Palm Spring's Timothy "Desert Storm" Bradley (33-1-1, 13 KOs) is set take on eight division world champion Filipino icon Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao (57-6-2, 38 KOs ). In what will be the third fight of their rivalry on Saturday April 9 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas live on HBO PPV. Southern California Boxing.com spoke to Bradley on his next fight with Pacquiao.
"It's no different in this fight, I will be ready for every single thing Manny Pacquiao does. This is about legacy," Timothy Bradley told Southern California Boxing.com
Coming off an impressive ninth round TKO over former world champion Brandon “Bam Bam” Rios this past November in his first fight under new trainer Teddy Atlas. It was a new experience for Bradley bringing in the veteran trainer out of retirement.
"When I got inside with Rios, I wasn't affected by it, I didn't change my game plan. It doesn't matter to me if Rios was out of shape. He was ready that is what he said. It wouldn't had made a difference what Rios showed up," Bradley said. "Teddy is a guru of boxing, that is all he knows, 45 years in the game, he is in total control, he has his way and I am going to follow his way because I experience it against Rios you saw the results," Bradley added.
Now the duo will set their sights on the task to gear up for Pacquaio.
"We have already had a mini-camp Teddy and I. It was a two day camp, we looked at film and go over strategy and we work on the strategy. Then I will start my camp February 15," Bradley said. "Teddy will get me ready, my team will get me ready for everything we will be seeing April 9. He wont change, he will be the same," Bradley added.
For Pacquiao this will be his first fight back since dropping a decision at the hands of former pound for pound king and now retired Floyd Mayweather Jr., a fight that was billed as the “Fight of the Century” and turned out to disappoint boxing fans.
"I can tell you this. It wont be like a Floyd fight, we are not going to run or get spooked, that is not our style," Bradley said.
Surprisingly Bradley was selected to be Pacquiao’s opponent for his final fight. With Amir Khan lining him self up and rumors of a potential fight with Adrien Broner. There was also talk about a fourth fight with Juan Manuel Marquez for Pacquiao as well as a rematch with Mayweather. Bradley gave his take on being selected for a trilogy.
"I was very surprised that he picked me, I didn't expect to have a third fight. I thought it was gonna go 1 and 1," Bradley said. "I am always willing to fight the best but Manny Pacquiao is on my mind," Bradley added.
The two met for the first time back in June of 2012 with Pacquiao easily handling the then undefeated Bradley. However the decision ended up being one of the most controversial outcomes as Bradley pulled off the decision. Less than 2 years later in the rematch Pacquiao would win a convincing unanimous decision in regaining the WBO welterweight title handing Bradley his first official loss.
"In the last fight I had a different mind set, I think that is what affected me in that fight. I was out there being something that I wasn't instead of staying true to myself," Bradley said about his last fight with Pacquiao. "Now I am the back then calm Bradley, very smart, very experienced fighter. I have been in the ring with him for 24 rounds," Bradley added.
Since the first fight with Pacquiao, Bradley has gone 5-1-1, 1 KO. Having gone to war in winning a tight decision over Ruslan Provodnikov in the 2013 Fight of the Year, following that fight he won a split decision over Mexican icon Juan Manuel Marquez. Bradley would drop the decision to Pacquiao in the rematch in his next fight and returned to get a draw and nod on his eye against Diego Chaves. 2015 was quite a year for Bradley as he was involved in another thriller with a decision over Jesse Vargas. With about 20 seconds left in the fight Bradley was hurt badly from a right.
"I am different, this fight is not about Pacquiao, it's about me being the best that I can be," Bradley said. "If I limit those mistakes, those mortal sins. I should win the fight with no game plan, I just have to be on point," Bradley added.
Pacquiao vs. Bradley will be a scheduled 12 round championship fight for as Bradley will be defending his WBO welterweight title for the second time.
"I am not running from Pacquiao and I will do what I want," Bradley concluded.
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