When Timothy Bradley dropped long-time head coach Joel Diaz and replaced him with the legendary Teddy Atlas, the welterweight standout added ferocity and flair to his already loaded arsenal. Bradley (33-1-1, 13 KO's) is only a few days away from meeting Filipino ring icon Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao (57-6-2, 38 KO's) in a third bout at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada on April 9.
The pair are scheduled to do battle in a 12-round welterweight contest, a non-title affair. Speaking to reporters at Bradley's media workout in Los Angeles, Atlas had nothing but praise for the former eight-division world champion.
"There's a lot of great things about Manny Pacquiao obviously too -- great talent, and a great, great combination of speed and power," said Atlas.
Pacquiao has reiterated that he doesn't know where life will lead him after this rubber match with Bradley, but depending on how he performs, observers feel he could continue fighting if he wins impressively.
Both Pacquiao and Bradley have made their grand arrivals in Las Vegas, and are both pretty much laying off training until fight night apart from a few light runs and shadow boxing sessions. Fans have eagerly awaited this bout not because Bradley is such a compelling opponent for Pacquiao, but because it might be the last time they see Pacquiao atop the ring as a professional boxer.
Atlas for one, realizes that though this could be Pacquiao's last fight, he should still not be underestimated. Atlas told Bradley last week to expect the best Pacquiao in the ring on April 9th, because the Filipino pugilist is still as dangerous as ever and has barely lost a step.
"It's almost freakish to see a fighter like Manny who combines speed and power the way he does," said Atlas.
"It's extraordinary. We're just doing everything that we can to be up to the great task that's in front of us -- to fight that kind of fighter."
Bradley has always been one of the more complete fighters in the sport, combining just enough elements of offense and defense to balance out a well-rounded skill set. What Atlas has added to Bradley however is that intangible x-factor that pushes fighters over the edge of being good, to being great.
In the pair's first assignment against Brandon Rios last November, Bradley was able to score a 9th round technical knockout victory -- his first in five years. So it's safe to say the pairing has had a good impact on the former welterweight champion.
With just a couple of days remaining until the fight, Bradley is set to show the world, including Manny Pacquiao, just how much he's improved since they last saw each other in the ring two years ago.