CEBUANO boxing personalities see boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao winning his WBO welterweight title defense against the undefeated Timothy Bradley Jr. today at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Cebu?s foremost boxing patron Antonio Lopez Aldeguer, promoters Rex ?Wakee? Salud and Sammy Gello-ani, ring doctor Jose Unabia, ALA Gym trainer Edito Villamor, Flores/T I Yamagata gym trainer Brix Flores and boxers Milan Milendo and AJ Banal all predicted a victory for the Filipino fighter over Bradley. ?Pacquiao has the edge because he can beat Bradley either by knockout or decision. Whereas Bradley?s chance is only a win by decision. Little as it may seem, but it should not be discounted that Bradley can also outpoint Pacquiao,? Aldeguer said.
Salud, who will be joining Pacquiao?s entourage today, is very confident of an abbreviated fight.
?Kaya kaayo ni Manny. Nagkadugay nagkakusog si Manny. Way rason nga matapos ang away. Wa nay distraction unya focus kaayo siya sa training, no doubt kaya kaayo modaug ni Manny via knockout,? Salud said in an interview from his suite at MGM Grand.
Gello-ani, who has been to Pacquiao fights in Las Vegas, also sees a late knockout.
?I find the match exciting and a knockout may happen in the ninth or 10th rounds. But if it reaches 12 rounds, I?m for Manny,? Gello-ani added.
Although winning is not a question, Unabia sees an epic clash and cautioned Pacquiao to be cautious and never let his guard down.
?The Pacquiao-Bradley battle is undoubtedly nobody?s game as both fighters have formidable records to show. Bradley totes an unblemished 28-fight record with 12 knockouts and is also a light-welterweight champion. While Manny, who is the reigning world champion and has won eight divisions with a 54-3-2, 38KO record, obviously has the edge over Bradley, again Manny must not be complacent at all. Let?s just pray that no untoward or serious physical injuries will happen to both fighters,? Unabia said.
For the trainers, Pacquiao?s edge lies on his power and speed.
?Five rounds. Dili lang gyud mo kompyansa si Manny kay gutom ang iyang kontra unya gusto gyud mobuhat og pangalan. Si Manny lamang sa handspeed, footwork ug power. Mas taas pod og experience,? said Flores.
?Pacquiao by late knockout or decision. Ang style ni Bradley kay tailor-made for Pacman,? Villamor said. Banal and Milendo predicted a short workout for the Philippine boxing hero.
?Bradley is only good at trash-talking only to sell the tickets. Five rounds ra pinaka-taas. Kana pag-dili maluoy si Manny,? Milendo said.
?Taas na kaayo na ang five rounds. Kana si Bradley hinay man kaayo mura man og kita kaayo iyang punches mao dili gyud na siya kalahutay ni Manny,? Banal added.
Meanwhile, to those who are on tight budget but want to catch the fight live the Cebu Coliseum is offering a pay-per-view showing at P20 for the general admission, P50 for the upper box, P100 for the lower box and P150 for the courtside seats.
