MANILA, Philippines - Timothy Bradley must be asking for just a little more that Manny Pacquiao has already agreed to the terms of the fight, and the boxer from Cathedral City in California has not.
Reports coming out of the US yesterday quoted Pacquiao’s adviser, Mike Koncz, as saying that the fight set June 9 in Las Vegas is already a done deal – on their side.
Bradley, the reigning WBO junior welterweight champion, knows he’s the best available fight for Pacquiao right now, and that gives him some leverage in the talks.
“From our end, the fight is done,” Koncz told ESPN.com.
Pacquiao will get around $20 million in guarantee for this one. Bradley will be a millionaire after this fight.
Pacquiao will defend his WBO welterweight crown against Bradley who should have no problem at all moving up to 147 lb because he’s been there before.
“I just got off the phone with (Top Rank’s) Bob Arum and Manny, so we’re done. I don’t assume there will be a problem from the Bradley side,” said Koncz.
“We came to terms with Top Rank on the fight and Manny has approved everything,” he told ESPN.com.
The deal with Bradley is expected to be sealed any minute from now, and Top Rank should immediately make the announcement and get the ball rolling.
Bradley is also under Top Rank.
Pacquiao sought the fight against Floyd Marweather Jr. but couldn’t get it over a couple of issues, particularly Mayweather’s demand for a bigger share of the purse.
Then the 33-year-old Pacquiao considered a rematch with Miguel Cotto, who said no because he no longer can make it at 147 lb.
Cotto chose to fight Mayweather at 154 lb, and the Puerto Rican was promised 30 percent of the revenue, and Pacqquiao started looking at Bradley.
To ensure continuity just in case the Mayweather fight doesn’t happen in November, Bob Arum has reportedly sealed Juan Manuel Marquez vs Lamont Peterson in July.
Arum said the winner of that fight will face the winner between Pacquiao and Bradley, and this could eventually lead to a fourth fight between Pacquiao and Marquez.