No out-slugging the skunk in Bradley?

A world boxing crown will be at stake—the one stolen from Manny Pacquiao by the judges in 2012.

But this late, it’s easy to suspect that Timothy Bradley, the fruit-faced owner of the title, has been having a tough time grappling with the borrowed kingship.

This uncertainty got doubly manifested last week after Bradley, 30, announced for the first time in public that he doesn’t use the shower during the week of his fight.

In Pinoy street parlance, he goes dehin goli, he doesn’t take a bath in the week of a big bout.

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There was no sane explanation why Bradley plays the skunk while an important battle draws near.

That’s also a form of fickleness being shown by a reluctant boxing superstar?

Pacquiao, hardly amused, quipped that the stinking issue was crazy, out of this world.

Maybe Freddie Roach himself did not want to have anything to do with the bathroom problem.

Just the same, Roach sent out a strict order for a knockout win, the better to clear the (foul) air around the 8-division world title winner.

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That’s cute—but hardly cozy. Bradley had, in fact, taunted Pacquiao to dig in early for a KO, crying, “You ain’t gonna win if you don’t stop me.”

Of course, Pacquiao could win convincingly by being perfectly competent, fit and sharp!

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A knockout should at best be a second option and must be chased once it presents itself.

Why? Because it’s no secret how Pacquiao slips and tends to choke—thereby leaving himself an easy target—each time he would jump in mindless for a jackpot stoppage.

This is one fact Roach—and Pacquiao—should make sure doesn’t get shrouded by a stinking bathroom issue. Instead, Pacquiao should stick to his tested rhythm, ride on newfound defensive maturity, by breathing freely on top of the ring.

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(BLAME GAME: Burly Efren Bermejo from Nueva Ecija, an outspoken sidewalk sociologist around Poblacion in Mandaluyong City, points an accusing finger at Ronald Reagan, blaming the late United States President for all the unabated corruption and nonstop political turmoil in the Philippines.

He says all the mess would’ve been averted had Reagan not rescued and saved the Marcoses from the wrath of a cursing, clawing populace that had started to storm Malacañang in 1986.

“Kung dumanak ang dugo at nadurog ang mga walang hiya, tapos ang kaguluhan (The troubles would have ended if there was bloodbath and the shame-faced were run to the ground),” swears Bermejo.

He explains that, had Regan not interfered, the Marcoses would’ve been lynched by the raging mob, like what had happened in Romania.

“The remaining politicians would’ve been deathly scared to repeat or replay the tyranny and greed of the Marcoses,” Bermejo says.)