By: Tony Penecale
Manny Pacquiao is human after all. After nearly five years of being simply unstoppable, he was nearly derailed by his long-time rival Juan Manuel Marquez. Despite winning a close and unpopular decision, Pacquiao walked away from that bout with serious questions about his ability to adapt to the challenges presented by superior technical fighters. While Pac-Man can gobble up slow-footed opponents, has he found his kryptonite in the form of quick-moving tacticians?
Enter Timothy Bradley, an undefeated fighter, but one who has yet to step under the bright lights of a pay-per-view main event against an iconic fighter of Pacquiao’s stature. He certainly has the skills to knock Pacquiao off of his throne but will he in the biggest moment of his career? Is Pacquiao on the decline or did Marquez just have his number on a bad night? Will this be Timothy Bradley’s chance to shine? Or be another one devoured by the Pac-Man?
AGE, RECORD, AND STATS
Pacquiao:
Age: 32 years old
Record: 54-3-2 (38 Knockouts)
Height: 5’6”
Weight: 143 ** Weight for last bout (11-12-11)
Reach: 67”
Bradley:
Age: 28 years old
Record: 28-0 (12 Knockouts)
Weight: 140 * * Weight for last bout (11-12-11)
Reach: 69”
RING ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Pacquiao:
WBC Flyweight Champion (’98-‘99)
IBF Super Bantamweight Champion (’01-’03)
WBC Super Featherweight Champion (’08)
WBC Lightweight Champion (‘08)
IBO Junior Welterweight Champion (’09)
WBO Welterweight Champion (’09-Pres)
Ring Magazine Pound-4-Pound #1 Boxer (Current)
Bradley:
WBC Junior Welterweight Champion (’08-Pres)
WBO Junior Welterweight Champion (’09-Pres)
STYLE
Pacquiao:
Pacquiao boxes from a southpaw stance, moving forward bobbing and feinting his way in. Once in close, he uses his right hand to find the range and then unleashes his powerful left, either straight or looping, and will often double and triple it to the body and head. Uses quick head shifts to slip punches while moving forward. Has soundly developed under the tutelage of Freddie Roach, developing a decent right hook, either as a lead punch or thrown behind the left. Uses quick head shifts to slip punches while moving forward.
Bradley:
Bradley is a quick but physical boxer, who likes to use his footwork to apply steady pressure. Possesses a good jab that can be used to open up opportunities or disrupt his opponent’s rhythm. Attacks the body well, but best punch is the overhand right. Often leads with his head but overall has a solid defense.
STRENGTHS
Pacquiao:
* Unorthodox Style – Pacquiao is very unorthodox, even for a southpaw. He moves straight in but is hard to time with his bobbing and head feints. Before most opponents can time his onrushes, he is throwing whirlwind punches from a variety of angles.
* Speed – Pacquiao is quick and agile and his hands are deceptively fast. He throws rapid one-two combinations or multiple left hands and will force opponents on the defensive.
* Stamina – Pacquiao fights just as hard in the last round as he does in the beginning. He applies a lot of pressure and is constantly punching, wearing opponents down in the process.
Bradley:
* Physicality – Bradley is a supremely conditioned and physical boxer. He is adept at using his physical nature to force opponents backwards and wear them out with his strength on the inside.
* Boxing Ability – Not only is Bradley a very strong fighter, he is also an intelligent and quick-fisted boxer. He uses exceptional footwork to create angles and openings to land punches. Also works very effective as a counterpuncher.
* Overhand Right – Despite notching only 12 knockouts in 28 wins, Bradley is a better puncher than his record indicates. His money punch is a tremendous overhand right. Following a slight upper-body dip, he launches the punch from a high angle, crashing it down on his opponent’s jaw.
WEAKNESSES
Pacquiao:
* Trouble with Boxers – Pacquiao is at his best when in against opponents who stand in front of him and try to trade as he usually overwhelms them. But he has had difficulties against good boxers, especially in his bouts with Marquez, who was able to clearly outbox Pacquiao for extended periods in all of their encounters.
* Tender Skin – Pacquiao has contended with cuts and scar tissue throughout his career. He was cut badly by headbutts in his fight with Agapito Sanchez and also in his first fight with Erik Morales. Even in some of his dominant wins, he has shown bruising around his eyes. His fragile skin is always a potential liability, especially against a fighter like Bradley who often leads with his head.
* Distractions – Pacquiao is being a cross-over star, not just in his native Philippines, but also in the United States. He is involved in his home country’s political agenda and is very close with his adoring fans. He will sometimes let these distractions interfere with his training camp. Not to mention, the constant distraction with the chatter of a megafight with Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Bradley:
* Lack of Killer Instinct – While Bradley has respectable power, especially in his right hand; he has shown a reluctance to press the action, even in situations where his opponent is clearly hurt.
* Dirty Fighter Reputation– Bradley often leads with his head, which has caused head clashes in several of his bouts. Since his opponents have often suffered the worst of these clashes, Bradley is quickly gaining a bad reputation, which could result in point deductions.
* Big Fight Experience – While Bradley has been fighting on the championship level for four years, this will be the biggest event that he has ever participated. He was far from impressive in his highly-anticipated unification fight with Devon Alexander, which will pale in comparison to the atmosphere on Saturday.
PREVIOUS BOUT
Pacquiao:
(11-12-11) Pacquiao struggled mightily with the boxing technique and counterpunching abilities of long-time rival Juan Manuel Marquez. Like their previous two bouts, each boxer had moments of success but the strong performance of the presumed past-his-prime Marquez won over most of viewing audience. The majority and somewhat controversial decision went in the favor of Pacquiao.
Bradley:
(11-12-11) Bradley scored a dominating win over the terribly faded former champion Joel Casamayor, knocking him down four times before Casamayor’s corner stopped the bout with seconds remaining in the 10th round. Bradley offset Casamayor’s holding and rough tactics with a punishing body attack that consistently hurt the Cuban.
3 BEST PERFORMANCES
Pacquiao:
* Oscar De la Hoya (12/06/08) – It’s hard to imagine now but the consensus at the time was that De la Hoya would destroy the smaller Pacquiao in a landslide. It was a landslide but it was Pacquiao dishing out the beating, ripping De la Hoya apart with both hands. After eight one-sided and brutal rounds, a swollen and bloodied De la Hoya was beaten into permanent retirement.
* Miguel Cotto (11/14/09) – Pacquiao impressively dismantled the larger and physically imposing Cotto. Pacquiao dropped the Puerto Rican superstar twice early and from the 6th round on, had him in a defensive shell, battering him until the referee stopped the bout in the 12th round.
* Ricky Hatton (05/02/09) – Pacquio ran through Hatton in fast and destructive fashion. Hatton, while still an underdog, was expected to provide a challenge with his strength and mauling tactics. Pacquiao unveiled an improved right hook and had Hatton down twice in the 1st round before crushing him with a devastating knockout in the 2nd.
Bradley:
* Junior Whitter (5/10/08) – Bradley ventured over to England and shocked the hometown favorite Witter, winning his first world championship in the process. After a tactical first few rounds, Bradley broke through in the 6th round, landing a sweet overhand right that floored Witter hard. Bradley was able to ride the momentum on his way to a split decision victory, the scores being much closer than the bout actually was.
* Joel Casamayor (11/12/11) – Bradley struggled early with Casamayor’s reluctance to fight but once he started focusing his attack to the body, the bout was effectively over. Bradley scored knockdowns in the 5th, 6th, and 8th rounds, which was enough for Casamayor’s corner to signal surrender.
* Lamont Peterson (12/12/09) – In a battle of unbeaten, Bradley put on a superb boxing display in handing Lamont Peterson his first professional defeat. Bradley knocked down Peterson for the first time in his career and used his speed and boxing ability in the 2nd half of the fight to dominate the action, retaining his title with a clear unanimous decision.
QUESTIONS
Pacquiao:
* Has he reached his plateau?
* Can he remain focused amid all the outside distractions?
* Will his tender skin ultimately fail him?
Bradley:
* How will he react in the biggest moment of his career?
* What will do if he falls behind on the cards?
* Does he have the killer instinct to take advantage of opportunities?
PENECALE PREDICTION
The bout will open up as a competition of footwork. Both Pacquiao and Bradley have quick feet and both will try to outmaneuver the other and get set up in the better position to land their punches. Bradley will fire tentative one-two combinations that fall short and Pacquaio will try to counter with his right hook, while looking for a home to land his howitzer left.
Bradley will force the action in the 2nd round and try to use his strength to offset Pacquiao, moving inside and landing several body punches. Pacquiao will step to his right and land his right hook but still not able to consistently land his left.
The momentum will shift slightly in the 3rd round. Pacquiao will start to land his left to the body and while attempting to come back with a punch to the head, he will clash heads with Bradley. The head clash will result in a cut opening on Pacquiao’s right eye. The cut will clearly bother Pacquiao and Bradley will force the action, backing Pacquiao up with right hands.
The bout will continue on relative even terms for the next few rounds. Bradley will be focusing more on using his jab and movement, while Pacquiao, despite the cut, continues to press forward and fire unorthodox combinations. The constant pressure will start to affect Bradley and his confidence will start to decline.
Pacquaio will deal another blow to Bradley’s confidence in the 8th round, landing a lead right uppercut, followed by a left hand that will hurt Bradley and force him to hold like a drowning man clinging to drift wood. Pacquiao will keep attacking with swarming punches, landing some but unable to finish Bradley off.
Going into the 9th and 10th rounds, it will be clear that Bradley is still stunned and in a defensive shell. Pacquiao’s superior pedigree will shine through in the 11th, and another combination will break through and floor Bradley against the ropes. A proud warrior, Bradley will rise at the count of 7, holding to survive the round.
Bradley’s corner will consider stopping the fight before the 12th round, but will allow him to continue. While Bradley will make a gallant stand in the last stanza, he will be clearly outgunned. Pacquiao will go for the knockout but Bradley will still be standing at the final bell, beaten but proud.
The judges scores will unanimously favor the Filipino warrior by scores of 116-111 and 117-110 (twice). Your winner by Unanimous Decision is Manny Pacquiao!!!
