MANNY Pacquiao (left) and Timothy Bradley oblige photographers after the weigh-in. AP
LAS VEGAS—Expect the fiery, unforgiving Manny Pacquiao to show up at MGM Grand Garden Arena tonight.
Irked by Timothy Bradley’s repeated taunts that his killer instinct is gone, Pacquiao has vowed to silence the American champion by knocking him out in their showdown for the World Boxing Organization welterweight crown.
Although Pacquiao did not say it openly, according to chief trainer Freddie Roach his prized ward did utter the magic words in one of their mitts session at Wild Card Gym in Hollywood.
A Team Pacquiao member also disclosed that what the Sarangani representative actually told Bradley in their faceoff during the event’s final press conference Wednesday was that he’s going to knock him out this time.
In their first meeting, Pacquiao underestimated Bradley and paid the price, losing his title by split decision despite dominating the first six rounds. Having learned his lesson, Pacquiao said he will press on the attack throughout the 12-round bout to be shown by HBO pay-per-view.
Instead of pouring it on only in the last minute of each round, Pacquiao said he will unload jabs and combinations the full three minutes and won’t give Bradley breathing room.
“Aggressiveness, lots of punches will be the key to victory,” said Pacquiao. For his part, Bradley said his mobility will enable him to fend off Pacquiao’s attacks.
But if the opportunity arises, Bradley hinted he’s willing to mix it up with Pacquiao as what he did against Juan Manuel Marquez in the 12th round of their bout last Dec. 12 when he nearly put the Mexican hero down en route to another split decision win.
Motivated
Both warriors are amply motivated to dispose of the other in scintillating fashion.
The 35-year-old Pacquiao is nearing the end of a great career and wants to prove that he’s still an elite fighter.
Expected to hang his gloves in two years, Pacquiao wants to leave on a blazing note.
And the first step is for him to post an absolute victory over the loudmouth Bradley. Bradley, on the other hand, wants to bury the bitter memory of the death threats and insults he got after emerging the surprise winner of Pacquiao-Bradley 1.
He wants the boxing world to recognize the legitimacy of his reign as 147-lb king.
He wants to be hailed as champ, not chump. He wants to be like Pacquiao, who casts a giant shadow even after getting knocked out cold by Marquez also last year.