Rios is Bradley’s ticket to Pacquiao

MANILA, Philippines - Timothy Bradley won’t admit that Manny Pacquiao will be at the back of his mind when he climbs the ring against Brandon Rios today at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas.

Bradley, who stunned Pacquiao in 2012 but lost the rematch in 2014, said he has his eyes and his mind on Rios alone.

The reigning WBO welterweight champion said he’s not being distracted by news that if he wins impressively over Rios, he’ll be going home with his purse and a ticket to the Pacquiao lottery.

Promoter Bob Arum said that if Bradley is impressive, he’d be seriously considered as a possible opponent for Pacquiao in April.

“Well, we’ll see how the fight turns out because if Bradley beats Rios then we’re considering Bradley,” Arum told The STAR in a brief telephone conversation.

Negotiations are on between Arum and representatives of Amir Khan, a former training partner of Pacquiao. An article published by a newspaper in England said Khan had agreed to fight Pacquiao.

Arum described the report as erroneous, saying, “There’s no deal yet.”

Pacquiao said the other day they’re going through the process.

“Nothing has been finalized as of now,” said Pacquiao, confident that his shoulder injury had healed well enough for him to return to action in April.

Terence Crawford, an undefeated American, is on standby as a potential opponent for Pacquiao. Arum said out of courtesy, he won’t be dealing with anybody else while talks are on with Khan.

Only if or when Khan backs off from the negotiating table will Crawford or Bradley step in.

“There’s a possibility it could be Bradley,” Arum added.

Bradley (32-1-1) said on the eve of his title fight against Rios (33-2-1) that Pacquiao is far from his mind.

“I’m really not thinking about it. (It) hasn’t even been a thought,” he told the Los Angeles Times.

“I know [a trilogy with Pacquiao] is realistic, but the opportunity can’t be there unless I beat Rios,” said Bradley, who weighed in yesterday at 146 pounds. Rios came in .2 pound over the limit.

Bradley, a 5-1 favorite over Rios, is not getting ahead of the story.