Manny Pacquaio vs. Timothy Bradley: Preview and prediction

[caption id="attachment_6962" align="alignnone" width="1310"] Manny Pacquaio vs. Timothy Bradley: Preview and prediction[/caption]

Now here we go again predicting outcome of a fight. This time, between pound for pound king and fighter of the decade, Congressman Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao against American undefeated boxer Timothy “Dessert Storm” Bradley.

Let us try to break it down according to the weaknesses and strength of both fighters and as to how it will factor the outcome of the fight.

Bradleys’ Strengths

Bradley at 28 is young and hungry to win and achieve recognition. Let alone these motivations will fuel him in this fight. He has nothing to lose but has everything to win. Even a loss yet in a competitive fight, Bradley will gain more fans.

Bradley also has a heart of a champion; he gets up from a knockdown and wins a fight. He is also an aggressive fighter that loves to come forward (headfirst) that might work for his favor if not to Pacquiao’s advantage.

Bradleys’ Weaknesses

Bradley’s style might be tailored for Pacman. His aggressiveness (as what I mentioned above) may work to his favor or to Pacquiao’s advantage. Bradley’s record would also tell us that he does not possess much power in both hands–having only 43-KO percentage.

Pacquiaos’ Strengths

No doubt if the Pacman of 2009 will appear on June 9–that is his strength. Pacman have the speed, power, explosiveness and accurate punching coupled with side-to-side and in-and-out movement. However, we are now in 2012.

The Filipino boxing icon also had the stamina to maintain these strengths all the way to 12 rounds. All these qualities carried him to the pedestal of boxing. He can also absorb best punches even from bigger opponents.

Pacquiaos’ weaknesses

Pacquiaos' previous fights against Mosley and Marquez showed that he is not the same Pacquiao of 2009. There is a decline in his speed and the lack of killer instinct.
In Mosley fight, he complains about leg-cramps that may cause him problem too in this fight.

Prediction

Granting that Pacquiao will show-up as exactly the Pacquiao who beat Cotto badly or knockout-cold, Hatton, I’ll go for Pacquiao via ninth Round stoppage.

However, if Pacquaio will show his noted weaknesses I still go with Pacquaio via a majority decision. Even a stationary Pacman for sure could hurt via solid counters against Bradley who loves to come forward.

If Bradley feels that he cannot handle Pacman power, I believed he would try to fight from the distance and try to counter-punch. However, Bradley is no way the same as Marquez in counter punching to give Pacquiao serious trouble. With that being said, we might have a boring fight that would go until the very last round.

However if Bradley will risk to brawl (most likely) this is also where the fight gets exciting for it is Bradley who will get knockout if he is caught any of vicious counter-hooks of Pacquaio because I believe he (Bradley) can’t handle the best/hardest punch of Pacquiao.

Bradleys’ only chance I see is that if he can absorb the power of Pacman and can continue to come forward and overwhelmed him by his aggressiveness.

Future on both fighters after the fight?

There are articles I read that if Pacquaio will lose or will struggle to win, Roach will advise him to retire and a possibility that he will listen. In my opinion, this is a big joke, because I believe if Pacquiao losses, expect an instant rematch.

For Bradley even if he loses he will gain more fans and will increase his marketability and a bounty contract offers in the future.

The fight will happen at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas Saturday, June 9 at 9:00 p.m. (ET)/6:00 p.m. (PT), and will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View.

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