Bradley: Pacquiao ain't no 'Mr. Clean'

MANILA, Philippines - Timothy Bradley said he doesn’t mind being branded as a “dirty fighter.”

“That doesn’t bother me, man,” Bradley told www.fighthype.com in reaction to statements made by Freddie Roach and Manny Pacquiao.

Bradley has finally agreed to the terms of the fight, and said he has signed the fight contract making the June 9 showdown in Las Vegas official.

“It’s official. My manager has made my dreams come true and I have signed my contract to fight Manny Pacquiao. It’s time to get to work!” Bradley tweeted yesterday.

A couple of days ago, Roach branded Bradley as a dirty fighter, one who could use his head or elbow when he couldn’t connect with his punches.

Pacquiao shared the same observation.

“I’ve noticed he uses his head,” the reigning WBO welterweight champion said.

But Bradley, holder of the WBO light-welterweight crown, said the feeling is mutual because he said Pacquiao uses his head as well when he lunges at his opponent.

“The headbutt situation, I don’t do it intentionally. I will say this, they say I come in with my head, Manny comes in with his head as well,” he said.

Bradley said Pacquiao ain’t no “Mr. Clean.”

“I watched many of his tapes. I’ve seen this guy, he’s a great fighter, best in the world, and he does it. He comes in with his head as well,” he told Ben Thompson in an interview.

The 28-year-old pride of Cathedral City in California said he will do anything or everything it takes to win, and Pacquiao can’t say anything that will change that.

He said he will be ready to face Pacquiao on June 9 because to him it’s “a dream come true” to be fighting the best fighter in the world today.

The other half of this “mini-tournament” put up by Bob Arum reportedly fell off yesterday after Lamont Peterson chose a rematch with Amir Khan on May 19 than a lucrative fight with Juan Manuel Marquez on July 14.

Arum had wanted the winner between Pacquiao and Bradley to face the winner between Peterson and Marquez. But it seemed that Peterson won’t let that happen now.

Bradley seemed glad that this early, Roach is concerned about me style.

“It just shows Freddie is a little worried about this fight. That stuff doesn’t get under my skin. People have said worse things about me before,” he said.

“The last time I checked, it’s a boxing match, it’s a fight. You know, it’s a fight,” said Bradley.

Then protect yourself at all times.