By John F. McKenna (McJack): World Boxing Organization (WBO) light welterweight champion Timothy Bradley (28-0, 12 KO’s) says that WBO welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao (54-3-2, 38 KO’s) can be beaten and believes that he has the tools to defeat the eight time world division champion.

Bradley was quoted in the GMA NEWS saying the following:

“He can be beat. I just need to get in there and follow my game plan. I know his weaknesses, his favorite combinations. In my mind, I’m definitely going to win. I’ll take this guy.”

Bradley signed the contract to fight Pacquiao on Thursday with “Pacman” expected to follow suit this weekend according to his adviser Michael Koncz. Bradley will be out to spoil Pacquiao’s return to the ring when the fight takes place on June 9 at the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas.

Top Rank CEO Bob Arum began searching for alternate opponents when the hoped for fight between Pacquiao and undefeated WBC welterweight champion Floyd Mayweather Jr. (42-0, 26 KO’s) fell through. Mayweather rejected a 50/50 split with Manny and even turned down a $50 million dollar offer which included a 55/45 split witht 55 % going to the winner. After rejecting that offer the Mayweather camp made the announcement that Floyd would fight light middleweight champion Miguel Cotto (37-2, 30 KO’s) instead of Pacquiao.

Bradley’s confidence to some extent may be attributed to Manny’s poor performance against WBO/WBA lightweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez (54-6-1, 39 KO’s) last November. In that fight Pacquiao squeaked by with an extremely controversial decision in a fight many boxing observers felt that he had lost.

Bradley at 28 is in his prime and he feels that because he is ten years younger and also faster and stronger than Marquez has a very good chance of defeating Pacman. Boxing oddsmakers though have already installed Pacquiao, who is an explosively fast power puncher, as a 5 to 1 favorite. There are some who believe that Bradley, who has only 12 KO’s in his 28 wins will not have enough power to stop Manny when he is on the attack.

The Pacquiao – Bradley fight should be a pretty good indicator as to whether Manny’s performance against Marquez was just an off night, or whether at 33 the Sagangani Congressman’s career is on a downward spiral.