Bradley: Vargas not on Pacquiao’s level
Timothy Bradley Jr., takes questions during a news conference in Beverly Hills, Calif., on Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2016. Bradley is scheduled to face Manny Pacquiao on April 9 in Las Vegas for Bradley’s WBO welterweight boxing title.(AP Photo/Nick Ut)
LAS VEGAS–There’s no other boxer who knows both Manny Pacquiao and Jessie Vargas better than Tim Bradley.
Bradley, a five-time world champion in the light welterweight and welterweight divisions, fought Pacquiao three times and Vargas once.
Now, he’ll do color commentary when Vargas dangles his WBO welterweight crown Saturday night at Thomas & Mack Center here.
As to his take on the 12-rounder to be beamed live through Top Rank Inc. pay per view, Bradley was frank with his answers.
Bradley gave Vargas a very slim chance of winning over Pacquiao.
The 33-year-old Bradley should know. He won their first fight in a highly disputed split decision, lost the second via unanimous decision, and was knocked down twice in their third meeting last April 12 en route to a lopsided unanimous decision.
In his lone encounter against Vargas last year, Bradley was dominating Vargas until he got nailed by an overhand right in the waning seconds. He was staggered and was clinging on Vargas when referee Pat Russell prematurely stopped the bout, mistaking the 10-second warning as the final bell.
The three judges though had Bradley way ahead, 117-111, 116-112, 115-112, in the final tally.
Though he sees Vargas trying to be competitive, Bradley believes it will only be for a few rounds as Pacquiao will eventually figure him out and starts asserting his speed and power.
Discounting age as a factor, Bradley said Pacquiao was at his best in their third fight.
“Man, he was quick and explosive. More patient, more precise. Lightning speed, great punching power,” said Bradley, who said when Pacquiao threw those combinations, they were like bullets whizzing by his ears. I could hear them and I was like dodging them.”
Vargas will feel and hear them too, warned Bradley.
