INDIO Cathedral City boxer Timothy Bradley threw the first verbal punch at the start of the promotion for his April 12 pay-per-view rematch against Manny Pacquiao, and the WBO welterweight champion is still not backing off his comments.
Prior to the kickoff media tour in February, Bradley and Pacquiao sat down with HBO’s Max Kellerman to film their “Face Off?interview, which will air Saturday. In the interview, Bradley said Pacquiao has lost his fire. Bradley said he was just repeating what he saw from Pacquiao’s fans and their comments on a blog prior to the taping in February.
(PHOTOS:Timothy Bradley and Manny Pacquiao press conference)
“Boy, did that get in his skin. I didn’t think it would get under his skin,?Bradley said laughing. “I’m just reciting what your fans are saying. It’s not what I said, it’s what your fans are saying. After seeing the Rios fight, I was like, ‘maybe he did.?I didn’t see that. I see a compassionate Manny, who loves people, loves the world. That’s what I see. He said he felt compassion for me in the first fight and this time around he’s not going to show any compassion and ask God for the fire and he was going to come in and basically take me out.
“Good, good, great, fantastic. I want the best Manny Pacquiao. So when I whoop him, when I whoop you, then I’ll get even more credit. I want the best. I don’t want no excuses at the end of the night. Zero excuses.?br />
Earlier this week, Pacquiao’s camp sent out a news release with comments from trainer Freddie Roach, who took issues with Bradley.
“We are training for big game in this fight. Manny knows he is going to have to hunt Bradley down and close the show this time,?Roach said in the release. “The first fight with Bradley was so easy for Manny that after six rounds he just took it easy on him. Not this time. Our Mantra is ‘Close the show. No mercy.?You don’t have to be a groundhog to know that Bradley’s days as welterweight champ are numbered. It’s Last Call for Bradley on April 12.?br />
In the first fight, Bradley earned a split decision to take Pacquiao’s WBO title. But a large majority of fans and media believed Pacquiao had dominated the fight, creating a huge controversy that saw the WBO bring in five judges to re-score the fight, and Senators John McCain and Harry Reid talk about pushing for a boxing bill to deal with corruption.
But the 35-year-old Pacquiao also has gone through his own criticisms. One of the most devastating punchers in the game, Pacquiao has not scored a knockout victory in his last seven fights. His last knockout was in 2009 over Miguel Cotto.
Like Pacquiao’s fans, Bradley said he wants to see the best Pac-Man.
“All you need is some inspiration and there was some fire from what I said,?Bradley said. “I think yeah, he will be the best Manny Pacquiao we’ve seen in a long time because it will have to be. That’s the only Manny Pacquiao that can deal with Tim Bradley. If he’s compassionate, he won’t be able to deal with me, period.
“Don’t show no compassion. Don’t show me none of that. I want the best Manny Pacquiao in the world. I want to fight the best. I want to put on a great show for all the fans on pay-per-view. I want to beat him, I want to put on a great show and I want to get what I didn’t get in the first fight, and that’s the credit I beat Manny Pacquiao. That’s it. That’s that.?br />
Afterwards, Bradley also predicted the fight would not go the distance. Bradley said he’s ramped up his high-intensity training. If he had to fight this weekend, Bradley said he’s ready.
“On April 12, everyone is going to witness something great. I’m telling you I’m ready to go,?Bradley said. “I’m so fired up, I’m so determined, Manny Pacquaio gotta kill me to stop me.?
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