Roach to Manny: Show Bradley ‘no mercy’

MANILA, Philippines – “Close the show. No mercy.”

Such is the phrase made up by Freddie Roach that should serve as Manny Pacquiao’s mantra as he seeks payback against Timothy Bradley in their rematch on April 12.

In a Top Rank release, Roach reiterated his desire for Pacquiao to pull off a “total and absolute victory” over Bradley, whom controversially defeated his ward the first time they met two years ago.

Roach said Pacquiao has sustained the fine form he had when he left the Philippines to resume training at the Wild Card Gym in Hollywood.

“Manny started the week a little slow due to jetlag but finished off strong on Saturday. He was just brilliant in his sparring on Saturday. His footwork was effortless, his hand speed was blazing and his power is as good as it’s ever been,” the multi-awarded cornerman explained.

Pacquiao earlier vowed to give Bradley no room and win all rounds against the undefeated American, something Roach claimed wasn’t the case in their first fight in June 2012. For their rematch, the Filipino icon is seeking a rout to avoid any controversy.

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Roach, for his part, will make sure Pacquiao stays true to his word.

“We are training for big game in this fight. Manny knows he is going to have to hunt Bradley down and close the show this time. The first fight with Bradley was so easy for Manny that after six rounds he just took it easy on him,” he added.

Pacquiao, indeed, looked contented to cruise past Bradley in their first fight and didn’t go for the kill. And while the fighting congressman appeared to dominate the bout, Bradley still escaped with a majority decision win – a result that was slammed by many in the boxing community.

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Roach says it won’t happen again.

“Not this time. Our Mantra is ‘Close the show. No mercy.’ You don’t have don’t have to be a groundhog to know that Bradley’s days as welterweight champ are numbered. It’s ‘Last Call’ for Bradley on April 12,” the bespectacled trainer stressed.

“Manny is really motivated for this fight. We decided no matter how many fights we have remaining, we are determined to run the table and win every one. And when it is over it is going to be as world champion. And that can only happen with a total and absolute victory over Bradley,” he continued.