Pacquiao-Bradley: Fine for now

Whatever happens in the remainder of Manny Pacquiao’s career, it will not tarnish nor damage the following:
His place in the Boxing Hall of Fame;
His legacy as one of the greatest pound-for-pound fighters of all time;
His place in the hearts of Filipinos, fight fans or not, as a great Filipino sports champion.
No matter what we say about his upcoming fight against American Tim Bradley and how much this is spun or calibrated, it is not the battle we want but the one that’s available. Warriors need a battle not only for the prize money but to remain sharp and honed.
* * *
We have no say in the decision, no matter how much we rant, because money and pride talked at the same time at the negotiating table before Bradley and Pacquiao agreed to fight.
It was more of Floyd Mayweather Jr. talking then. Mayweather, the last man standing in front of Pacquiao and the only one really worthy of a box-office hit, toe-to-toe showdown with Pacman, refused to sign up anew to battle Pacquiao.
It was a mistake for him to think that Pacquiao did not merit a 50-50 share of the purse and that he deserved a bigger payday. He has also no idea that the biggest chunk of pay-per-view buyers are Filipinos in the United States who hold family or barkada parties when Pacquiao climbs into the ring.
* * *
So it’s Bradley for Pacquiao this June.
Recah Trinidad wrote here last Wednesday that Bradley will need more than his notorious lunging head that trainer Freddie Roach is wary of. “But if he could not bring anything bigger and better to the table other than his silly head, how do they hope to sell the fight?” wrote Recah.
The spin machine will probably find a way but, as always, Pacquiao will train hard for this battle because he relishes being in the gym despite all the distractions that drive Roach and conditioning coach Alex Ariza bananas.
Anyone who has seen the well-produced HBO 24/7 series knows that Pacquiao’s extra-curricular activities rattle the guys who run training camp.
In the gym, Pacquiao is like Michael Jordan, the basketball player, because he can be the fighter and not the congressman or the public icon. He will take this fight seriously because he will try to avoid one sterling showing or lucky shot by the 28-0 Bradley. Pacquiao the warrior will no doubt, take over.
* * *
Pacquiao probably won’t say that Bradley “is my toughest fight” as he has often said in his previous battles with Ricky Hatton, Oscar De La Hoya, Miguel Cotto, Antonio Margarito or nemesis Juan Manuel Marquez.
He will be the calm and confident champion who will not trash talk nor fight dirty but come up with the best possible performance against Bradley.
Pacquiao-Bradley is better than not seeing Pacquiao fight at all. Maybe in November this year we will get our chance to finally see Mayweather and Pacquiao in the ring, after Mayweather settles his legal obligations and the negotiators finally come to terms that are satisfactory to the fighters they handle.
Bradley has gotten his biggest break for greatness with this fight. His effort to pull off a huge upset will be the story for the build-up.