It will be Pacquiao — but not by a knockout
So here we are, ready to watch Manny Pacquiao’s final fight in boxing, his goodbye wave to a sport he has helped define over the past decade. That is, if we can believe what the Filipino says: That Sunday (April 10) morning’s welterweight showdown with American Timothy Bradley, the third fight between the pair, will really be the last time he laces on gloves. Here is our guide on what to look out for Sunday:
So here we are, ready to watch Manny Pacquiao’s final fight in boxing, his goodbye wave to a sport he has helped define over the past decade. That is, if we can believe what the Filipino says: That Sunday (April 10) morning’s welterweight showdown with American Timothy Bradley, the third fight between the pair, will really be the last time he laces on gloves. Here is our guide on what to look out for Sunday:
MONEY MAN
Pacquiao turned 37 last December and has taken part in 65 fights since turning professional in January 1995, finally meeting long-time nemesis Floyd Mayweather almost a year ago in the most lucrative fight in history.
That lacklustre contest grossed more than US$550 million (S$743 million) worldwide and even though Pacquiao was comprehensively outboxed, his bruised reputation was likely soothed by the US$140 million he lugged home to General Santos City.
For many, those kinds of riches would likely dull the urge to trade punches, risking long-term health in the process. Mayweather retired after trouncing Pacquiao and has since shown no inclination to return.
As middleweight warrior Marvin Hagler once said: “It’s hard to get out of bed at 5am to go running when you’re wearing silk pyjamas.”
Yet Pacquiao is determined to end his glittering career on a high and is looking for an emphatic victory over 32-year-old Bradley, which would be his second over the man nicknamed “Desert Storm”.
HISTORY
The pair first met in June 2012, with Bradley taking a controversial split decision points victory.
Bradley was almost overwhelmed in the first half of that fight, then somehow survived a torrid sixth round before rallying down the stretch as Pacquiao faded.
With talk of a rematch swirling, Pacquiao instead opted to face Mexican Juan Manuel Marquez just six months later and the Filipino was brutally knocked unconscious in one of the most visceral finishes in boxing history.
Bradley did not have it much easier in his next outing as he took on Siberian Ruslan Provodnikov, having to climb off the canvas in a desperate struggle that left him slurring his words for several months afterwards. If the hurt game was ever to have persuaded either man to retire, then that was the time. Perhaps tellingly, Bradley’s wife Monica — now his manager — said during the build-up to this weekend’s fight: “I’m never going to tell Tim when it is time to quit because, for me, that was a long time ago.”
Bradley regrouped after his war with Provodnikov with a worthy win over Marquez, while Pacquiao headed to Macau for a confidence-boosting landslide points win against Texan slugger Brandon Rios.
That set up Pacquiao versus Bradley 2 in April 2014 — again at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas as is Sunday’s morning’s bout. This time Bradley went for the knockout, but a reliance on aggression eventually became his own undoing as Pacquiao took control with superior boxing for a creditable points victory.
It was Bradley’s first defeat in 31 fights and, at that point, there seemed little possibility of a rubber match to settle matters once and for all, although that is where we have come to stand now. It also helped set up the Mayweather fight for Pacquiao, via a thumping victory over Chris Algieri in Macau.
IN THE CORNER
The clash between trainers Freddie Roach and Teddy Atlas could be as fascinating as the fight itself.
Roach has been with Pacquiao for 15 years, steering him through his biggest successes against Miguel Cotto, Ricky Hatton and Oscar de la Hoya, among many others.
Roach thinks “Pacman” has more fights left in him, but even he admits his charge has lost some of the killer instinct that propelled him to world titles in eight weight divisions. Roach is the superior tactician, yet Pacquiao’s poor showing against Mayweather prompts questions about whether he can still implement a game plan.
As for Atlas, this is a man who once pulled a gun on a young Mike Tyson and has a scar carved into the side of his face from a teenage knife attack. He is no shrinking violet, and linked up with Bradley last year for a stoppage win over Rios. Between rounds in that fight, Atlas launched into a bizarre “We are firemen!” speech, so look out for a possible limelight-stealing outburst this time, too.
SIDESHOW
This is Pacquiao’s first fight since being dropped by main sponsors Nike for saying homosexuals were worse than animals. The evangelical Christian is likely to be decked out in Mitsubishi logos against Bradley.
Promoter Bob Arum is making a statement too, and has named the rest of the show the “No Trump” undercard, highlighting the number of Mexicans on the bill in contrast to US presidential hopeful Donald Trump’s attitude to immigrants.
ROAD TO VICTORY
Everything Pacquiao does comes from his incredible footwork, so look for the southpaw to sidestep his rival before slamming in that dynamite straight left that has scrambled so many of his opponents. His clever feints mean Bradley will not be sure what is coming next, and Roach has moulded the right hook into a wrecking ball that he can land, then roll away without taking a shot in return.
Bradley must be conservative to win, slowing the action down while trying to maul Pacquiao in close off the back foot with crunching shots to the body. Bradley has to score then steal away, like a thief in the night, to nick the rounds.
CONCLUSION
Pacquiao selected Bradley because he knows he can beat him, yet even though there were tougher tests available in Terence Crawford, Keith Thurman or Amir Khan, this is still a gamble.
If the Filipino’s decline has accelerated, then the fresher Bradley could be the party pooper because “Desert Storm” has improved under Atlas. The smart money says it will not be one-sided but Pacquiao has the power and superior fitness to register the victory he craves, most likely on points after 12 hard rounds.
If “Pacman” does triumph — and his troublesome right shoulder holds up — then expect all talk of retirement to be quickly forgotten by Monday morning.