Top Rank Godfather Robert “Bob” Arum confirms that lightweight champion Timothy Bradley, 28, has signed a $5 million contract to face Manny Pacquiao, 33, in a full-welterweight fight at 147 pounds on June 9 HBO pay-per-view at the MGM Grand Garden in Las Vegas. Pacquiao will be defending his World Boxing Organization title.
“Bradley is going to be the toughest opponent than his previous fights as he is fighting a young light weltwerweight champion who may seem to be very energetic, dynamic and comfortable at full-welterweight,” says Arum.
Ranking No. 1 in the light welterweight division, Bradley is undefeated of 28 professional fights, 4.38% of those ended by knockout. His last fight is one of distinctive performance in which he dropped former lightweight champion Joel Casamayor in rounds 5, 6 and carried the same power to win by TKO in the eightth.
This fight is one such of an attraction which may have blindly given a slight edge for Bradley in terms of weight management, as this would be the first title fight for Bradley at full welterweight.
“Bradley is more dangerous, younger, tougher and possibly stronger than Pacquiao’s previous opponents,” says Roach in an exclusive interview.
But, “I already have a game plan to beat Bradley.”
Pacquiao has 54 wins, of which 64.41% ended by way of knockout. He has 3 losses and 2 draws.
Stay tuned for more!
