Manny Pacquiao vs. Timothy Bradley
Photo by Mikey Williams/Top Rank
Paul Johnson, Staff Writer
This has to be the least excited I’ve been for any Manny Pacquiao fight. It’s a real shame to see a truly great champion go out like this.
As a loyal Juan Manuel Marquez fan, I can only thank Manny for his part in the series that made me the boxing fan I am, but with a terrible retirement bout, and the disgraceful homophobic views, I’m just glad to see the back of him now.
This fight will probably just look like the other Pacquiao vs. Bradley fights. Bradley will be competitive, but losing throughout. Pacquiao UD Bradley.
Prediction: Pacquiao
Tony Calcara, Staff Writer
The rubber match. While it’s not quite Ali– Frazier 3, there are some interesting aspects to this third and most likely final installment of this matchup.
I have no issue in saying Manny Pacquaio clearly won the first fight. The split decision win for Tim Bradley ranked right up there with that of Lennox Lewis vs. Evander Holyfield I and the George Foreman vs. Shannon Briggs decision that preceded it. None passed the smell test. The second bout saw Pacman clearly earning the victory–and the judges got it right that time around.
So much has changed since their first meeting in 2012. Bradley looks revitalized with the addition of master motivator, trainer and shrink, Teddy Atlas. Pacquiao is coming off a shoulder injury, with serious questions on its healing process, and an embarrassing performance and drubbing at the hands of Floyd Mayweather. The selfie prior to the ring walk epitomizes the drastic change in the Pacquiao camp over the last several years.
The trilogy will close with Bradley winning the fight. In short, I am simply looking at the Pacman of today and not the Pacman of yesteryear. Like with many great champions, his time has passed. I just don’t see any way outside of a time machine that Pacman finds a way to win this fight. Atlas will have Bradley ready and he will beat what is left of the Pacman.
Prediction: Bradley
Jack O’Connell, Staff Writer
After much research and hours of mentally arguing with myself, I have come to a verdict–Timothy Bradley is going to beat Manny Pacquiao.
No, not by an illogical split decision. For real this time.
Let me explain.
Most people seem to forget that Bradley went from losing nearly every round against Pacquiao in their first fight, to making the rematch surprisingly competitive. Bradley was able to box exceptionally well early in the fight. Using counter rights and movement, Bradley kept Pacquiao from setting up an effective offense.
Half way through the fight, Bradley was in command. As Pacquiao turned up his offense, Bradley lost focus, boxing less and swinging more, which in turn worked against him. Manny went on to take over the fight and win.
Bradley, when he wants to be, is a skilled boxer. The only problem is keeping him focused, as at times, he easily gives into brawls he shouldn’t be in (against Ruslan Provodnikov to be exact).
In comes trainer Teddy Atlas, who has refined Bradley to use his skills and brawl only when he has to. Against Brandon Rios, an opponent who would sucker the old Bradley into a brawl, Bradley stuck to his craft and knocked out the durable Rios.
The fight is in Atlas’s hands. If he can keep Bradley crafty, smart and disciplined, Bradley should be a tricky puzzle for the aging Pacquiao to solve. The Pacman can be outboxed, and Bradley has the capability to do so.
Bradley is going to need to fight the fight of his life to pull off the upset. A fight, I believe, he is capable of producing. Bradley by a close, completely uncontroversial, decision.
Prediction: Bradley
Porfirio Barron Jr., Photographer
Prediction: Bradley
Liam Brady, Staff Writer/Graphic Designer
Yes, they have fought two times already, but on paper it is not the worst opponent to (supposedly) close your career with. A solid, world class, two-division champion who has an impressive resume–and has been argued to be pound-for-pound material in the past.
Of course, the fight would be more intriguing if they did not have a history, but it still should be a competitive fight. And there is an interest around how Manny Pacquiao may perform, considering this may be his last bout. Obviously, we can’t not mention Teddy Atlas, who seems to be modelling Tim Bradley into more of a cerebral fighter.
Injuries or not, Bradley has not had an answer to the combinations and speed of Pacquiao in the previous two installments, and I do not see that changing.
Atlas’ inclusion may make it awkward for Pacquiao to breach Bradley’s defense at first, but once he starts landing combinations, that’s what will bring home the rounds for Pacquiao. I pick Pacquiao by decision.
Prediction: Pacquiao
Andrew Kang, Contributing Writer
Tim Bradley he knows he lost both fights to Manny Pacquiao, even if he was dubiously and unfairly awarded with a win in their first fight. Pacquiao is a full notch above in talent, speed and power.
But he is a badly faded fighter and no longer hungry. The timing is just right for a Bradley win. Bradley will also have a great gameplan and a new bag of tricks up his sleeve with Teddy Atlas in his corner.
Bradley is highly motivated and confident. If Manny wins, it is because he will be more focused (this reportedly being his last fight before he hangs them up for good) to end on a high note and finish his career with a big win.
Prediction: Bradley
Chris Nicastro, Staff Writer
The score, we can all agree, in this rivalry is unofficially 2-0 Manny Pacquiao. Unfortunately for Pac, Bradley has been reinvigorated thanks to new trainer Teddy Atlas.
Call me crazy all you want, but I think Manny has gotten too old. He did nothing against Floyd, he couldn’t close the show against Algieri. He’s faced nothing but media crucifixion for months. This is a dead fish waiting to be caught.
If Bradley can keep his wits I see him outboxing Pac and maybe himself being robbed of a decision in the process.
Let’s get this fake trilogy over with.
Prediction: Bradley
Alex Burgos, Editor-in-Chief
Saturday night at the MGM in Las Vegas, Manny Pacquiao faces off against Timothy Bradley in what we are being told will be the final fight for the Pacman.
Bradley has been revitalized with new coach Teddy Atlas and looks to build on the positive strides he made in his stoppage victory over Brandon Rios late last year.
Coming off of a losing effort and “injury” against Floyd Mayweather in May of 2015, we don’t really know what we are getting from Pacquiao at this point. If Pacquiao is in good form (let’s say it’s the Pac from the Chris Algieri fight) I still think this is a difficult fight for him.
From what Atlas and Bradley have mentioned regarding their game plan, I think they have the right idea. Bring the fight to Pacquiao, use speed, angles and combinations to push the older man.
I think this is a pick ’em fight, and mostly because I don’t know how motivated Pacquiao will be to win, I’m going with Bradley by close decision–as long as he can stick to the gameplan.
Prediction: Bradley
