The Boxingtalk crew is split on this super fight
Greg Leon: Timothy Bradley by decision: Unless he gets totally robbed or knocked out, I think Manny Pacquiao’s braintrust picked the wrong one. Bradley wins the fight cleanly to stay undefeated
John McCormick: This is a very tough fight to pick, but I have to go with my gut. Book me for Bradley by unanimous decision. I expect Pacquiao to rock Bradley early, but Bradley will gather his head together, rebound, and outwork Pacquiao in a tough, grueling fight down the stretch.
Scott Shaffer: Bradley by decision, although I don’t feel confident about it. I see a clash of heads affecting the flow of this fight, with Pacquiao getting cut. Combine this with Bradley’s refuse-to-lose mentality, and I like the challenger by narrow decision or perhaps technical decision (if the fight is stopped on cuts).
Doveed Linder: Pacquiao via stoppage. It’s a tough call, but something tells me that Bradley is a little too brave. This is the guy who ran 23 miles the week of a fight, just so he can prove something to himself. He’s even declared out loud that he wants to feel Pacquiao’s punches. Bradley is a great fighter and a great human being, and he might just end up out-working Pacquiao. But if I had to make a pick, I’m going with Pac-Man.
Stephen “Breadman” Edwards: Bradley by decision. Why? See Bread’s breakdown of the fight at: www.youtube.com/watch?v=co_i2zSZCRU.
Michael Walters: Pacquiao by unanimous decision. I know the sexy pick is Bradley but, I think Pac will be too fast and powerful for him to handle.
Rob Soucy: Pacquiao is ready to be defeated but is Bradley the fighter that can do it? Pacquiao did not impress me in his close win over Juan Manuel Marquez, and it was the opinion of some that he had come off PEDs. Whether that is true is anyone’s guess, but Pacquiao is clearly past his prime while Bradley is in the middle of his. On Saturday night Bradley will struggle to keep Pacquiao off of him. The difference in the fight will be Pacquiao’s explosive power and Bradley’s lack of it. The only way Bradley will be able to hurt Pacquiao will be with his head. This could be a Felix Trinidad-William Joppy type of fight as Bradley will not easily fold but will be hurt early and often. Manny Pacquiao by brutal knockout.
