MANILA, Philippines - Timothy Bradley may have the skills to be competitive against WBO welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao, but he lacks the power to beat the Filipino icon.
Thus declared Juan Manuel Marquez when asked for his thoughts on the upcoming match between his chief rival and Bradley.
Marquez, who pushed Pacquiao to the brink of defeat in three close bouts, thinks power will spell the difference in the Pacquiao-Bradley fight on June 9 in Las Vegas – something the undefeated American doesn’t have.
“I don’t think so (that Bradley will beat Pacquiao), because even though Bradley is a great boxer, and he has skills, he needs the power. He (doesn’t) have that power,” Marquez told ringtv.com’s Lem Satterfield.
“Pacquiao has the speed and Pacquiao has the power. The difference in this fight is power. The difference will be the power punches that Pacquiao has,” the Mexican added.
Of Bradley’s 28 wins, only 12 ended up in KOs.
Although Marquez has given Pacquiao hell in those three fights – the first one resulting in a disputed split draw in 2004, and Pacquiao escaping with wins in their 2008 and 2011 rematches – the Mexican got knocked down a total of four times against the Filipino.
Still, Marquez refused to pick a winner.
“I really do not know what will happen with the Bradley-Pacquiao fight. That’s a tough fight for the two fighters,” he said.
Marquez was supposed to fight WBA and IBF light welterweight champion Lamont Peterson in the undercard of Pacquiao-Bradley. But Peterson opted for a rematch with Amir Khan instead, leaving Marquez without a rival.
“Bob Arum said that it was a tournament. Like if I would have fought with Peterson, the winner would have fought Pacquiao or Bradley. The winners were going to fight. Now, I have to find another opponent,” Marquez said.