As Manny Pacquiao was scuba diving in the pristine waters of Cebu yesterday, long-time boxing man Wakee Salud was chilling out while waiting for Pacquiao to return, thinking about the April 12 rematch between the Filipino icon and his one-time tormentor Tim Bradley.
Salud, who also managed three Filipino world champions, including Gerry and Dodie Boy Pe?alosa, told the Bulletin that if Pacquiao struggled against Bradley the last time they met in the ring in June 2012, he?d be a fool to think the unbeaten US puncher has remained the same.
?Bradley has vastly improved since 2012,? said Salud, who noted that the American fighter outsmarted Pacquiao?s arch-rival Juan Manuel Marquez of Mexico last year.
Ringsiders thought Marquez, coming off the Pacquiao smackdown, would steamroll past Bradley but the Mexican looked lost amid Bradley?s dazzling ring generalship.
Not only that, Salud warned.
?Bradley?s survival instincts is much, much better,? said Salud, pointing to Bradley?s near-KO loss to Ruslan Provodnikov, who went on to drop a split decision.
?Provodnikov almost knocked him out but Bradley survived. He is tougher now.?
Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum is on the cusp of making the formal announcement of the fight that is penciled to take place at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
