By Chris Williams: Freddie Roach is already predicting a knockout for his fighter Manny Pacquiao (54-3-2, 38 KO’s) ahead of his June 9th showdown against undefeated 28-year-old Timothy Bradley (28-0, 12 KO’s). This would sound like a reasonable prediction if Pacquiao were younger and still knocking guys out, but he’s no longer stopping opponents like he used to and his legs have slowed.

The stamina just isn’t there for the 33-year-old Pacquiao. It’s hard to believe that Pacquiao is only 33, because he looked closer to 38 than 33. When he fought 38-year-old Juan Manuel Marquez last November, oddly enough Marquez looked like the more youthful fighter both in appearance in the fight.

Frankly, I don’t think Pacquiao can fight at a high pace anymore without wearing down like an old clock and getting tired and beaten. He got a controversial decision in his last fight over Marquez, but I can’t see the judges giving him another victory like that. It’s kind of like that. You’ll get a fighter getting a controversial win but the judges won’t make a habit. When a fighter’s time has come then there’s not much you can do to save them from the young wolves that want to tear them apart.

Bradley is the young wolf and he’s spotted an aging fighter ready to be plucked. When you get old fighter they have to pace themselves because they’ll run out of gas if they fight hard looking for a needless knockout just to impress people. If Roach lashes Pacquiao by pressuring him to go for a knockout over Bradley it could backfire with Pacquiao getting trounced when he tires out. I’d personally hate to see the guy get whipped as he’s starting to age, but I’m not Roach predicting a knockout. I can just see it, Roach egging Pacquiao on trying to put him in a state where he’ll try and knock Bradley out. What will happen will probably be the reverse, with Pacquiao tiring out and getting stopped himself.