Panic-selling the reinvented Timothy Bradley
THEY should also try a fair and honest way to market the third encounter between Manny Pacquiao and WBO welterweight champion Timothy Bradley.
The fight promoters had tried everything, tossing in falsehood, trampling upon honest results, borrowing hideous tricks, to sell the April 9 encounter in Las Vegas.
The result, naturally, was a mismatch, with the hapless boxing public on the receiving end.
* * *
As Pacquiao and Bradley prepare for a sales tour in the United States, there was however faint hope the third encounter would figure good enough in the vast pay-per-view market.
An early poll among fight fans out in the street hereabouts alone bared very limp interest.
The verdict: There was nothing significant to prove or explore in the rivalry.
* * *
There could be more shallow sales gimmicks during the coast-to-coast US sales tour.
A corny twist blended into the panic marketing when unbeaten world champion light welterweight champion Terence Crawford, originally a popular choice as Pacquiao’s worthiest foe in the April 9 bout, jumped in from nowhere to declare that Pacquiao would surely lose to Bradley.
Questioned on his vote, Crawford blurted: “Bradley will win, because he will win, period.”
Crawford would also insist Bradley did beat Pacquiao raw and clear in their first encounter in June 2012. Crawford also could not explain how and why.
* * *
Of course, they were also trying to make it appear that it would be a brand new Bradley that Pacquiao would be boxing next time out, improved and reshaped by the legendary Teddy Atlas.
That alone may not strike. But fight sellers would do well to use what Pacquiao himself had sworn that his next bout promises to be more colorful and exciting than the two previous fights, both rated a yawner.
No, Pacquiao did not say Atlas has made a better boxer of Bradley.
Pacquiao said Bradley of late has visibly become more upfront, combative-less evasive—and this should surely add fire and magic to the third encounter, period.
* * *
(GOODBYE, GREAT FRIEND: Lawyer Mariano Quintos Jr., who for years lived and functioned in his mild endearing ways in our neighborhood on G. Enriquez st., Mandaluyong City, passed on quietly last week. He has been interred in his native Balanga, Bataan. Mang Mar had been of great help to us in many community undertakings, without making himself noticed at all. Prayers please for this great lawyer and dear friend.)
