LAS VEGAS – Bagama’t nagbigay sina Manny Pacquiao at Timothy Bradley ng kapana-panabik na laban sa MGM Grand Garden Arena dito nitong Sabado ng gabi, ibinasura ni trainer Freddie Roach ang posibilidad ng kanilang ikatlong paghaharap.
Nasulit ng mga fans ang kanilang ibinayad sa magandang laban na ipinakita ng dalawa.
Kay Pacquiao talaga ang panalo ngunit naging mahigpitan ang labanan sa unang anim na rounds dahil tabla ang scores sa tatlong hurado. Lamang pa nga si Bradley sa dalawang judges, 48-47 matapos ang ikalimang round.
Nagsimulang kumawala si Pacquiao sa sixth round at lumamang na sa mga judges sa huling pitong rounds.
Dahil dito, dapat silang magharap sa ikatlong pagkakataon.
Panay ang atake ni Pacquiao habang naging agresibo naman si Bradley sa kaagahan ng laban.
“I expected him to run and that’s what we worked on in the gym, cutting the ring off,†sabi ni Roach. “I think Bradley wanted to catch us off-guard by going aggressive.â€
Isang kanan ni Bradley ang nagpaalog kay Pacquiao sa fourth at agad itong naremedyuhan ni Roach.
Ayon kay Roach, nang tumagal ang laban, nakita niyang knockout talaga ang puntirya ni Bradley.
“He was looking to throw a homerun,†ani Roach. “He probably thought he wouldn’t get the decision, no matter what. So he wanted a knockout.â€
“Bradley tried to fight like (Juan Manuel) Marquez in the fourth fight against Manny,†sabi pa ni Roach. “Marquez landed a knockout punch as Manny came forward. But Bradley ain’t no Marquez. Should there be a Pacquiao-Bradley 3? I don’t think it’s necessary. People were entertained last Saturday but I don’t think they back to watch a third fight.â€