Pacquiao vs. Bradley 2: is timing the key for Tim?

By Boxing News - 03/27/2014 - Comments

By Gerardo Granados: A friend of mine asked me who am I going to bet for in the upcoming April 12th rematch between Manny Pacquiao (55-5-2, 38 KO’s) and WBO welterweight champion Tim Bradley (31-0, 12 KO’s) at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada, but I told him that I haven’t made up my mind yet. Then he asked if I thought that Bradley had a good chance to win. I responded to him that I thought that Pacquiao had a big chance to lose the fight. Finally my friend asked me which would be the key for Tim to win; well I guess timing will be the key.

Manny clearly won his first bout back in 2012, but it took place two years ago and since then things have changed.

Now, Tim has proved to be a real champion after winning on the score cards against the current WBO light welter champion Ruslan Provodnikov last year, and Bradley then defeated, in a great “chess match”, the future hall of fame fighter Juan Manuel Marquez last October in beating him by a 12 round split decision. Meanwhile, Pacquiao was brutally knocked out by Marquez in December of 2012, and returned with a victory against a tailor-made opponent Brandon Rios last year in November, but the win for Pacquiao still left doubts on how really good does he still is.

Pacquiao turned 35 years old last December having debuted as a prize fighter 19 years ago way back in January of 1995. Curiously in the lower weight divisions he used to engage in bloody battles resulting more punished than when he moved up to welterweight; his power has demised since moving to the welterweight division back in November of 2009 having only one TKO victory against Miguel Cotto since that date.

Two years ago “Desert Storm” withstood the best punches of Pacquiao and there is no reason why to believe that he won’t do so on their next fight.

In their first bout Bradley showed good speed and mobility but was too eager to engage; he did made Pacquiao miss many punches but he also landed many of his own punches on the gloves or arms of Manny. Back then Tim had the right physical tools to defeat Manny but lacked the ring smarts needed to prepare his big punch or to counter with accuracy a long combination.

If Tim is able to time Manny´s big left that often comes after his right jab he could do the very same thing that Marquez was able to do. Young Pacquiao used to be very unpredictable but since his time with trainer Freddie Roach he has developed a tendency on his attack throwing his right jab to get range then move forward while throwing his big left but always leaving a big hole. Pacquiao often throws combinations to the head but loses balance while doing so. He goes in and out with his guard high, but he leaves himself open for uppercuts and had to rely on his good chin to withstand those shots

As for Tim, his major weakness could be his tendency to brawl. If he gets hit with a hard punch, he will react to it, and tries to land his own shot without being cautious. He leaves big holes to be countered with both rights and lefts from his opponents. Against Juan Manuel Marquez last October, Bradley boxed and was very smart for 12 rounds in that fight. That was the key to victory for Bradley. Styles makes a fighter look good or average, and Pacquiao’s boxing style can’t be compared to Marquez´s.

I bet the reader must have a different theory on the key for Bradley to win, but do you think that timing might be there for one?



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