Bradley agrees to Pacquiao showdown

Timothy Bradely. AP

LOS ANGELES–Manny Pacquiao is poised to fight Timothy Bradley on June 9 in Las Vegas after the unbeaten American agreed in principle to a deal, the Los Angeles Times reported Thursday.

Reports earlier this week said Philippine icon Pacquiao had agreed to put his World Boxing Organization welterweight belt on the line against Bradley, but that terms had not been finalized.

“This is about being the number one fighter in the world, and that’s what my goal has been for as long as I can remember,” Bradley told the Times.

He didn’t reveal the terms of the agreement, but said it could be signed as early as Friday.

Bradley was one of several fighters in the mix as a possible Pacquiao opponent after it became clear that the anticipated but elusive fight between “PacMan” and Floyd Mayweather Jnr wouldn’t come off in June.

Mayweather is scheduled to fight Miguel Cotto on May 5 instead.

Bradley boasts a record of 28-0 with 12 knockouts. Pacquiao, 54-3-2, hasn’t lost since 2005 and is considered the best pound-for-pound boxer on the planet.

But Pacquiao was less than dominant as he struggled to a majority points decision over Juan Manuel Marquez in November.