Bradley trainer: Pacquiao better KO Tim

MANILA, Philippines – Manny Pacquiao needs no less than a knockout if he wants to get past Timothy Bradley in their rematch on April 12.

Otherwise, the Filipino icon may find himself in trouble.

Joel Diaz, Bradley’s trainer, made this assessment even as he vowed that stopping his ward would be a hard task.

"We know it will be a tough fight, but this time [we're looking to win things clearly]. Pacquiao's only chance is if he knocks Bradley out, but that won't be easy,” Diaz said in a boxingscene.com report by Salvador Rodriguez.

The first time they met two years ago, Pacquiao looked dominant but failed to dispose Bradley off, losing a majority decision to the shock of boxing observers. The fighting congressman has promised not to go easy on Bradley in their rematch to avoid another controversial result.

Diaz, for his part, said that Pacquiao better be true to his word or suffer the consequences.

“What I am sure of is that if [Pacquiao] does not [knock Bradley out], then Bradley is going to hurt him," the cornerman added.

Diaz then gave an update on Bradley’s weight, saying his ward is more comfortable this time compared to his past three fights.

“Bradley is looking very sharp. The big difference is that now Bradley walks around at 155 pounds and that has allowed us to focus on the fight and the strategy,” Diaz explained.

“The last time with Pacquiao, and with Ruslan Provodnikov and Juan Manuel Marquez – [Bradley] had risen to 185 pounds. This time he is walking at under 160 pounds, and that's very important," he further said.

Bradley will put the WBO welterweight title on the line against Pacquiao, the same crown he took from the Filipino in their first fight in June 2012.