Bradley will be harder to beat this time around

While hardly anybody of consequence in the world of boxing will contest the fact that Manny Pacquiao was robbed of the decision when he lost his WBO welterweight title to undefeated Timothy “Desert Storm” Bradley in June 9, 2012, there is a growing consensus that Bradley will be harder to beat – the judges notwithstanding – the second time around when their much-awaited rematch takes place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on April 12.
 
For one thing, Bradley’s confidence is at a new high following a brutal battle against Pacquiao’s former sparring partner, the Russian beast Ruslan Provodnikov in a fight that was a leading candidate for “Fight of the Year” in 2013.
 
The Provodnikov fight showed that Bradley could, if he wanted to, brawl with a heavy hitter even though he almost got knocked out for his ill-advised decision to slug it out with the Russian in the last round.
 
But what drove Bradley to engage Provodnikov was his desire to show fight fans that he could be an exciting fighter despite the controversial win over Pacquiao.
 
His unanimous decision win anchored primarily on excellent boxing skills especially in the middle rounds was further enhanced with a virtuoso performance in a split decision win over Mexican legend Juan Manuel Marquez.

ALSO READ: Bradley says Pacquiao has lost killer instinct
 
Even though Bradley beat Pacquiao in controversial fashion in 2012, an immediate rematch was not in the cards as the pay-per-view numbers of their fight were somewhat disappointing. In fact, Top Rank promoter Bob Arum conceded, at that time, it would be hard selling a rematch.
 
However, perceptions have altered ever since Bradley’s last two victories and Pacquiao’s masterful twelve round unanimous decision over former world lightweight champion Brandon “Bam Bam” Rios in Macau last November 24, silencing those who felt that Pacquiao would not recover from his knockout loss to Marquez.
 
Top Rank president Todd DuBeof put it succinctly when he said “we couldn’t have asked for better timing. I think it will work to everyone’s benefit.”
 
Clearly the winner will benefit far more than the loser.
 
Pacquiao has reportedly agreed to take a cut in his guaranteed purse, which Arum told us had to happen when talk of a rematch first surfaced.
 
He told Yahoo Philippines at that time, since Bradley as champion would ask for more, he couldn’t afford to pay Pacquiao the same $26 million purse he received in their first fight while adding a million or two to Bradley’s guaranteed purse.
 
Reports have it that Pacquiao settled for $20 million which seems to demonstrate his desire to erase the stigma of his loss in their first fight, no matter how controversial it was.
 
Bradley, by all accounts will receive $6 million which is $1 million more than in their first encounter.
 
Pacquiao’s longtime adviser Michael Koncz told Yahoo Philippines he was “happy with the deal” although he added “we are always looking for more (for Manny) but it's something that Manny approved and we are okay with it” although Koncz himself didn’t release any figures.
 
After Pacquiao and Bradley conclude their press tour which opens in Los Angeles on February 4 and ends in New York two days later, the eight division world champion will return home and start training at the Pacman Wild Card Gym in his hometown of General Santos City.

Pacquiao trained for the WBO Intercontinental welterweight title fight against Rios in GenSan and celebrated trainer Freddie Roach was delighted with the environment in the gym and the lack of the usual distractions that hamper his training at the Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles.
 
As always Pacquiao  has been staying in shape by playing basketball.
 
Koncz agreed with the assessment of Yahoo Philippines that it won’t be an easy fight even as he stressed that Pacquiao “has to be smart because he (Bradley) is going to box and move.”

ALSO READ: Pacquiao a favorite against Bradley, says Mosley
 
This brought up the importance of bringing in sparing partners who could approximate the style of Bradley, which Koncz said should be boxers and fighters who move because he doesn’t believe Bradley is going to stand and brawl like he did with Provodnikov which means that the sparring partners used in the past won’t suit the purpose.
 
The adviser said Pacquiao realizes that for his career to move forward “he’s got to win this one because it’s a very important fight.”
 
The authoritative American trainer Rick Stahaley, who trained Pacquiao when he won his first world title in 1998,  has warned Pacquiao that Bradley will be a tougher opponent the second time  around.
 
Stahaley visited Pacquiao in GenSan during the holiday season and told us he was hoping Manny would pick Provodnikov because “he is somebody different.”
 
In his honest opinion Stahaley said the first Bradley fight was “closer than most people who were influenced by the ringside commentators thought. I still believe Manny won that fight but it may be tougher this time because of Bradley’s will.”
 
He noted that Bradley is like Pacquiao and Mayweather and “trains really hard. He’s one of those guys who moves a little bit but I still think Manny can beat him although Bradley is going to be better than he was the first time.”
 
Stahaley, who is steeped in boxing both as a trainer and a devout fan of the sport, believes Bradley “learned a lot from the Provodnikov fight but I don’t think he’ll be doing too much of that” in terms of slugging it out with Pacquiao who is conceivably the harder puncher.
 
The American trainer referred to Bradley’s win over Marquez and said “Tim controlled the fight and won, although Marquez complained about the decision.”
 
Stahaley predicted that Bradley “is going to fight Manny that way. He will use his speed, move a bit” noting that Bradley “is real good  at moving his head after he throws combinations and he’s tough to hit.”
 
He figures “it will be a better Bradley in the second fight with Pacquiao so it may be a little difficult for Manny.”
 
Stahaley is confident that “if Manny brings his 'A' game, he will win.”