IS THE FIRE FINALLY BEGINNING TO DIM?

I sat at the very front row at the Pacquiao-Bradley presscon Tuesday noon at the Beverly Hills Hotel. Front row center in fact.

Thus I had a very close look at Manny Pacquiao and Tim Bradley. And, when they took the microphone at the dais, I was as close as the organizers would allow me to be.

As a photographer for this website I have had the opportunity to photograph Pacquiao and his opponents for many years. My presence at the press conference gave me a good look of the facial expressions of Pacquiao.

I have seen the frustrations of making weight at 130 lbs. I have seen the look of his eyes when there were tensions from within and without. And I have seen the smiling eyes when things just fall into place.

Today however, I noticed something new.

Pacquiao for some reasons simply exude contentment. Contentment in his whole life and career, I suppose.

Maybe it?s too early for him to be exhibiting the fire and hunger that he projects when a fight is near. After all, it?s only the first presscon and the fight is a good four months away.

Now don?t get me wrong.

I am not saying that Pacquiao will not be the same spit-fire come June 9th. Oh no, not by a mile.

All I am saying is there is something new that I have not seen before.

Will that be good or bad?

We have to wait for June 9th for the answer.