BOXING: Timothy Bradley has a point to prove
admits he has a point to prove ahead of this
weekend's rematch with Manny Pacquiao in
Las Vegas.
The pair clashed back in June 2012, with
challenger Bradley edging a controversial split
points decision to hand a stunned Pacquiao a
first defeat in seven years.
Pacquiao appeared to have done more than
enough to take the decision, despite slowing
down in the later stages, but was left stunned
as two judges scored the bout 115-113 to the
unbeaten Bradley and one handed the win to
Pacquiao by the same score.
His career looked to have stalled when he was
knocked out by Juan Manuel Marquez in his
next outing, but last time out Pacquiao got
back to winning ways with a points win over
Brandon Rios.
People still dispute the outcome of their first
meeting and 30-year-old Bradley (31-0
12KOs) is keen to put the record straight.
"Absolutely, I have a lot to prove in this fight,
and number one is that the first fight was not
a fluke," said the Californian.
"There were a lot of things that happened in
the first fight that weren't right. So I am a
different fighter now. A different beast - a
different animal this time around and I am
going to prove to the fans and everybody
watching.
"I got the win but it felt like I lost because I
didn't get any credit from the fans and it's
important to get the credit from the fans. I feel
I need to showcase myself and win by a large
margin.
"I am telling you man, both of us have a lot to
prove in this fight. The reason why Pacquiao
really needs to win this fight - because if he
loses this fight, think about it - his career
might be over.
"I really need to win this fight because of the
controversy of the first fight. You know 'I beat
him, I beat him, I beat him', but this time I
need to beat him more decisively because of
the fans so they can give me the credit for it."
Bradley has twice defended his title since that
first meeting with 35-year-old Pacquiao
(55-5-2 38KOs), with points wins over
Marquez and Ruslan Provodnikov.
And he insists he has the skills and nous to
make sure that he hangs onto his coveted
world strap.
"I am not going to give away my game plan
right now," said Bradley. "But everyone knows
what Manny Pacquiao is going to do.
"He is going to try to bring the fight to me and
I am just going to show everyone it is not
going to work.The one thing I have learned is
to not be reckless and not get away from the
game plan and listen to my corner, so that
won't happen in this one.
"That fact, of me fighting hard and with my
determination and my will, and because I want
to win this fight with no questions. We have a
game plan and I am going to go out there and
execute my game plan and that's that.
"When I fight in the trenches or a war, or I go
outbox Manny Pacquiao - I will win no matter
what."
Bradley also believes he has won the battle of
the mind games leading up to Saturday's
clash at the MGM Grand.
"The first fight we had he said he was
compassionate. He carried me through the
fight and he never really trained that hard and
made-up every excuse in the book," said
Bradley.
"But Pacquiao is going to be vicious. I got
under his skin by saying that he lost it. He's
been training hard and I heard throughout the
grapevine he has been looking sharp - and
that's his job, he needs to be at his very best.
"And I have been working hard too, so we can
put on a show for the fans and that's what it's
all about."
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