American challenger Timothy Bradley displayed his ripped and well-chiseled six-pack abs during today?s final presser as his date with welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao comes closer.
On Saturday, they will step on the weighing scales then retreat to their rooms for a final night before they answer the bell on fight day, Sunday. Bradley has been hyping and psyching himself up. He showed a giant replica of a supposed ticket for a rematch fight with Pacquiao in an ultimate display of bravado.
He cannot be faulted for that.
Like many before him, Bradley had to believe in himself. Otherwise, half the fight is already lost for him.
But will he be able to do a miracle of sorts where 15 others before him failed in succession? Will he be the second man to hand Pacquiao another defeat in this millennium?
Pacquiao?s reputation precedes him. Many wanted a piece of him but only for the financial bonanza that goes with it. Come to think of it, with a few exception, many seriously doubted they will be able survive a rampaging bull like Pacquiao let alone stop the Filipino buzz saw.
Many thought they had the perfect plan to do it. Many left afterwards wondering if it was worth the planning. Indeed, two of Pacquiao?s last five fights involved boxers more concerned about remaining on their feet rather than put a decent fight. Two who were men enough to man up to Pacquiao ended up with messy faces their mothers would not know who they were. The other one, well, put up a good fight but still fell short. All of them had the right plan in mind ? until Pacquiao remind them there is none.
You have to dominate Pacquiao in order to stand a chance. Juan Manuel Marquez, for all his technical skills, was never able to impose his will against Pacquiao in the manner that Erik Morales, during their first fight, was able to frustrate the fighting Filipino congressman.
In the end, all of Pacquiao?s last 15 opponents were measured by how well their chins held up against the champion?s ?leaded? left fist, nay, now two-handed artillery.
Bradley has never faced a guy who punches as hard as Pacquiao, all the more as quick as the champion.
Pacquiao, on the other hand, traded punches with the hardest hitters in the game and kept coming for more. In the end all 57 of them wished they never were in the same weight division with Pacquiao. Pacquiao fought a total of 59 boxers in his 17-year career but only two of them escaped without tasting defeat. The last one who managed to squeeze a hard-earned victory would pay twice over by being knocked out twice in their two rematches.
Bradley may be undefeated but certainly not unbeatable. He may have a body builder?s physique but boxing is all about hitting the other guy with the ?baddest? of all intentions.
Bradley has narrow jaws. He better keep them away from Pacquiao?s thundering left straights and right crosses. I don?t think Bradley?s jaws are built to withstand Pacquiao?s brutal strength.
