Bradley picks Spence over Manny

Former WBC/WBO superlightweight and WBO welterweight champion Tim Bradley has lost to only one fighter in his career that spanned 37 fights and he was beaten twice by the same man. Bradley, 37, is now retired, hanging up his gloves after his second loss to Manny Pacquiao in 2016. When Bradley was thwarted by Pacquiao for the first time in 2014, he was previously unbeaten.

For the record, there were nine undefeated fighters whom Pacquiao beat – Keith Thurman (29-0), Chris Algieri (20-0), Bradley (31-0, 1 no contest), Jorge Solis (34-0-2), Emmanuel Lucero (21-0-1), Nedal Hussein (19-0), Seung Kon Chae (23-0), Dele Desierto (4-0) and Rocky Palma (4-0-1). On the flip side, Pacquiao lost to four unbeaten fighters – Jeff Horn (16-0-1), Floyd Mayweather (47-0), Bradley (28-0) and Medgeon 3-K Battery (18-0).

On Aug. 21, Pacquiao will battle another unbeaten fighter WBC/IBF welterweight ruler Errol Spence, Jr. who boasts a 27-0 record, with 21 KOs. Spence is four inches taller at 5-9 1/2 and five inches longer with a 72-inch wingspan. He’s also 11 years younger at 31. He’s logged only 27 bouts compared to Pacquiao’s 71. Pacquiao once said he’s been fighting for 30 years, starting as an amateur in General Santos City at 12. From what Pacquiao has displayed in training for Spence both in General Santos City and Los Angeles, it’s inconceivable that he’s 42. Australian trength and conditioning coach Justin Fortune calls him a freak of nature.

Bradley recently said despite Pacquiao’s strong points, he’s not invulnerable. Bradley himself beat Pacquiao once in three meetings. “Spence is a disciplined fighter, keeps his hands up, is tight with it, uses his stick (right jab) and controls distance outside,” said Bradley on fighthype.com. “As long as you keep Manny outside, you can beat him. I think Spence has the ability and showed it against Mikey Garcia. He never allowed Mikey to get a chance to land a bomb. If Spence does that same kind of fight, he can beat Manny. I favor Spence but you can’t count out Manny who’s a beast. I keep saying Manny’s the Tom Brady of boxing. He’s a tough guy, even at 42, he brings tenacity into the ring, he’s hungry. I’m just not sure how much he has left, I don’t know what he’s been doing. He’s been out of the ring two years since Thurman.”

Bradley said Spence isn’t Thurman. “He’s big, strong and long, has a consistent jab and knows how to control distance,” he added. “His framework is beautiful, the way he lines up his shots, gets himself in position, he does a lot of great things.” But Bradley said there’s a chink in Spence’s armor that could prove to be his downfall. “One thing that could offset him is he tends to come back to the center, he’ll do work then he’s right back in the center,” he said. “Manny loves guys who come straight back to the center, in the line of fire for his straight left hand. Manny’s seen it all. Spence might be a different look because I don’t think Manny has fought a southpaw as big, active and smart. But Manny’s always dangerous in the ring because power is the last thing that leaves you.”

Stamina will be critical. “Spence doesn’t get tired,” said Bradley. “He wears on you, he keeps coming and coming. The volume of work and his power wear on you. Speed will create opportunities for Manny who’s extremely quick and he closes distance fast. He’ll be here one second and there in the blink of an eye. If you’re not set and ready to punch, he’ll be looking for you to not be set, that way he can work.”

Bradley said after his second loss to and third fight against Pacquiao, he decided to quit. “I knew my time was up, I wasn’t willing to throw my body to hell again,” he said. Curiously, he’s not picking the only man to beat him – and beat him twice – to overcome Spence.