GO FOR KO | Manny Pacquiao won't look for a knockout, but he'll take it when it comes (Photo : Jhay Oh Otamias)
One of two fighters competing Saturday night, April 9 (Sunday, April 10, Manila time) will have both the speed and power edge on his side when he steps into the ring at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. The other will rely on his timing and ring generalship to earn a victory.
The Philippines' Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao (57-6-2, 38 KO's) will take on American Timothy "The Desert Storm" Bradley (33-1-1, 13 KO's) in a 12-round welterweight contest that Pacquiao says could possibly be his last fight as a professional prizefighter.
Both Pacquiao and Bradley have wrapped up their respective training camps and have made their grand arrivals under the bright lights of Sin City. On fight night, only one of them will come out the victor.
Between the two pugilists, the obvious choice for speed and power is Pacquiao. Without a shadow of doubt, Pacquiao's bread and butter attribute has been being faster than any opponent he has faced in his entire career. Only one guy of the lot, Floyd Mayweather Jr., could arguably be faster than Pacquiao was when they fought.
Bradley, will have to rely on his boxing ability, footwork and ring generalship to accomplish the job, but it goes without saying that's easier said than done.
At his best, Pacquiao is a two-fisted monster capable of stopping any opponent at any given time. Although he hasn't stopped an opponent since his 2009 TKO of Miguel Cotto, there's a feeling in his camp that Pacquiao is planning something extra special for Bradley on fight night.
"He maybe worked a little harder than usual," said Freddie Roach, Pacquiao's lead trainer. "I said, 'Let's go out with a bang.' That's what we intend on doing."
But Roach feels actively seeking a knockout just to end the drought will be detrimental to Pacquiao's performance.
"We're professionals, we're not going to make that mistake," said Roach. "We're not going to go looking for a knockout. Knockouts just come."
There's an underlying score to settle, no matter the results of the first two bouts. By now everyone knows Bradley won a gift split decision in the first fight, and Pacquiao handily won the rematch. But with 24 rounds between the two, both fighters know each other's styles.
Bradley in particular benefits from the experience of having fought Pacquiao twice. He knows what to expect and how much speed and power Pacquiao brings to the table.
But Pacquiao's camp says he's faster and more powerful than he's ever been.
How Bradley plans to handle this is up to him.
