Not long after Timothy Bradley sent Brandon Rios into retirement with a ninth round knockout on Nov. 7, the welterweight titlist from Cathedral City stepped into a news conference where he was asked if he would entertain a third fight with Manny Pacquiao, who issued Bradley his only professional loss, in 2014.
Bradley had been asked all week about Pacquiao, who was contemplating his next, and presumably last, opponent in a storied career. Each time Bradley was asked, he deflected the question.
He referred further questions about it to his wife and manager, Monica Bradley, saying he’d prefer not to think about it.
Turns out Pacquiao was thinking about it, and after nearly a month of contemplation, the former pound-for-pound king has chosen Bradley as his next opponent, according to The Philippine Star in Manila. The Desert Sun has been unable to independently confirm this report.
Pacquiao's next fight, with or without Bradley, will take place on April 9 in Las Vegas, at a venue to be determined.
Bradley (33-1-1, 13 knockouts) is one of three fighters Pacquiao has been considering, along with Britain’s Amir Khan and unbeaten rising star Terence Crawford. Bradley is believed to be a strong candidate because he is the welterweight titlist, has a history with Pacquaio, and has recently reclaimed his status as one of the elite fighters in the world.
The Star cites a report by British boxing writer David Anderson, who writes that Khan has been bypassed by Pacquaio in favor of Bradley, and other reports have linked Khan with Kell Brook for s fight sometime next summer.
A third installment of the Bradley-Pacquiao rivalry would be the rubber match, with Bradley taking the first fight, in 2012, and Pacquiao winning the second last year. It will be available on pay-per-view, and will pay Pacquiao a guaranteed $20 million. Bradley, who made $6 for each of the first two fights, would be expected to receive a similar amount for the third.
The fight will be Pacquiao’s first since he lost to Floyd Mayweather on May 2 at the MGM Grand in the richest fight in boxing history. It was revealed after the bout that Pacquiao (57-6-2, 38 knockouts) fought with a torn rotator cuff on his right shoulder, and underwent surgery on May 6. He’s been rehabilitating and training since.
A Pacquiao fight with Khan (34-3, 19 knockouts) is one most boxing fans have been clamoring for, and one that has been rumored for years. Kahn was widely viewed as the most logical opponent for Pacquiao, given that Crawford (27-0, 19 knockouts) has yet to generate worldwide name recognition to initiate massive pay-per-view buys, and Bradley was beaten soundly last year after winning on a controversial decision in the first bout.
Ultimately, though, Bradley may present the best option for Pacquiao. He’s a big name, a world champion, and someone Pacquaio has had success against in the past.
Following Bradley’s fight with Rios, Arum said Pacquiao will look at the film of Bradley, Khan and Crawford and make a decision on his next opponent. He held the power to do so because of the money that he is able to draw for himself and an opponent via pay-per-view. By contrast, Bradley made $1.9 million against Rios and $1.5 million vs. Jessie Vargas, whom he defeated on June 27.
Bradley, 32, is still fighting at a high level, but this year has openly talked about preparing for retirement. He’s talked about making enough money to retire comfortably, to provide his four kids with opportunities, and to secure a spot in the Hall of Fame. Another fight with Pacquiao will certainly help him take another step toward those career goals.
For Bradley to even have a shot at a trilogy with Pacquaio, 36, he needed to not only beat Rios — he needed to do it convincingly. Critics have pointed out that Bradley had not been at his best during his previous three fights. He needed to show that he’s still an elite fighter. He did that and will now enjoy the spoils.
Article courtesy of Desert Sun