The Sarangani congressman, who lost the first time the two met in a controversial split decision, took down the previously-undefeated American by unanimous decision, 118-110, 116-112, 116-112, Saturday (Sunday, PHL time), in their WBO welterweight title bout held at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, also the site of their first bout.
[Review the round-by-round coverage here]
The Filipino ring icon improved to 56-5 with two drawn and 38 wins inside the distance as he regained the World Boxing Organization welterweight world title he lost to Bradley on June 9, 2012.
Although he couldn't get his first knockout win since 2009, Pacquiao lived up to his pre-fight promise to come out with more aggression, denying Bradley's avowed aim of sending him into retirement with another defeat.
"I think I can go another two years," said Pacquiao, who has won world titles in an unprecedented eight weight divisions. "I'm so happy to be world champion again. Tim Bradley was not an easy fight."
Bradley, who said he fought from the first round with a right calf injury, fell to 31-1, with 12 knockouts.
"Life goes on," Bradley said of his first pro defeat. "It's back to the gym. Not a big deal."
Judge Glen Trowbridge scored the bout 118-110 for Pacquiao, while both Michael Pernick and Canada's Craig Metcalf saw it 116-112 for the 'Pacman,' whose every move was cheered by the star-studded crowd of 15,601 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.
After a tight first round, Pacquiao made his power felt in the second.
The third saw both fighters exchange at a furious rate, Pacquiao again landing the more damaging blows.
But Bradley shook Pacquiao in the fourth, and Pacquiao said California's "Desert Storm" was an improved fighter from the one who took a bitterly debated split decision in their first fight.
"Bradley is better from the first fight," Pacquiao said. "He hurt me on the chin. He made adjustments.
"I knew I had to do more this time than I did the last time," he added.
Although the pace slowed in the later rounds, Pacquiao put together multi-punch combinations in the seventh, and out-worked Bradley in the remaining rounds.
After throwing few punches in the 11th, a desperate Bradley swung wildly in the 12th, and Pacquiao finished the fight with a cut over his left eye from a clash of heads late in the final round.
For Pacquiao, his win opens the door to a fifth battle against Juan Manuel Marquez, should the Mexican win against Mike Alvarado on May 17, 2014 (May 18, PHL time). The Sarangani congressman though wouldn’t discuss any specifics, saying, “It depends on my promoter Bob Arum…my job is to fight in the ring any opponent.”
Back in 2012, Bradley won 115-113 115-113 113-115 despite Pacquiao looking like he dominated most of their match. Pacquiao followed that up with a shocking KO loss to Juan Manuel Marquez, prompting some to consider him too old to become a serious contender in the sport.
However, in this bout, Pacquiao made sure there was no room for doubt, en route to his win. - with a report from AFP / AMD, GMA News
source: gmanetwork.com
