Manny Pacquiao will reportedly bring down the curtain on his illustrious career in the early hours of Sunday morning against Timothy Bradley in a bout predictably labelled “Legacy”.
The fight, taking place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, is the third meeting between the Filipino and the American, with each recording one victory.
Having recorded 57 wins from 65 fights but coming into the match-up on the back of last year’s defeat to Floyd Mayweather Jr, the eight-division world champion is understandably eager to go out on a high.
Here are five things Pacquiao needs to do to beat a much-improved Bradley from their first two meetings.
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1 GET THE KNOCKOUT
In their initial bout in 2012, Pacquiao succumbed to a controversial points defeat, a split-decision that drew boos from the MGM Grand crowd and criticism from analysts. Subsequently, the WBO reviewed the decision, with all five judges on its committee panel scoring the fight unanimously in Pacquiao’s favour. However, the loss still stood. In the rematch two years later, Bradley again pushed Pacquiao, but this time the Filipino won with a unanimous decision. A knockout in the third instalment would eradicate the risk of another questionable call, while also providing the perfect ending to a glittering career. Pacquiao has not stopped anyone since Miguel Cotto in 2009 — far too long for someone with his punching power. He will want closing fireworks.
2 SHARPEN UP
Last year’s bout with Mayweather Jr, Pacquiao’s most recent, may have piqued unparalleled interest, but it was hugely disappointing from the Filipino’s perspective. Admittedly, he was up against the hardest target to hit in boxing: Mayweather could be the most elusive boxer in history, as evidenced by the “Pretty Boy” moniker and the blemish-free record. Yet, from the fourth round, Pacquiao was affected by a torn muscle in his right shoulder, limiting him to a reported 414 punches in total. If statistics ring true, he connected with a little more than a quarter of those. Now fully recovered from injury and reportedly throwing his slightly weaker right with more gusto, Pacquiao should aim for more action and accuracy against Bradley.
3 RESPECT HIS OPPONENT
Granted, Bradley is still not considered a truly marquee name, but he is undoubtedly talented. Ranked in the top 10 of Ring Magazine’s pound-for-pound list for the past few years, Bradley can box or brawl, has a sharp skill set, guts and speed — a tricky opponent and a former world champion. While not particularly great at any one facet, he has no obvious weaknesses with a solitary defeat from 33 professional bouts. Tellingly, Bradley offers a sterner test than the one Pacquiao faced in 2012 and 2014. His switch to trainer Teddy Atlas makes him more dangerous, underlined by November’s ninth-round knockout of Brandon Rios. Some have questioned Bradley’s desire, but he is on record saying he wants to be remembered for taking out an icon.
4 BOX SMART
A feature of Pacquiao’s more recent fights is his plotting patience inside the ropes. He is more calculated in his approach, no doubt a by-product of his developing relationship with trainer Freddie Roach, where he works behind a quick jab, his range-finder. Pacquiao knows he can then back it up with some of the fastest hands and feet in the business. In his prime, the Filipino was an unstoppable force, allying incredible speed with commensurate hard-hitting in both gloves. He knocked out opponents at will. However, at 37 and having had that shoulder injury, Pacquiao cannot blast for 12 full rounds anymore. For Bradley-III, he has to do what he did the last time they met: keep distance, resist temptation to wade in at every opportunity. Pacquiao has the ring smarts to pull it off.
5 LET FLY LEFT HOOK
Pacquiao’s best piece of artillery, but in the 2014 bout against Chris Algieri it seemed limited. The American, a modest opponent, was officially down six times, yet Pacquiao failed to finish him off. Even in the early rounds against Mayweather, that big left appeared his most obvious route to success. Can Pacquiao unleash it with as much force as he used to? As noted, his mentality has changed, although he needs to pull the trigger when the opportunity presents. Bradley got caught in his fight with Jessie Vargas and was hurt. Pac-Man packs much more firepower. Much will also depend on his shoulder injury and how that affects his readiness to go gung-ho. Pacquiao must box smart, but he can pick and choose when to be aggressive. Connect with that left and he could finally snap his knockout drought.