By Yannis Mihanos: Just a few days before the big fight between WBO welterweight champion Tim Bradley (31-0, 12 KO’s) and Manny Pacquiao (55-5-2, 38 KO’s) on Saturday night at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada. The knives have already gone out from both sides. Eight time division world champion Pacquiao seems as ready as ever and as aggressive as ever for this fight.
Welterweight champion Bradley appears ready and confident too. In their sparring sessions both looked in tip top shape. Bradley seems overly muscular, and it is obvious to me that his increased body mass index was a main target for the preparation.
Boxing fans are expecting an exciting match between these two fighters. In the last two years, Bradley has proven himself as a credible fighter, a real warrior with 2 big victories over Ruslan Provodnikov and Juan Manuel Marquez. Those wins have definitely added a lot to Bradley’s confidence and how the boxing public views him. Let’s not forget also the fact that Bradley is still remains unbeaten at 31-0 as he goes into Saturday’s fight against Pacquiao.
Pacquiao, on the other hand, has done a lot in boxing with his unique personality out of the ring and explosive style in the ring. He has attracted massive audiences around the world. And the speculation about a potential showdown against big rival Floyd Mayweather Jr still makes headlines to this day. But two of Pacquiao’s recent losses to Bradley and Marquez have given food for talk about his motivation in the sport and future. Many fans have questions about whether Pacquiao still has the proper motivation to keep fighting.
Bradley said it right in front of Pacquiao’s face that the “the killer instinct is gone.” That I think has been an awakening call for Pacquiao. It’s an extra motivation to prove everybody wrong, especially Bradley.
This Saturday night there is also the motivation for both fighters to get justice after their previous fight together in 2012. In a way they were both victims. Pacquiao was arguably robbed from a clear victory by two of the judges, and Bradley was booed and treated like a criminal soon afterwards by fans angry at his questionable win over Pacquiao.
As the fight date approaches there will be no more lies or jokes. All answers will be given in the ring on April 12 at the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
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