Manny Pacquiao and Freddie Roach
LAS VEGAS—Manny Pacquiao will hang up his gloves when he wants to. It won’t be by forced retirement, as Timothy Bradley threatens to do.
“That (Bradley boast) is not new to me,” said a grinning Pacquiao on Wednesday. “(Brandon) Rios also told me that and look what happened.”
The only fighter to win world titles in eight weight divisions ravaged Rios last November in Macau.
Though not noted for his punching power, Bradley has repeatedly vowed to knock out Pacquiao and end the Filipino ring icon’s 19-year pro career.
Pacquiao said that isn’t likely to happen when they clash anew on Saturday.
Dismissing Bradley’s claims that he’s no longer the furious, fearsome boxer that terrorized foes until two years ago, Pacquiao said the hunger is back and he feels younger and stronger at 35.
He credited Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach and strength and conditioning coach Justin Fortune for his resurgence.
“Justin did a lot of exercises we didn’t do in the last seven years,” Pacquiao said.
He added that losing to Bradley never crossed his mind.
Pacquiao said he prefers to fight an aggressive Bradley so that he can unleash shots and combinations that they’ve been working out in the gym.
But he is not taking Bradley lightly. “We saw his toughness in the ring in his last two fights, but I’m prepared for whatever he will bring in the ring,” the fighting congressman said.
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