MANILA, Philippines - Manny Pacquiao has expressed shock and alarm over Timothy Bradley’s strange pre-fight ritual, saying maintaining a proper hygiene is foremost for the Filipino boxing icon.
“Grabe naman ‘yun. Sobra. (That’s terrible),†the Filipino boxing icon said in a report by ABS-CBN Gensan.
Bradley, who faces Pacquiao in a rematch on April 12 for the WBO welterweight title at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, recently disclosed in an ABS-CBN interview his odd pre-fight practice, something he believes is partly responsible for keeping him unbeaten in 31 fights.
“My superstitions, honestly, what I do is, the whole week of the fight, I don’t take a shower,†Bradley revealed. “I don’t know why that’s one thing that I don’t do. I don’t care. I’m not ashamed of me. That week, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, I don’t take a shower.â€
Pacquiao, for his part, was asked to further comment on Bradley’s no-shower right. The fighting congressman declined, instead insisting on maintaining proper hygiene.
“No comment ako dyan... kailangan maligo para hindi ka mabaho (you need to take a bath so you won’t stink),†he said.
While Pacquiao didn’t delve deeper into the issue, the same wasn’t the case for his buddy and assistant trainer Buboy Fernandez.
Fernandez promised that his pal will give Bradley a different type of shower on fight day.
“Mas maganda ‘yun na hindi siya maligo, para pagdating sa laban, paliguan natin siya ng suntok para babango siya (It’s better for him not take a shower because we’ll shower him with punches during the fight),†said Fernandez.