Manny’s heaviest at 147
Manny Pacquiao. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO/KEATS LONDON
LAS VEGAS—If dagger looks could kill then Manny Pacquiao would have been dead by now.
Timothy Bradley vainly tried to intimidate the eight-division world champion by glaring at him, never blinking, the moment he stepped into the makeshift stage where the official weigh-in was held Friday (Saturday in Manila).
An amused Pacquiao, who’d been in similar situations many times, refused to be drawn into a useless tussle with the real war for the World Boxing Organization welterweight crown less than 24 hours away.
Instead, Pacquiao broke into a genuine, confident smile.
After all, he was right on the dot, 147 pounds, when he boarded the scale.
It was the heaviest the 33-year-old Pacquiao has ever weighed for a fight, surpassing the 145.75 he posted against Joshua Clottey in 2010.
Bradley, the 28-year-old WBO light welterweight king, checked in at 146, a pound lighter than when he beat Luis Abregu by decision in 2010.
Pacquiao fans need not worry, however, as it was close to chief trainer Freddie Roach’s goal of 145 to 146 pounds.
The extra pound was due to the breakfast and light lunch Pacquiao took, nibbling at plain rice, pancit, beef stew, fried fish and embotido before the weigh-in.
The reason behind the smile, according to Pacquiao, is because he’s so happy with God by his side.
Pacquiao’s calmness was in stark contrast to Bradley’s stiffness and edginess that merited boos before the crowd of over 4,000, majority of whom were Filipinos.
“I’m ready for war. I’m ready for war,” said Bradley, who’s half an inch shorter than Pacquiao at 5-foot-6. “The boos don’t matter, I’ve been here before.”
Bradley, a 1-4 underdog, said the fans’ reaction is immaterial as by the end of the day it will only be him and Pacquiao inside the ring.
According to Bradley, he’s hungry and determined and won’t waste the opportunity accorded him by Pacquiao and Top Rank.
“Look at my physique, baby. I trained very hard for this fight. They’re going to see a war, baby.”
Of course, Pacquiao is battle-scarred and is raring to send Bradley to ring school.
Before giving the ring lesson, however, Pacquiao, an ardent Celtics fan, will be able to watch Game 7 of the Miami-Boston NBA Eastern Conference finals. Revered promoter Bob Arum said he took it upon himself to give his brightest star the small concession before the fight.
