MANILA, Philippines — The first time he fought Manny Pacquiao on June 9, 2012, Tim Bradley wound up both a winner and a loser.
He was given a widely criticized split decision win but his morale presumably hit the depths when a panel of judges, formed by the World Boxing Organization to review the bout, declared Pacquiao should have been the clear winner of their welterweight title clash.
On April 12, Bradley will get the chance to prove his detractors wrong when he tangles with the Filipino ring superstar again at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
The rematch between the Fighter of the Decade and the unbeaten American was formally announced by Bob Arum and Todd duBoef, Top Rank Promotions CEO and president, respectively, and Pacquiao adviser Michael Koncz on Saturday (Sunday in Manila).
Billed as “Let’s Play Two!” Pacquiao-Bradley II will be shown by HBO on pay-per-view.
Pacquiao earlier indicated that he had chosen Bradley to be his next opponent, but had expressed hopes that the bout be moved to May as his wife and Sarangani Vice Gov. Jinkee is giving birth to their fifth child in April.
Arum, however, already made the booking and Pacquiao, in his desire to reclaim the WBO 147-pound title, agreed to a guaranteed purse of $20 million.
Awarded with a contract extension by Top Rank, Bradley also accepted a $6-million offer, with PPV upsides like Pacquiao.
Both fighters will undergo Vada (voluntary Anti-Doping Assistance) testing.
After snaring Pacquiao’s welterweight crown, Bradley went on to fight former Pacquiao sparring partner Ruslan Provodnikov, surviving a 12-round knockdown to eke out a unanimous decision last March.
In October last year, the 30-year-old Bradley (31-0, 12 knockouts) enhanced his reputation by outpointing Mexican Juan Manuel Marquez, who posted a stunning sixth-round knockout of Pacquiao on Dec. 8, 2012.
The 35-year-old Pacquiao (55-5-2, 38 KOs) rebounded from those twin setbacks with a lopsided 12-round unanimous decision of Brandon Rios last November in Macau.
To drum up Pacquiao-Bradley II, press conferences will be held in Los Angeles on Feb. 4 and in New York on Feb. 6.
Pacquiao will start his preparation in the second week of February and will spend the first five weeks of training in Gen. Santos City.
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It’s official: Pacquiao-Bradley rematch set for April 12