By John F. McKenna (McJack): The question being asked by many boxing fans is how can World Boxing Organization (WBO) light welterweight champion Timothy Bradley (28-0-1 NC, 12 KO’s) win his upcoming fight with Filipino icon WBO welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao (54-3-1, 38 KO’s) if he does not respect his power? And of course the follow up question to that is does “Desert Storm” have enough power to hurt Pacquiao?

Bradley and Pacquiao will clash on June 9 at the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas. It should be noted that Bradley was not the first choice to be Manny’s next opponent. That distinction would have gone to WBC welterweight champion Floyd Mayweather Jr. (42-0, 26 KO’s). Unfortunately for boxing fans that fight was not made and in all probability will never happen.

After it became evident that Mayweather would not be the next opponent for “Pacman” the focus briefly switched to WBA light middleweight champion Miguel Cotto (37-2, 30 KO’s). Cotto’s career was reenergized when he scored a 10th round TKO over his long time nemesis former WBA welterweight champion Antonio Margarito (38-8-1 NC, 28 KO’s) last December. Cotto however opted to fight Mayweather rather than face Manny in a rematch.

So in reality Bradley is Top Rank CEO Bob Arum’s 3rd choice to face Pacquiao. Just a few months ago Manny’s trainer Freddie Roach was dismissive of Bradley when his name was mentioned as a possible future opponent for “Pacman”. As frequently happens in boxing however Roach was forced to accept Bradley as a viable alternative to Mayweather and Cotto.

Bob Arum will do his best to promote Bradley, who is a long way from being a household name and has never been known as a fighter who is able to lure boxing fans to see him fight. Bradley is young and strong and is always in shape for his fights. He is also undefeated. Arum will be quick to highlight all of Bradley’s attributes. But does he have enough firepower and enough punching power to keep Pacquiao at bay?

Bradley concedes himself that Manny has more power than he does. And while Timothy is fast, by no stretch of the imagination does he have the speed to rival Pacquiao’s or is he able to pile up the high volume of power shots that Manny is capable of. Manny is also recognized to have a tough chin.

So the question that begs to asked is, with all of Pacquiao’s advantages, how does Bradley propose to pull off an upset victory? Manny’s critics gleefully report that he is quickly going downhill and fighting of borrowed time. If nothing else Bradley will demonstrate whether Pacquiao is still at the top of his game or whether he is on the downside of his illustrious career.