hand speed, foot speed as well, Floyd has hand speed and foot speed as well. He?s a better defensive fighter than I am but Manny Pacquiao throws punches in combinations, punches in bunches, so I think the fight is kind of evenly matched.
I wonder how the odds makers would do that fight if the fight ever happened because like you said, Floyd?s a little bit more flat footed and Manny is a little bit more cautious in his approach now. He?s not as tenacious and aggressive as he used to be ? if he gets you hurt, he?ll definitely try to take you out but most times now he?s thinking. He doesn?t rush his attack anymore and just come in recklessly, he?s thinking about his approach now, a little bit more now since he got knocked out by Marquez.
