Bradley may give Pacquiao problems

By Boxing News - 02/07/2012 - Comments

Image: Bradley may give Pacquiao problemsBy John F. McKenna (McJack): Undefeated World Boxing Organization (WBO) light welterweight champion Timothy Bradley (28-0, 12 KO’s) who takes on WBO welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao (54-3-2, 38 KO’s) at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on June 9 is primed to give the Filipino icon a stiff test.

Seen by many as a fill in for Manny until a higher profile fighter can be found, Bradley should not be taken lightly.

With only 12 KO’s in his 28 victories there are some who think Manny will not have a lot of trouble defeating and possibly knocking out “Desert Storm” as Bradley is known to his fans. But Bradley’s KO percentage does not tell the whole story. Timothy has a style that is difficult to train for and may be difficult for “Pacman” to cope with. Bradley also has a 3rd weapon that almost all of his oppoenents must fear to some extent. Timothy’s 3rd weapon is perhaps his best weapon and the most difficult to defend against. It is his clean shaven head.

Very few boxing observers will come right out and accuse Bradley’s “accidental” head butts of being intentional, but the fact remains that if you fight Bradley you can almost count on being head butted at some point during the contest. And of course the danger for any fighter is that he will suffer a dangerous cut from one of Timothey’s head butts.

The deal for the Bradley – Pacquiao fight should not be difficult to put together since both fighters are under contract to Top Rank and it’s CEO Bob Arum. Still, Bradley has the advantage of knowing that he was not Pacquiao’s first choice. That would be WBC welterweight champion Floyd Mayweather Jr. (42-0, 26 KO’s). Nor was Bradley Pacquiao’s 2nd choice. Manny’s 2nd pick would have been WBA light middleweight champion Miguel Cotto (37-0, 30 KO’s). So in essence, Pacquiao was left with no other place to go but Bradley.

Pacquiao has been promised $20 million for the Bradley fight and for Timothy it is a chance to play among the super stars of boxing. Arum, always thinking ahead, is looking down the road to November. Reportedly WBO lightweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez (53-6-1, 39 KO’s) will face off with new WBA/IBF light welterweight champion Lamont Peterson (30-1-1, 15 KO’s) in July. The winner of that fight would then fight the winner of the Bradley – Pacquiao fight. Evidently “Uncle” Bob is hedging his bets in the event he is still unable to put the Pacquiao – Mayweather fight together.



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