HBO 24/7 Pacquiao-Bradley 2 episode 1 this Saturday, 3/29

bradley32By Chris Williams: This Saturday night, March 29th, the 24/7 Pacquiao-Bradley 2 episode 1 will be televised on HBO at midnight – 12:30 a.m. ET/PT. This will be the first of three episodes previewing the rematch between the two fighters. The previous time the two fighters faced each other in 2012, the episodes were less than thrilling to watch so hopefully they’ll improve this time around.

Alex Ariza, Pacquiao’s former strength and conditioning coach, is no longer with his team after he was let go due to Roach wanting him gone. That’s too bad, because Ariza was one of the few people that was worth watching on the 24/7 series. Having him gone is going to make it dull. Like in most of the 24/7 episodes involving Pacquiao, we’ll likely see Freddie Roach doing most of the talking. I’d like to see less of that and more actual training. Watching Roach brag about how good Pacquiao is gets old fast.

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My Two Cents: Part One – Meditations on Manny Pacquiao

pac156By Jay McIntyre:

“Our mantra is: ‘close the show, no mercy'” – Freddie Roach (latimes.com)

 Disclaimer: This is a painfully abbreviated version of a longer and more thorough article that can be found at: http://a-neutral-corner.blogspot.ca/2014/03/my-two-cents-part-one-meditations-on.html

Background

Manny Pacquiao’s (55-5-2, 38 KO’s) penchant for violence in the ring has been questioned since he stopped knocking people out after his twelfth round TKO of Miguel Cotto in 2009.

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The Whole Truth: Pacquiao – Bradley

pac734I have had it up to my eyebrows listening to so-called writers, columnists, experts, and fans talking about Manny Pacquiao – Tim Bradley. Cutting to the chase, it’s been a load of garbage from all angles. A million talking heads blathering on from a specific place located approximately three feet south of the mouth on the opposite side of their body. Sometimes a word of truth is spoken, most of the time there’s very little. Meanwhile vast amounts to insipid conjecture flood cyberspace as well as the very air we breath tainting both in the process. I come bearing the latter.

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Is the age of Pacquiao a deciding factor on his rematch with Bradley?

pac5By Yannis Mihanos: They kill the horses before getting old. In boxing and in many sports when people reach a certain age  they start to be called veterans, has-beens or spent forces. A prime example of that today in my article is Manny Pacquiao (55-5-2, 38 KO’s). He is  35-years-old  and preparing for his title fight against WBO welterweight champion Timothy Bradley (31-0, 12 KO’s) on April 12th next month at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada.  Many people now consider Pacquaio “old” for boxing. 

As an example they say he has become less aggressive in the ring since 2009 (versus Miguel Cotto). They also mention how he used to be so ferocious  and strong in the ring comparing to what he is showing in his last few fights. I have no argument with that because I have eyes too.

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Has Manny Pacquiao declined as much as critics are suggesting?

pac89898Manny Pacquiao (55-5-2, 38 KO’s) faces off against Timothy Bradley (31-0, 12 KO’s) in an intriguing rematch on April 12. Bradley won the first contest by a controversial split decision, but with many fans now believing the result will be the same this time round due to Pacquiao being in decline. But has Pacquaio really declined as much as people are saying?

We all know Pacman hasn’t stopped an opponent since Miguel Cotto (38-4. 31 KO’s) in November 2009, but his record shows after that fight, 3 landslide victories against Joshua Clottey (37-4, 22 KO’s) Antonio Margarito (38-8, 27 KO’s) and Shane Mosley (47-9-1, 39 KO’s) with Mosley being knocked down in the 3rd.

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Manny Pacquiao: Victory is all that matters

pac746By Yannis Mihanos: This morning I watched on You Tube, HBO’S Manny Pacquiao – Tim Bradley Face off with Max Kellerman. It’s duration was short, about 6 minutes but it was enough to notice a few things.

First thing that I noticed was that Pacquiao seemed uncomfortable with the presence of Bradley. Then I heard Bradley go on and say that he has watched again the tape of the fight and that he is sure that he won 8 out of the 12 rounds.

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Manny Pacquiao vs. Tim Bradley: Why fighting again?

bradley1112By Yannis Mihanos: On April 12 at MGM Grand Garden in Las Vegas, Nevada a big title fight will take place in the long awaited rematch between Tim “Desert Storm” Bradley and Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao. The reason why it’s been so highly anticipated is not because of the excitement that it may give, but also because of the controversy that it was created the first time.

Although the first match was a mismatch with Pacquiao the clear victor, somehow Bradley was rewarded with a points split decision. Immediately afterwards Pacquiao expressed no intention in fighting Bradley again. But what it did follow, made him change his mind.

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Bradley: Pacquiao’s not the same fighter

Pacquiao_Bradley_Faceoff_140203_001aBy Chris Williams: WBO welterweight champion Tim Bradley (31-0, 12 KO’s) thinks Manny Pacquiao (55-5-2, 38 KO’s) is just a shell of the fighter he used to be. Bradley doesn’t know what happened to the 35-year-old Pacquiao, but he feels he lost his will to fight in aggressive manner. He still thinks the Filipino star is a good fighter, but not nearly the guy he was many yesterday’s ago. Bradley sees the change in Manny’s game and he’s not going to hide the fact by not talking about it like many of Pacquiao’s fans aren’t willing to do. Bradley’s calling it like he sees it.

“Manny, the only way you’re going to beat me is if you knock me out,” Bradley said to HBO’s Max Kellerman on their Face to Face special. “If you don’t knock me out, Manny, you’re not going to win.”

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Manny Pacquiao vs. Tim Bradley II: Is it a matter of Pride?

pac555By Gerardo Granados: Next April 12 at Las Vegas, Nevada (USA) the defending WBO belt holder Timothy Ray Bradley Jr. aka Desert Storm (W31-L0-D0) will defend his strap against former multiple division champion Emmanuel Dapidran Pacquiao aka Manny Pacman Pacquiao (W55-L5-D2), but why is it that this fight should be relevant? Is it a matter of pride or is it simply that this is a fight that fits Pacman to look good? In their first bout the fight judges saw Bradley win but after a review the WBO stated Pacquiao had won but they didn’t gave back the belt; there is no doubt that Pacman clearly won the fight so why a rematch?

Desert Storm barely survived the Siberian Rocky Ruslan Provodnikov proving to have a champion heart, and then snatched a close victory against an aging but still dangerous and experienced lion Juan Manuel Marquez. But why is it that a direct rematch between Pacquiao and Bradley wasn’t ordered? Maybe it was because it was very clear it had been a robbery of the year award nominee. So, why is it that now this fight should be relevant?

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Bradley: I won’t want any excuses from Pacquiao after I whoop him

bradley567By Chris Williams: WBO welterweight champion Tim Bradley (31-0, 12 KO’s) is amused how Manny Pacquiao (55-5-2, 38 KO’s) has been making excuses about him being too compassionate with Bradley in their previous fight in 2012. Bradley says he doesn’t want Pacquiao to have any more excuses after he beats him next month on April 12th, so he’s looking to get him as motivated and angry as possible so that the excuses won’t be there for the 35-year-old Filipino star.

“Boy, did I get in his skin,” Bradley said via desertsun. “I didn’t think I would get under his skin. I’m just reciting what your fans are saying…He said he felt compassion for me in our first fight, and this time around he’s not going to show compassion…I want the best Manny Pacquiao. So when I whoop him, then I’ll get even more credit. I don’t want no excuses at the end of the night.”

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