Time for Bradley to prove self

MANILA, Philippines - Timothy Bradley has a lot of things to prove when he meets Manny Pacquiao for the second time on April 12 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

Bradley wants to show the world that he rightfully won his first fight with Pacquiao almost two years ago because many thought it should have been the other way around.

Then he wants to prove that he can fight toe-to-toe – if and when needed, and that he deserves to be high on the list of the best pound-for-pound boxers today.

“I am out to prove that I am one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the sport, if not the best,” Bradley said in his own blog that appeared on ESPN.com.

“This next fight will be no different in helping me show the fans that I am top pound for pound in the world. I have a lot to prove and nothing can stop me on my way to being No. 1 in the world,” said Bradley.

The 30-year-old American is undefeated in 31 professional fights. In June 2012, he came close to tasting his first defeat but got away with a highly contested decision over Pacquiao.

In 2013, he fought twice, and again, he won twice, a rugged battle against Russian beast Ruslan

Provodnikov and one over Juan Manuel Marquez.

Many thought Bradley would have a very tough time against Marquez, who came to the fight riding the momentum of his incredible knockout win over Pacquiao.

But Bradley proved a lot of people wrong. He dominated Marquez.

Bradley said in his blog that his victories in 2013 should earn him the respect of the boxing world, regardless of the outcome of his first fight with Pacquiao.

“With these two fights I was able to show that I can outbox a top-five pound-for-pound boxer and I could also go toe to toe with one of the most feared punchers in the sport. 

“In my two fights in 2013 I was able to show that I can do it all in the sport of boxing,” Bradley wrote.

All he has to do now is prove it – against Pacquiao.