Eight-division former world champ Manny ?PacMan? Pacquiao (55-5-2, 38 KOs) is set for a rematch against undefeated nemesis and current WBO welterweight champion Timothy ?Desert Storm? Bradley (31-0, 12 KOs) on Saturday April 12 live on HBO Pay-per view at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. Fightnews.com caught up with Pacman Tuesday afternoon in Los Angeles as the press tour to officially announce Bradley Pacquiao 2 kicked off at the Beverly Hills, Hotel in Beverly Hills, California. Pacquiao spoke to us about his upcoming fight and preparation for Bradley as well as life outside the ring.
?I need to win this fight. I have something to prove to the people. He?s claiming he won the fight, I believe that I won the fight but we respect the decision of the judges. This will be an exciting fight because we both have something to prove,? Pacquiao told Fightnews.com. ?There is a big question mark from the last fight so we needed this second fight.?
The 35 year old has had some recent issues outside the ring faced with tax problems shortly after his last fight, Pacquiao had his bank account frozen in his native Philippines and reportedly owed $18.5 million dollars. Pacquiao and his team of legal advisors since then have moved on. Aside from his legal issues the Pacquiao?s will have an addition to the family as his wife Jinkee Pacquiao is pregnant the couple will be expecting their fourth child. ?Life has been good I have spent time with my family and kids. Jinkee is due this April after the fight,? Pacquiao said.
When asked by a reporter if he still enjoyed boxing and his life as a prizefighter, Pacquiao laughed away and smiled, ?Yes I still enjoy it the preparation, you and the opponent inside the ring.?
Coming off an impressive unanimous decision win over Brandon ?Bam Bam? Rios this past November in Macao, China. Pacquiao rebounded from his brutal sixth round knockout loss the year before to his longtime rival Juan Manuel Marquez. ?It was a good experience fighting in China for the first time in Macao it was like the Philippines,? Pacquiao commented. ?I proved a lot in my last fight against Rios, I proved that I can still fight and that?s what happened,?Pacquiao added.
Bradley won a split decision over Pacquiao in their first fight back in June of 2012 in winning the WBO welterweight title. Most ringside experts and observers felt that Pacquiao clearly beat Bradley.
?I think I gave him a boxing lesson and the judges gave me the bad decision,? Pacquiao said giggling away. ?I think sometimes I am too nice to my opponents, I am a gentleman so I have to respect the decisions of the judges. I am not angry about the decision I was surprised,?Pacquiao said.
Since their first encounter Bradley went on to have huge impressive wins in 2013 over Pacquiao?s stable mate Ruslan Provodnikov in a tough one winning a close decision in the 2013 Fight of the Year and a decision over the Pacman?s rival Juan Manuel Marquez in his last fight this past October.
?He has improved a lot I we seen that in his last two fights. I can say it?s going to be a good fight, he impressed me in both fights after our fight. He can box now,? Pacquiao said.
After holding training camp in the Philippines for his last fight against Rios, Pacquiao will return to the Wild Card Gym in Hollywood, California as he and longtime trainer Freddie Roach will begin preparations for Bradley. The first two weeks of camp will begin in the Philippines for Manny with strength and conditioning as Roach will join the team after his assignment next month in Macao, then the duo will travel back to the states March 1 to begin work at the Wild Card.
?I am happy to be back in the Wild Card Gym in Hollywood. We will make sure to prepare to come in one hundred percent in condition,? Pacquiao said.
?First two weeks of camp will be in the Philippines it will be conditioning than when we get to the states to begin work at the Wild Card,? Pacquiao?s trainer Freddie Roach on training camp.
Also joining team Pacquiao will be trainer Justin Fortune as he has reunited with the team and will assist Roach in the corner the night of the fight. Fortune, a former heavyweight world title challenger had previously worked together with Roach and Pacquiao.
?Justin Fortune can help a lot. We already know him we have worked together before,? Pacquiao stated.
?I think we need to be a little more aggressive. I feel that if we fight the early half of the fight a little bit better than the second half, Manny can come in and outbox him,? Roach said. ?You will see a more aggressive Manny and when he hurts him he is going to finish him.?
?I expect Bradley to box more in this fight. Aggressiveness is very important for this fight but not get careless. If the knockout comes then it comes,? Pacquiao said. ?Expect more action, a young Manny Pacquiao, aggressive, throwing a lot more punches.?
