Pacquiao beats Bradley via unanimous decision in ‘last fight’

LAS VEGAS–Manny Pacquiao hammered out a unanimous decision over Timothy Bradley Jr. Saturday night (Sunday, Manila time) at the MGM Grand here then acknowledged an emotional farewell from a crowd that was bent on sending its hero into the sunset with a roar of appreciation.

All three judges scored it 116-110 for Pacquiao, who scored two knockdowns en route to the decision.

“Every round, I was looking for a knockout but Bradley was too tough,” Pacquiao said after the match.

Pacquiao’s lefts landed in such a frequency that didn’t allow Bradley to do much except for the start and end of the match.

With a minute to go before the end of the 12th, the crowd at the Garden Arena suddenly gave a standing ovation despite a seeming lull in the action, as if to bid farewell to a hero.

“Thank you to all the fans of boxing. I really appreciate all your love and support to this industry,” Pacquiao said when asked for a final message to the fans, who roared back in approval. With a report from Mark Giongco

source: sports.inquirer.net

Pacquiao-Bradley: What to expect

LAS VEGAS—The continued reinvention of Timothy Bradley Jr. has forged under a veil of mystery, thus making it hard for experts to come up with cheat sheets on what to expect when he fights Manny Pacquiao for the third time Saturday at MGM Grand here.

It didn’t help, too, that Freddie Roach kept Pacquiao’s sparring sessions under wraps until the final day of training at Wild Card gym.

So most of the guesswork in a fight preview will rely on past bouts of the two and some of the clues provided by interviews with the trainers and glimpses of open workouts.

Manny Pacquiao expects the third fight to have a lot of fistic fireworks if only for the pronouncements coming out of Team Bradley that trainer Teddy Atlas has reshaped the American’s offense.

“There’s going to be more action in the ring because Bradley has a new trainer in Teddy and Teddy made some new strategy for this fight,” Pacquiao said.

While Atlas has only provided verbal clues as to what that strategy is, Pacquiao and Roach don’t want to take long to find out during the match. Roach’s key adjustment for the third fight is to get Pacquiao going earlier than usual.

“We want to shorten the feeling out stage,” Roach said.

That means Pacquiao is going to put his vaunted footwork to use early on and hope that whatever leg or foot problems he’s had in the past—and he’s had quite a lot—remains there.

Roach admitted that Bradley is the better inside fighter and an improved offense under Atlas might give the American more confidence to step inside the pocket and turn to his tireless punching to try and chip at Pacquiao’s defenses.

“Manny, I think, is better working on the outside,” said Roach. Pacquiao’s foot feints and side-to-side movement helps him work from outside going in.

But Atlas has said he will take a page or two out of the playbook of both Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Juan Manuel Marquez.

“It makes sense because those are the two guys that gave him some problems,” said Atlas. Mayweather avoided the hurt by staying out of the pocket as much as he could so Bradley will probably try to step inside, deliver blows and then move out before Pacquiao can react.

Atlas is also hoping that Bradley can constantly decode Pacquiao’s movements inside the ring so that he can decipher when the Filipino ring icon will make his move and turn into some sort of an active and aggressive counterpuncher like the Mexican warrior Marquez.

Marquez timed Pacquiao’s foot movements perfectly when the Pacman tried to set up his jab-straight killer in the final moments of round six in their fourth fight last December, 2012 and caught Pacquiao with a looping right hand that switched off the lights for a resounding knockout victory.

Atlas wants Bradley to achieve that level of foresight.

“[Bradley] already knows what the end result is, that is [Pacquiao] coming forward with just a bushel of punches and, again, that explosiveness,” said the TV analyst. “But before that there’s some warning; there’s something there, some delay before that happens.”

Both fighters also tend to lower their guard a bit. When not leaving his midsection open coming in, Bradley has the tendency to drop his left hand a lot and that could bring Pacquiao’s right hook into play.

When going for a blitz, Pacquiao has been known to be prone to the overhand right, a shot Marquez has expertly landed—sometimes at will—against Pacquiao. Also, that chin is sometimes open as he works his way inside with foot movement-fueled misdirection, leaving the eight-division champion sometimes open to a hybrid looping right counter.

However, Bradley has never been a big puncher and Roach knows that.

“Tim Bradley is not a big puncher. He’s a little bit slow and he’s never hurt Manny. He’s not a power puncher at all.”

This might embolden Roach and Pacquiao to unload in volumes without worrying much about counters. Bradley will have to really work his jab to keep that from happening. Otherwise, he might be reduced to backing out of exchanges and end up being the same Bradley as in the first two bouts.

source: sports.inquirer.net

Arum happy over modest ticket sales, PPV buys

LAS VEGAS—Top Rank chief Bob Arum said Friday that about 2,000 tickets are still up for sale a day before Manny Pacquiao and Timothy Bradley Jr. collide in the final chapter of their trilogy Saturday (Sunday in Manila) at MGM Grand here.

But Arum said he expects a lion’s share of those tickets to be gobbled up by weekend walk-in fans before the start of the pay-per-view card at 6 p.m. Pacific time.

But even if the rubber match between Pacquiao and Bradley doesn’t draw enough people to sell out the MGM Grand Garden Arena, Arum won’t mind. It wasn’t an easy promotion, even for an organization that just celebrated 50 years of producing fight cards.

For one, Pacquiao is coming off a long layoff that followed a lackadaisical duel with undefeated Floyd Mayweather Jr, which fell way short of the “Fight of the Century” hype. Pacquiao lost that match due to an injured shoulder.

Pacquiao also took a hit in his popularity after his comments on same-sex marriage.

That’s why Arum has set modest financial targets for this promotions.

“Whether [it’s a] sold out or 90 or 95% percent, we’re very happy with how the tickets went,” Arum told INQUIRER.net. Arum is also eyeing pay-per-view buys of 700,000, a far cry from the 4.4 million buys the Mayweather duel generated.

Arum is left to count whatever small victories Top Rank lands promotion-wise and one of them is the turnout at Friday’s weigh-in at MGM Grand.

“I think it’s very good [the reception]. The weigh-in was very good. People were well behaved,” Arum said.

source: sports.inquirer.net

Pacquiao tips scales at 145.5; Bradley pound heavier

LAS VEGAS— Manny Pacquiao tipped the scales at 145.5 pounds while Timothy Bradley came in a pound heavier ahead of their third showdown on Saturday at MGM Grand Garden Arena here.

Pacquiao, who was clad in all blue, was all smiles at the weigh-in Friday and promised anew to give the fans “what they want” on fight night.

“Expect more action in the ring. A better fight than the last two that we had,” Pacquiao said in an interview before a sizeable crowd at the arena.

Several Filipino fans were present to show their support for Pacman, even bringing Philippine flags and banners for the eight-division champion.

Bradley, chiseled as usual, was more subdued, even giving a shrug as he stepped on the scales. He immediately gobbled down a banana after putting his clothes back on.

The five-time world champion, who came with father Timothy Bradley Sr. and trainer Teddy Atlas, said he is taking the opportunity to prove he is the “top pound-per-pound” fighter in the world.

“This is another opportunity to show the fans that I can beat Manny Pacquiao,” Bradley said before thanking the fans.

Pacquiao and Bradley posed for photos with legendary boxing champion Roberto Duran while holding up the the special 12-karat diamond encrusted WBO belt, which is up for grabs in their April 9 bout.

Meanwhile, super middleweights Germany’s Arthur Abraham and Mexico’s Gilberto Ramirez both came in at 168 pounds for the co-main event.

Mexico’s Oscar Valdez, WBO’s no. 1 featherweight champ, tipped the scales at 125.5 pounds, half a pound lighter than Evgeny Gradovich from Russia.

Californian Jose Ramirez weighed in at 138 pounds while challenger Manny Perez from Colorado came in at 137.5.

source: sports.inquirer.net

Boxing promo tour for Pacquiao in New York

Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao was in New york on Thursday (Philippine time) to promote his last boxing match that would be held in April this year.

At the press conference held in Madison Square Garden, where Pacquiao invited his fans to watch his last professional boxing match.

He was accompanied at the event by his coach Freddie Roach and his wife, Jinkee Pacquiao.

source: gmanetwork.com

Pacquiao arrives in LA for press tour of 3rd match with Bradley

Sarangani Rep. and Filipino boxing icon Manny  Pacquiao has arrived in Los Angeles for the press tour of his upcoming rematch with Timothy Bradley in April.

Pacquiao was accompanied by his wife Jinkee to the Crystal Ballroom of The Beverly Hills Hotel, where the press tour will begin, a report by GMA News stringer Jayson Otamias said.

He will begin promoting what he stressed is his last professional fight.

In an earlier interview, Pacquiao said that he is ready to end his 21-year boxing career in order to focus on his political duties. He is running for senator in the May elections.

The press tour will be continued in New York City. Team Pacquiao and Team Bradley will be flying out to the city on Wednesday for the second press conference that will be held in The Theater at Madison Square Garden on Jan. 21.

Pacquiao left the Philippines for the tour on Monday.

Pacquiao will be facing Bradley to win the WBO Welterweight crown for the third time.

The match will be held at MGM Grand in Las Vegas on April 9. —Jessica Bartolome/KBK, GMA News

source: gmanetwork.com

Pacquiao showed cerebral side in match versus Bradley - analyst

Don't let that non-knockout win fool you.

While some may dismiss Sarangani Rep. Manny Pacquiao's non-knockout win over Timothy Bradley Jr. Sunday as boring, international boxing judge and referee Danrex Tapdasan sees it as a show of Pacquiao's cerebral side.

"(I)t's not about the knockout. It's all about how you study your opponent. These are world-class fighters, heavily conditioned," Tapdasan said in an interview on GMA News TV's "News to Go."

He said that had Pacquiao adopted an aggressive stance and gone for the knockout, he could been at the business end of a knockout punch from the younger Bradley.

"Kung si Manny Pacquiao entered this fight as the young Manny Pacquiao na sugod ng sugod, yung kaliwa lang ang kanyang inaasahan tapos paikot-ikot sa kalaban, I was afraid baka ma-headbutt siya along the way roon sa first half ng laban at matalo siya o magtabla lang ang laban," he said.

He added that with Bradley packing a strong punch, Pacquiao stood little chance of winning if his footwork and reflexes were slow.

Yet, he said Pacquiao learned to adjust, weathering Bradley's attacks in the first six rounds and getting back at his foe in the second half of the match when Bradley was getting tired.

Tapdasan also noted Pacquiao "knows how to move," moving backward when Bradley threw a punch, so he would not feel the full impact of the punch. "So kita mo ngayon ang evolution ni Manny," he said.

“[Pacquiao] adjusted into that kind of style. Ganoon katalino ang Manny Pacquiao," he added.

Because of this, he said Pacquiao showed he is now a "smarter fighter," adding boxing "is a mind game."

"So I can say this is a big win for Manny, a great win for Manny. For the longest time, I think I saw the best Manny Pacquiao that is possible," he added.

Pacquiao vs. Mayweather?

Meanwhile, Tapdasan said the chances of a match between Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. may be getting dimmer as both fighters' camps have yet to negotiate a deal for a bout.


Until both camps can end the "complicated battle of negotiations," he said a Pacquiao-Mayweather bout may remain the subject of a "video game fantasy match."

"Sabi ko, Mayweather will never beat Manny Pacquiao and Manny Pacquiao will never beat Mayweather because they will never fight. It will remain a fantasy game which we can only do in a video game fantasy match," he said. - Joel Locsin / AMD, GMA News

source gmanetwork.com

Pacquiao gets his revenge, dispatches Bradley for WBO title

It took two years, but Manny Pacquiao can finally say he has defeated Timothy Bradley Jr.

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

Bradley’s trainer says Pacquiao’s ‘compassion’ will be his undoing

LAS VEGAS - As outspoken as Tim Bradley is, so is his trainer Joel Diaz.

Bradley's return bout with Manny Pacquiao this weekend, according to Diaz, will be the last in the colorful career of the Filipino ring icon, as he vowed another win for the reigning World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight champion.

"I think this will be Manny Pacquiao's last fight. Like everything in life, there is a beginning and an end. And I think this is Manny Pacquiao's end," he said.

Bradley's trainer said the legendary Filipino fighter's advanced age and lifestyle change has a lot to do with it.

A former world lightweight contender, Diaz said he's trained fighters who are both in the prime and at the end of their careers, and at 35-years-old, he said Pacquiao is obviously showing signs of slowing down.

"Common sense that Manny Pacquiao at his age, he's got a lot of wear and tear in his body. I don't remember when was the last time he had a knockout.” he said.

And becoming a devoted Christian also affected his performance inside the ring, according to Diaz, who observed the eight-time world champion become more compassionate to his opponents.

"If you're compassionate to your opponent, you don't belong in the sport, because this [boxing] is all about fighting, you have to execute against the opponent in front of you.

"But if you feel sorry for them, you don't belong here. Go find another sport, hopefully, golf or tennis," he said.

And Diaz guaranteed Bradley would try to take advantage of it, if Pacquiao becomes too considerate inside the ring on Saturday night (Sunday, Manila time).

"He's determined to show he can beat Manny Pacquiao," Bradley's trainer said. "You’re gonna see Bradley attack Manny Pacquiao. At his age, a young fighter like Tim Bradley can't be worn down. We have a lot for Manny on that night and I can see their worry and concern.

"He's gonna box, he's gonna brawl, it depends on what Manny Pacquiao brings every round. Every round I'll make adjustments, but you won't see Bradley backing down." - Gerry Ramos, SPIN

source: gmanetwork.com

 

Pacquiao eager for decisive win in Bradley rematch

LAS VEGAS - Manny Pacquiao wants a decisive victory over Timothy Bradley in their eagerly anticipated welterweight world title rematch Saturday (Sunday, PHL time) in Las Vegas as he bids to avenge a controversial loss two years ago.

America's Bradley, renowned for his amazing durability, snapped the Philippine icon's 15-fight unbeaten streak with a debatable split decision triumph in their first showdown on June 9, 2012.

The 30-year-old Bradley is out to prove he was deserving of the World Boxing Organization belt he seized that night and has since defended twice.

For Pacquiao, 35, whose loss to Bradley was followed by a sixth-round knockout defeat to Juan Manuel Marquez, it's imperative he prove his unanimous decision victory over Brandon Rios in his only fight of 2013 marked a real rebirth of his ring career.

"This is a 'must-win' situation for us," Pacquiao's Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach said.

Even though Roach and "Pacman" want a clear-cut victory, both said Pacquiao - who has had to fend off talk of retirement - can't go in aiming for a knockout.

Instead, they say he must press his attack consistently, avoiding the fallow minutes that apparently cost him the decision in the first Bradley fight, even though Pacquiao landed more punches and more power punches overall.

"I'm not thinking about a knockout," the Filipino said. "My focus is to throw a lot of punches. I'm going to be aggressive. If the knockout comes, it's a bonus."

Added Roach: "We're looking to win every round, one at a time."

'Manny can punch'

Southpaw Pacquiao, the only man to win world titles in eight weight divisions, staked his claim to boxing's pound-for-pound crown with a spate of impressive knockout victories in 2008 and 2009.

That included a ninth-round stoppage of David Diaz that proved Pacquiao could step up to lightweight and retain his fearsome power.

He went on to stop Oscar de la Hoya in a 2008 welterweight bout, and delivered a spectacular second-round knockout of Britain's Ricky Hatton in 2009.

Later that year, he punished Miguel Cotto en route to a 12th-round technical knockout in another welterweight bout - but Pacquiao hasn't finished off an opponent inside the distance since.

Debate has raged as to whether he has lost his knockout power, or perhaps become too "compassionate" towards opponents after a deepening of his Catholic faith.

"Manny can punch - he does have knockout power," Roach insisted Thursday (Friday, PHL time) as the fight at the MGM Grand Garden Arena drew near.

If Pacquiao has held back out of compassion for his foes, Roach said he'd likely learned his lesson in his most recent defeats.

In the 2012 loss to Marquez, Pacquiao had the Mexican star on the canvas in the fifth round and in trouble in the sixth before Marquez connected for a stunning one-punch knockout.

Pacquiao, who owns a record 55-5 with two drawn and 38 knockouts, puts that defeat down to "carelessness."

However, it's given Bradley some boasting rights since the American has since edged Marquez in a duel between the last two men to beat Pacquiao.

That win over Marquez followed Bradley's 12-round decision over Ruslan Provodnikov, in which the American absorbed a massive amount of punishment before emerging triumphant.

'Tough guy'

Bradley's durability - on display against Provodnikov - is one reason not to seek a knock-out, Roach said.

"He's a very resilient, tough, tough guy," Roach said.

But Roach believes that Pacquiao has the skill to cope with Bradley's slick movement, and showed against Rios that he can still put together long combinations that will make the difference against the counter-punching Bradley.

"We're using a lot of angles and hopefully that will nullify his defense," Roach said. "We'll set traps, catch him on the ropes - when we have him on the ropes, Manny knows what to do."

And if the chance to knock out Bradley does come, Roach believes Pacquiao will take it without hesitation, fired by Bradley's pre-fight claim that Pacquiao had lost his "killer instinct."

"When we're on the mitts we talk sometimes about strategy and what's going to happen," Roach said.

"He told me one day, 'When I hurt him, this is the combination I'm going to finish him with.'

"I was so happy to hear that." - AFP

source: gmanetwork.com

Vegas arrival gives Pacquiao flashbacks to when he was an up-and-comer

LAS VEGAS – Stepping in the world’s `Entertainment Capital’ for the first time in 16 months brought memories rushing back to Manny Pacquiao.

Although now a larger-than-life figure in the boxing world, the future Hall of Fame can’t help but reminisce and compare his title bout against Timothy Bradley Jr. this Saturday (Sunday, PHL time), to his very first shot at a world championship under the bright lights of Vegas in 2001.

Pacquiao, then an unknown last-minute substitute as a challenger, pulled off a major upset when he dethroned Lehlo Ledwaba of South Africa with a sixth-round technical knockout to win the International Boxing Federation (IBF) super-bantamweight crown.

The bout served as an undercard for the Oscar Dela Hoya-Javier Castillejos match for the World Boxing Council (WBC) welterweight belt.

Looking back, the 35-year-old Filipino said he is feeling the same way in his rematch against Bradley, the reigning World Boxing Organization (WBO) champion after beating Pacquiao two years ago in a highly-disputable split decision.

“Excited ako na maramdaman 'yung parang nagsisimula ako na gusto kong mag-champion,” recalled the former eight-time world champion inside his suite at the 61st floor of The Mandalay Bay Hotel on Monday evening shortly upon arriving here following a six-hour road trip from Los Angeles.

“Parang break ko na first time kong lumaban sa world championship.”

The rematch with Bradley will be at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, where Pacquiao has fought 10 times, including the Ledwaba showdown.

In all, this will be the boxing legend’s 15th bout in Las Vegas and 24th in the US.

He last fought here in 2012 when he was knocked out faced-first by Mexican nemesis Juan Manuel Marquez in a shocking sixth round loss.

“Masaya tayo [na nakabalik sa Las Vegas],” said Pacquiao.

As expected, a festive atmosphere welcomed the Filipino ring icon during his Las Vegas arrival.

Pacquiao sparred at the Wild Card gym for the last time by engaging Roman 'Speedy' Gonzales for four rounds to cap his two-hour workout presided over by trainer Freddie Roach.

Close to 40 vehicles joined the convoy of the boxing star on its way to the 'City of Lights,’ including the traditional, customized bus bearing the large and colorful images of both Pacquiao and Bradley that carried 56 passengers, including the Pacman’s parents Dionisia and Rosalio Pacquiao.

Upon arriving at his suite, Filipino cuisine such as pansit, apritadang manok, tinola, kalderetang baka, and pakbet awaited Pacquiao in the dining table.

Asked about his weight, the congressman from Sarangani said everything is manageable, adding, “Wala tayong problema sa timbang.”

As for any other concerns, Pacquiao, who’s expected to make his formal grand entrance at the MGM lobby on Tuesday (Wednesday, PHL time), said he certainly has none.

“One hundred percent na tayo,” was his definite assurance. - Gerry Ramos, SPIN

source: gmanetwork.com

Freddie Roach laughs off Bradley's knockout threat

HOLLYWOOD – Timothy Bradley’s threat of beating Manny Pacquiao with his vaunted left hook hardly fazed Freddie Roach.

“He can’t punch with either hand,” the highly-respected trainer said, mocking the reigning welterweight champion, who stakes his World Boxing Organization (WBO) belt against Pacquiao on April 12 (April 13, PHL time) at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

“I’m not worried about it [left hook]. He can kick me if he wants to.”

Bradley made the boast on Thursday during his media workout at the Fortune gym when he proclaimed that his left hook will finish off the 35-year-old Pacquiao in their rematch in the same manner the right hand of Juan Manuel Marquez sent the Filipino boxing superstar to dreamland during their fourth meeting in 2012.  



But Roach simply laughed off the remark by the unbeaten title holder, stressing Bradley is obviously just trying to make noise for the 12-round bout.

“For Timothy Bradley to say that is quite surprising because I thought he is a good guy and a gentleman like Manny,” said Roach Friday shortly after training Pacquiao and former world champion Miguel Cotto one after the other at the Wild Card gym.

“He’s talking trash like I am. He’s just trying to talk himself into the fight.”

The Hall of Fame trainer, a disciple of the late great Eddie Futch, however, maintains his respect for Bradley, who dealt Pacquiao his first loss in seven years during their 2012 fight when he scored a split decision to dethrone the pride of General Santos City as the world’s 147-lb. king.

“This guys has never been knocked out before. He’s a tough guy, maybe one of the toughest guys in the world, and he took a lot of punishment in some real tough fights. He’s very game,” he said of the 30-year-old Bradley, whose record stands at 31-0 with 12 KOs. - Gerry Ramos, SPIN

source: gmanetwork.com

Manny Pacquiao dismisses Bradley's trash talk about his lethal left hook

HOLLYWOOD – Manny Pacquiao could only smirk when told Tim Bradley was going to use him for target practice with his supposedly lethal left hook. when they meet in the ring again almost a week from now.

The Filipino ring icon let out a short grin upon learning about Bradley’s boast during the media workout of the reigning World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight champion on Thursday.

“Kawawa [naman],” Pacquiao blurted out without further elaborating.

During his media workout at the Fortune gym, Bradley was asked if he had the same powerful right just like Mexican Juan Manuel Marquez, who knocked out Pacquiao cold in the sixth round of their fourth meeting in December of 2012.

Bradley, still unbeaten in 31 professional fights, said he doesn’t have the mean right hand of Marquez, but boasted his left hook will take care of Pacquiao in their April 12 (April 13, PHL time) rematch.

But other than the one-liner, Pacquiao refused to comment about the champion’s recent boast.

The 36-year-old Filipino, who will challenge Bradley next Saturday (next Sunday, PHL time) at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, did six rounds of sparring behind closed doors at the Wild Card gym as he tapers off in the final week of his two-month training for his first fight of the year.

Pacquiao had a full meal shortly after the two-hour workout with trainer Freddie Roach, feasting on chicken, a bowl of soup, tapa, and a platter of fruits in his favorite haunt, the nearby Nat’s Thai restaurant adjacent to the famed sweatshop along Vine St. in Hollywood.

The eight-time world champion said making weight is not a problem at this point.

“Kain lang ng kain,” said Pacquiao after finishing his meal inside the packed eatery.

Pacquiao’s training camp has been observing strict rules of late with only a few people allowed inside the gym to watch the boxing great prepare for his rematch against Bradley, two years since being beaten by the American via a controversial split decision.

Haplas Fernandez, a longtime training assistant of the Pacman, however, described training as very intense, with sparring-mates being hammered one after the other.

“Nagbabagsakan [the spar-mates]. Sabi nga namin yan ang sparring, walang awa-awa,” said the brother of Pacquiao childhood friend and trainer Buboy Fernandez.

Pacquiao said he’ll still spar for four rounds each on Saturday and Monday before finally leaving for Las Vegas five days before his rematch with the 30-year-old Bradley. - Gerry Ramos, SPIN

source: gmanetwork.com