April 9, 2016
 |
Manny Pacquiao (L) and Timothy Bradley Jr. (R) pose during their final news conference at the MGM Grand Hotel & Casino Wednesday April 6, 2016 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (AFP PHOTO / John GURZINSKI)
|
The 37-year-old Filipino boxing superstar takes on long-time rival Tim
Bradley in Las Vegas on Saturday (Sunday, Philippine time) in what he says will
be his final fight before retiring.
Pacquiao and Bradley squared up to each other before a raucous crowd of
a few thousand fans at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on Friday for the weigh-in,
with both men well within the 147-pound limit.
Pacquiao tipped the scales at 145.5 pounds, half a pound heavier than
his weight for his last outing 11 months ago, his money-spinning mega-fight
against Floyd Mayweather.
Bradley, 33-1-1, was a pound heavier at 146.5.
Pacquiao, 57-6-2, has made no secret of his desire to crown his career
with an explosive display against Bradley, who has taken him the distance twice
before.
“Expect more action that the last fights we had,” said Pacquiao, who
plans to concentrate on a political career in the Philippines when he retires.
Bradley meanwhile, who beat Pacquiao via a deeply controversial split
decision in 2012 before losing the rematch, looked in formidable shape as he
stripped down for the cameras.
The 32-year-old from California shrugged off catcalls from the largely
pro-Pacquiao crowd, telling the audience: “I think there’s going to be a lot of
disappointed fans tomorrow night.”
Pacquiao, who earned a staggering $150 million from his defeat to
Mayweather last year, will bank another $20 million purse for Saturday’s bout.
Although he has stated it is last fight, he has pointedly declined to
definitively rule-out a return to the ring.
- National hero -
“I cannot say that I’m not going to come back,” Pacquiao said this
week, explaining that his mindset may change once he faces up to life without
the sport that has made him fabulously rich and a national hero.
“I don’t know how I’ll feel when I hang up my gloves,” he added.
Those closest to Pacquiao, including his long-time trainer Freddie
Roach and the veteran promoter Bob Arum, believe he may yet return.
Arum said Pacquiao could be persuaded to prolong his career if he
scores a spectacular victory over Bradley.
“I think if he wins this fight well, he’s going to find a way to
continue,” Arum said.
Roach has been in Pacquiao’s corner ever since the Filipino arrived at
his Hollywood gym in 2001 looking for a trainer.
- ’15 years of greatness’ -
“It’s been 15 years of greatness,” said Roach, who hopes Pacquiao will
fight on.
Pre-fight preparations were overshadowed by controversy in February
when the devoutly religious Pacquiao described homosexuals as “worse than
animals”, remarks that prompted several sponsors to sever agreements with him
while also drawing widespread outrage from gay and lesbian activists.
Pacquiao is adamant that the saga did not disrupt his training. “There
were no distractions,” said Pacquiao, who has expressed a desire to sign off in
style.
“It’s really important for me to win this fight, to win convincingly,”
Pacquiao said. “It’s part of my legacy.”
Bradley said he is preparing for an onslaught from Pacquiao.
“He’s going to come out like a bat out of hell and try to take my head
off,” Bradley said.
Bradley teamed up with veteran trainer Teddy Atlas for his most recent
bout in November, which ended in a ninth round technical knockout of Brandon
Rios.
Atlas and Bradley have been poring over tapes of Pacquiao’s defeat to
Mayweather last year, and his crushing knockout by Juan Manuel Marquez in 2012
as they attempt to concoct a gameplan to beat the Filipino.
But Atlas is under no illusions about the scale of the challenge
represented by Pacquiao.
“When you’re competing against someone as good as Manny — he wins a
fight because of pure talent,” Atlas said.
“The combination of speed and power that he has is uncommon. He’s a
freak.”
