LAS VEGAS // Manny Pacquiao's religious adviser wants him up at 5am every day for prayers. The eight-division champion sometimes has 100 people and a yappy dog named Pacman in his home, playing darts and carousing into the night, after training sessions.
Even during a hiatus from his duties as a Filipino congressman, it is difficult to see how a great boxer could keep his focus and fire amid Pacquiao’s hectic life and long career.
According to Timothy Bradley, Pacquiao cannot do it.
“When was the last time you saw him knock somebody out? He’s not the same guy,” Bradley said, knowing it has been nearly five years since Pacquiao won by knock-out. “He’s more compassionate, more kind. That spark isn’t there. That’s not good for a boxer.”
The unbeaten Bradley, 31-0, including a split decision over Pacquiao two years ago, has repeatedly declared the challenger has lost his killer instinct ahead of their highly anticipated welterweight title rematch Saturday night at Las Vegas.
He claims he does not care what Pacquiao (55-5-2, with 38 KOs) thinks and that might be Bradley’s greatest indictment of all.
“It wouldn’t affect him if he didn’t believe it,” Bradley said. “He definitely started thinking, ‘Maybe I am too nice. Maybe I have lost my fire’.
“He started second-guessing himself and really thinking about it. Freddie [Roach] should thank me for saying that. If he gets offended by it, he needs to check himself.
“Maybe he got a reality check.”
Pacquiao’s long-time trainer has insisted he has seen signs of the heavy puncher who captivated the boxing world during a 15-fight winning streak before the disputed loss to Bradley.
“I think he’s really winding my guy up to be explosive in this fight, so I thank him for that,” Roach said. “Manny feels like he’s being disrespected, like it’s a little bit of a slap in the face.”
For the first time in several camps, Pacquiao knocked down a sparring partner at Roach’s Wild Card Boxing Club in Los Angeles.
For the first time in ages, Pacquiao is talking about inflicting pain rather than minimising it.
“He’s very religious right now, but he has mentioned during the mitts and so forth that if he hurts this guy, he’ll finish him,” Roach said. “He showed me the combination he’ll use. I like that, because he’s talking about hurting people for the first time in a long time. I think that hunger is back a little bit.”
After nearly a year away, Pacquiao looked solid last autumn in a clear-cut victory over Brandon Rios, but his inability to stop a defence-deficient opponent stoked the discussion about whether Pacquiao’s most dynamic days are over.
“I couldn’t believe it when I saw him take a backwards step in the 12th round,” said Bradley, who has stopped just one opponent in the past seven years. “He didn’t try to engage. He didn’t try to finish.
“I had never seen that from Manny Pacquiao before. It’s amazing to me.”
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The specs: 2018 BMW R nineT Scrambler
Price, base / as tested Dh57,000
Engine 1,170cc air/oil-cooled flat twin four-stroke engine
Transmission Six-speed gearbox
Power 110hp) @ 7,750rpm
Torque 116Nm @ 6,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined 5.3L / 100km
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Abu Dhabi GP Saturday schedule
12.30pm GP3 race (18 laps)
2pm Formula One final practice
5pm Formula One qualifying
6.40pm Formula 2 race (31 laps)
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
Family reunited
Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe was born and raised in Tehran and studied English literature before working as a translator in the relief effort for the Japanese International Co-operation Agency in 2003.
She moved to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies before moving to the World Health Organisation as a communications officer.
She came to the UK in 2007 after securing a scholarship at London Metropolitan University to study a master's in communication management and met her future husband through mutual friends a month later.
The couple were married in August 2009 in Winchester and their daughter was born in June 2014.
She was held in her native country a year later.
TRAP
Starring: Josh Hartnett, Saleka Shyamalan, Ariel Donaghue
Director: M Night Shyamalan
Rating: 3/5
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The specs: 2017 Lotus Evora Sport 410
Price, base / as tested Dh395,000 / Dh420,000
Engine 3.5L V6
Transmission Six-speed manual
Power 410hp @ 7,000rpm
Torque 420Nm @ 3,500rpm
Fuel economy, combined 9.7L / 100km
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Brief scores:
Toss: Nepal, chose to field
UAE 153-6: Shaiman (59), Usman (30); Regmi 2-23
Nepal 132-7: Jora 53 not out; Zahoor 2-17
Result: UAE won by 21 runs
Series: UAE lead 1-0
Meydan racecard:
6.30pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round 2 (PA) Group 1 | US$75,000 (Dirt) | 2,200 metres
7.05pm: UAE 1000 Guineas (TB) Listed | $250,000 (D) | 1,600m
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8.50pm: Handicap (TB) | $175,000 (D) | 1,600m
9.25pm: Handicap (TB) | $175,000 (T) | 2,000m
10pm: Handicap (TB) | $135,000 (T) | 1,600m
Joker: Folie a Deux
Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Lady Gaga, Brendan Gleeson
Director: Todd Phillips
Rating: 2/5
RESULT
RS Leipzig 3
Marcel Sabitzer 10', 21'
Emil Forsberg 87'
Tottenham 0
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The Kingfisher Secret
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Our legal advisor
Ahmad El Sayed is Senior Associate at Charles Russell Speechlys, a law firm headquartered in London with offices in the UK, Europe, the Middle East and Hong Kong.
Experience: Commercial litigator who has assisted clients with overseas judgments before UAE courts. His specialties are cases related to banking, real estate, shareholder disputes, company liquidations and criminal matters as well as employment related litigation.
Education: Sagesse University, Beirut, Lebanon, in 2005.
THE BIO:
Favourite holiday destination: Thailand. I go every year and I’m obsessed with the fitness camps there.
Favourite book: Born to Run by Christopher McDougall. It’s an amazing story about barefoot running.
Favourite film: A League of their Own. I used to love watching it in my granny’s house when I was seven.
Personal motto: Believe it and you can achieve it.
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In the box: iPad mini, USB-C cable, 20W USB-C power adapter
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Director: Laila Abbas
Starring: Yasmine Al Massri, Clara Khoury, Kamel El Basha, Ashraf Barhoum
Rating: 4/5