CEBU, Philippines - Eight-division world champion Manny Pacquiao (54-3-2, 38KOs) is without question the odds on favorite over Tim Bradley (28-0, 12KOs) in their scheduled June 9 superbout for Pacquiao's WBO welterweight belt at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Vegas.
That lowly billing is not new for Bradley, who gamely admitted that he has been an underdog all his life.
But when presented with such situation, the unbeaten world junior welterweight champion said with firm conviction that he knows how to win.
Bradley is confident enough to beat Pacquiao that he has already set a date for their rematch.
" I have always been an underdog all of my life. But I know how to win," said Bradley during the kick-off leg of their media tour yesterday at the Beverly Hills Hotel in Los Angeles. "I talk winning. I go into the ring and win. Manny Pacquiao is the world's greatest fighter. After I win, the rematch will be in November."
Bradley's pronouncement remains to be seen though as Pacquiao is dead set to protect his lofty billing as the best pound-for-pound fighter on the planet today.
“Timothy Bradley is undefeated and hungry. He does not know how to lose. This will be a great fight – champion vs. champion,” said Pacquiao.
Celebrated American trainer Freddie Roach, for his part, said he is happy that Pacquiao will go up against an undefeated warrior who has an attitude of winning.
“I’m just glad Manny is fighting an undefeated fighter who is more concerned about winning, than he is about protecting his record, " said Roach, who has earlier expressed his concern over the 'dirty tactics' of Bradley that may pose as a problem for Pacquiao. (FREEMAN)