Manny Pacquiao and Timothy Bradley Jr. shake hands after the final press conference at the David Copperfield Theater inside MGM Hotel in Las Vegas, April 6, 2016. Pacquiao and Bradley are set to fight on Saturday (Sunday Philippine time.) PHOTO BY REM ZAMORA
LAS VEGAS–How do you solve a puzzle that is Manny Pacquiao?
Timothy Bradley tried twice and failed. Given a third and last tme to crack it, the five-time world champion believes he’d finally found the answer.
Go back to basics. Be fundamentally sound and be prepared for whirlwind attacks from Pacquiao.
The solution didn’t just spring out of nowhere. It was well thought of, studied and planned.
A collaboration between the veteran tactician that is Teddy Atlas and the gutsy soldier that is Bradley.
They noticed that most of the fighters who gave Pacquiao trouble–and a beating–were fundamentally solid.
The likes of Juan Manuel Marquez and Floyd Mayweather Jr., both master counterpunchers and thinking fighters, are prime examples.
A bloodied Marquez caught Pacquiao flush on the chin coming in to score a stunning sixth round knockout on Dec. 4, 2012, erasing the stigma of a draw and two defeats to the Filipino ring icon earlier.
Mayweather defeated Pacquiao in their colossal battle last year and retired with a clean slate, although it can be argued that the Filipino ring icon suffered a torn rotator cuff during their bout.
That’s why Bradley wants to imitate and be just like these sure Hall of Famers when he and Pacquiao clash on April 9 at MGM Grand Garden Arena.
Like them, Bradley vowed not to be mesmerized or be spooked by Pacquiao’s flashy, springy in and out movements.
According to Bradley, he will be ready to react whenever Pacquiao tries to sneak in or barge into his defenses.
Unlike the first two fights where Pacquiao found him an easy target.
“This time I know exactly what I’m looking at,” said Bradley. “I know what type of animal he is, what type of fighter he is.”
Pacquiao, of course, has always been known to be an offensive demon, who would overwhelm opponents with volume of punches that also hurt.
That’s why Bradley thinks the eight-division world champion will do the same or even be more combative in their HBO pay-per-view tussle. Pacquiao will pounced on him and try to bring him down early.
“I’m expecting him to be more aggressive,” said Bradley during the final press conference of Pacquiao-Bradley III Wednesday . “He’s going to come out like a bat out of hell and try to take my head off.”
And if Pacquiao does that, he’ll be looking for trouble, according to Bradley. He’ll make Pacquiao pay.
“If he’s more aggressive, then it’s probably going to give me more opportunities I would think,” said Bradley, who entered the mini hall for select media members drinking mineral water following a light workout.
Bradley admitted that he’s on an emotional roller-coaster three days before the biggest fight of his life.
He knows that a victory over his legendary adversary would open windows of opportunity and cement his legacy as one of the greatest fighters of his generation.
As to the result of their frst two bouts, Bradley said he suffered physically and mentally.
Though it was not his fault, the pride of Palm Springs, California, was generally ridiculed for the bum decision that rendered him the winner of their first encounter in 2012.
In their 2014 rematch, Pacquiao left no doubt as to who’s the superior fighter.
Reflecting on what happened back then, Bradley said he “wasn’t strong enough to solve the pieces of the puzzle.”
With a new trainer, a new mindset, and a new gameplan, Bradley said the time has come for him to beat Pacquiao and be “the very best.”
Granting, of course, that he cracks the Pacquiao puzzle.
