Expect Manny Pacquiao’s possible farewell fight on Saturday (April 9) night against Timothy “Desert Storm” Bradley Jr. at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada to be a full-scale war from start to finish.
The eight-division world champion, whose legendary run in the ring has thrust the Philippines into the global limelight in the past decade, plans to retire from boxing after his fight against the American to pursue a career in politics.
Previous pre-election surveys have indicated consistently he will win a senate seat. However, his third showdown against Bradley is not about boosting his Senate bid but for pride and honor of the Filipino people.
Pacquiao’s victories have always been a source of pride for the country, and what a better and fitting way to end his career than to do just the same.
The pair have fought twice before with both winning a fight each, and Pacquiao – the only fighter in boxing history to win world titles in eight weight divisions – has promised an action-packed fight in the deciding rubber.
So once and for all, the latest installment in Pacquiao’s trilogy against Bradley will settle the issue on who is the better fighter, and at the same time answer the questions in everybody’s mind about the Filipino ring legend’s abilities to still fight in the ring at the age of 37.
The charismatic Pacquiao (57-6-2, 38 KOs) will go up against Bradley (33-1-1, 13 KOs) some 11 months after the former dropped a unanimous 12-round decision to Floyd Mayweather Jr. in the “Fight of the Century” on May 2, 2015 in the richest fight in boxing history, as well as one of the most anticipated and, ultimately, disappointing.
In their first encounter in June 2012, then unbeaten Bradley won by a controversial split decision, which sparked widespread criticism of the judges and an investigation by the Nevada Attorney General’s office. In the eyes of many, Pacquiao easily beat Bradley.
Unless one is Bradley’s distant relative or somebody who owes the fighter a huge debt, the prevailing opinion then was that Pacquiao was robbed of a decision victory. Bradley was literally harpooned by the critics in the boxing world.
That stunning gift decision for Bradley ended Pacquiao’s amazing 15-fight winning streak, seizing the Filipino’s World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight title that shocked the world.
In their grudge rematch two years later in the same arena in Las Vegas where they first met, Pacquiao emerged triumphant.
But unlike in their first meeting, this time there was no argument, there wasn’t any controversy from the judges after watching a skillful exhibition of speed, power and footwork from the Filipino southpaw.
His victory righted one of the biggest perceived wrongs in recent boxing history.
Following his long rest since his defeat to Mayweather and losing his WBO welterweight title to the latter last year, Pacquiao has been out of action spending the rest of the year recovering from shoulder surgery after tearing his rotator cuff ahead of their $500 million megafight.
Obviously, health will be a big issue for the Fighter of the Decade. Will Pacquiao’s speed, power and agility still be there? Will he be perfectly fit against Bradley who is five years younger?
Pacquiao, now 37 years old, can’t afford another devastating defeat to Bradley if he were to leave the sport in style.
The bottom line is that Bradley will be looking to earn respect while Pacquiao can finally end his history-coated career with a fitting farewell victory.
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