LOOK who’s betting for a Manny Pacquiao win over Timothy Bradley in their June 9 title match?
It’s good, old Mexican nemesis Juan Manuel Marquez, no less.
For someone who had faced Pacquiao three times and fought against him for 36 brutal rounds, Marquez definitely knows what it takes to beat, much less, stays competitive with the Filipino inside the ring.
Unfortunately for Bradley, the 38-year-old Mexican doesn’t see him having the necessary tools to pull off an upset and wrest the World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight title four months from now at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
“I don’t think so, because even though Bradley is a great boxer, and he has skills, he needs the power. He (doesn’t) have that power,” said Marquez when interviewed by The Ring on his thoughts about the Pacquiao-Bradley bout.
Bradley, the reigning WBO junior welterweight champion, is unbeaten in 28 fights, but only managed to knock out his opponents 12 times.
Aside from Bradley’s lack of power, Marquez also said Pacquiao’s speed and power will be a big problem for the Cathedral City, California native.
“Pacquiao has the speed and Pacquiao has the power,” he added. “The difference in this fight is power. The difference will be the power punches that Pacquiao has.”
The Mexican was the last opponent Pacquiao faced in the ring, attempting to beat the man that caused him a pair of heartbreakers in the past but in vain. Marquez again found himself at the short end of the bout, losing a majority decision in their November 12 fight, whose outcome remains highly-debatable until today.
Those three-closely fought encounter has kept Marquez convinced that he deserves another shot against his 33-year-old mortal nemesis.
“I really do not know what will happen with the Bradley-Pacquiao fight. That's a tough fight for the two fighters ... but I would like the winner of that fight, yes,” said Marquez.
But Bradley was quick to denounce Marquez, and those who had doubts about his punching power.
The American, 28, explained that 147 is his natural fighting class, having struggled going down at 140 lbs. And going up one weight class ahead will show his natural punching prowess.
“People say I don’t have power, but it is a real struggle to get down to 140,” Bradley said. “I walk around at 160 or more. I will be a lot more comfortable and have more pop at 147. People will see that on June 9th.”
And lest be forgotten, Bradley already fought as a welterweight once, winning a unanimous decision against Luis Carlos Abregu in July of 2010.
“147 is my natural weight,” he stressed.
Published : Friday May 25, 2012 | Category : Sports | Views : 20
By : People's Journal
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