Bradley insists Manny is gone, has lost fire

MANILA, Philippines - If the theme is vindication for Manny Pacquiao, it’s redemption for defending WBO welterweight champion Timothy Bradley when they meet in their much-awaited rematch at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on April 12 (Sunday morning, April 13, Manila time).

In a recent 12-minute confrontation on TV’s “Face Off With Max Kellerman,” neither Pacquiao nor Bradley blinked. Bradley looked at Pacquiao in the eye, trying his best to intimidate. Pacquiao smiled, refusing to be pulled into a mental war, and was never ruffled. Bradley was boastful. Pacquiao was gracious. Their contrasting personas set an intriguing stage for the return duel, something fans waited to happen two years after controversy clouded the outcome of the first encounter.

Bradley, 30, referred to the dispute as a “dark cloud” which he said, will disappear once he beats Pacquiao convincingly in the third defense of the crown he wrested from the Filipino. “I’m willing to do what it takes to win this fight,” said Bradley who was branded “damaged goods” by some boxing watchers after suffering a concussion and slurring for about three weeks in the wake of a brawl with Ruslan Provodnikov last year. Bradley said if he has to slug to win, he will – whatever style it takes to gain the decisive advantage.

Bradley insisted Pacquiao is no longer the same crowd-pleasing dervish who won eight titles in eight different divisions. “It’s gone, it’s not there anymore,” he said. “No more killer’s instinct. As for me, I still have it. Before, he was malicious with fists blazing. He’s not the same. He’s a tremendous fighter but I don’t see (the fire) anymore.”

But Pacquiao, unshaken in the face of Bradley’s rants, held his ground. “I pray that God will give me another fire,” he said. Nothing is impossible with God. My time is not done yet. I’ll throw a lot of punches, more than (what I threw against Brandon) Rios. I’ll be hungry, I’ll show aggressiveness. I want to give a good show.” Pacquiao said it is God who makes things happen because “without God, we can do nothing.”

Bradley said for Pacquiao to win, he has to score a knockout and claimed it won’t happen. “I’m healthy now,” he said. “In our first fight, I hurt my foot in the second round and I hurt it again in the fourth. I know I have to work hard to win. People say I ran but that’s boxing. Running sounds horrible. I can brawl or I can box. I’m a lot smarter now.”

Pacquiao said he doesn’t prepare just one style for a fight. “I prepare for different styles,” he said. “I’ll be ready for whatever style my opponent shows, whether he runs or comes in.” Throughout their studio confrontation, Bradley trained his sights on Pacquiao’s eyes as if to show he’s not scared. But he didn’t fool anyone, certainly not Pacquiao. Whenever Bradley raved, Pacquiao simply said, “that’s good.” It was the perfect way to disarm Bradley who appeared to disguise his fright with a put-on presence of seeming invincibility.

The “dark cloud” has clearly unnerved Bradley who admitted not being able to enjoy his “victory” over Pacquiao because in a poll of 51 media ringsiders, only three scored it for the Desert Storm – Thomas Hauser of HBO, Bart Barry of 15 Rounds and Brian Kenny of Top Rank. To make matters worse, the WBO organized an independent panel of five experts to re-judge the fight and the outcome was a unanimous decision for Pacquiao. The clear majority favored Pacquiao and Bradley hasn’t lived it down.

Two of the three judges saw it for Bradley and in terms of deciding the winner, that was the bottom line. Bradley took the WBO welterweight title on a split decision as C. J. Ross and Duane Ford had it 115-113 both for Bradley while Jerry Roth, 115-113 for Pacquiao. Compubox statistics didn’t back up the two judges who scored it for Bradley as Pacquiao had the edge in jabs landed, 253-159, power punches landed, 63-51 and total punches landed, 190-108. In every statistical department, Pacquiao was superior. How Bradley could’ve swayed two judges to score it his way was as mysterious as the disappearance of Malaysian Airlines Flight 370.

Ring Magazine writer Michael Rosenthal described Bradley’s win by split decision “a tough sell.” He said, “punch stats support a Pacquiao victory although they are unofficial … according to Compubox, Pacquiao outlanded Bradley in total punches in 10 of the 12 rounds with Bradley having an edge in one round and one round even.” Rosenthal pointed out that in Round 5, Pacquiao connected 22 total blows compared to Bradley’s eight but Ross and Ford scored the stanza for the Desert Storm. That kind of judging was difficult to justify in light of the numbers.

For Bradley, the time has come to prove once and for all he deserves to be on the WBO welterweight throne. Pacquiao is out to regain the belt that Bradley “borrowed” on a “stolen” verdict. There could be no more appropriate theme for either fighter – redemption for Bradley and vindication for Pacquiao.