MANNY Pacquiao has started strategizing so he could punch through Timothy Bradley’s defenses when they tangle for the World Boxing Organization welterweight championship on June 9 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
The Filipino eight-division world champion said he intends to apply the same tactics and techniques he used in stopping Hall of Fame-bound Oscar De La Hoya after eight lopsided rounds on Dec. 6, 2008.
In that career-defining fight, Pacquiao used lateral movements, went in and out, side to side, and exploited awkward angles to confound De La Hoya, who was 1/2 inches taller at 5-foot-10, and eventually force the former Olympic and six-division champion to quit on his stool.
Bradley, at 5-6, is half an inch shorter than Pacquiao and five years younger at 28. And even though he’s the WBO light welterweight king, the American walks around at 160 pounds.
The unbeaten Bradley (28-0 with 12 knockouts), notorious for his head-first lunges, is no plodder.
Bradley’s broad body
Though familiar with Bradley’s antics, Pacquiao said he may still engage him at short range and attack his foe’s broad body to break him down.
Pacquiao revealed his fight plan to broadcaster Snow Badua of Teleradyo Sports last Friday, more than two weeks away from the official start of his Baguio City training camp on April 16.
Heeding trainer Freddie Roach’s advice of a longer training period in the United States, Pacquiao said his Baguio camp will end on May 5.
Team Pacquiao then heads to Los Angeles a day or two later for the final phase of his training at Roach’s Wild Card Gym in Hollywood.
To prepare for the tough grind ahead— Roach is arriving in the country on April 15—Pacquiao has been jogging in the early morning at Brentville International in Mamplasan, Laguna.
The ring superstar also did sprints, limbering exercises and light training when he visited his constituents in Sarangani province.
Pacquiao is coming off an unimpressive majority decision victory over Juan Manuel Marquez last November and admittedly wants a better performance against Bradley.
Though he has been installed a heavy favorite by Las Vegas oddsmakers, Pacquiao said he is not taking the American lightly.