The Show Must Go On

As all eyes converge on the MGM Grand in Las Vegas this Saturday for the WBO Welterweight Championship encounter between the ‘Fighting Pride of the Phillipines’ Manny Pacquaio and California’s undefeated Timothy Bradley, one can’t help but think that the overwhelming collective emotion in the boxing community is that of dependency. Legions of fans around the world chasing that mythical dragon that is the Mayweather-Pacquaio showdown. With legal battles surrounding doping accusations and just the faint impression of an egomaniacal fighter desperate to preserve an unblemished record, that showdown seems ever more unlikely to materialize. And with Mayweather currently engaged in an extended bout with Las Vegas correctional facilities, serving a three-month sentence for domestic abuse, it seems that the only thing that the faithful purveyors of pugilism can do is accept the situation and take our lower dose.

What can one say about Manny Pacquiao? Lucky, perhaps, against Marquez. While that opinion is quite roundly shared; statistical analysis from ringside (whatever that is worth) actually had the Filipino ahead on all major scoring factors. Regardless, who could deny the inimitable Pac-Man some luck? Burdened not only with the god-like status he commands in his own country, he has to contend with the ‘best of all time’ mantra that has invited a level of scrutiny of his performances that has perhaps never been seen in boxing. 

The negative reception dished out by Marquez fans after their third fight was probably less reflective of genuine disbelief than it was a barometer of the unreal expectations that are laid on the shoulders of the man. After the epic battles against Barrera, Morales and Marquez, one could probably forgive the 33 year old for a slightly sedate performance. The first man ever to win titles in eight weight divisions, and with more than a point to prove after criticism from certain circles, the Pac-Man will be looking to cement his already legendary status come Saturday night against a relatively unknown quantity.

Timothy Bradley is a rather enigmatic figure in the boxing world.  A former two time WBC lightweight world champion, as well as the current WBO light welterweight champion, he brings an impressive undefeated record to the table ahead of his clash with the Pac-Man. He is a dedicated and humble family man, providing the antithesis to the maligned Mayweather persona. Indeed, the audience at the MGM Grand will be hard pressed to embrace a favourite for this encounter: the all-American underdog against the pound-for-pound best boxer in the world. 

Bradley controversially eschewed the chance to unify his WBO and WBC titles in 2011 with a potential fight against the then undefeated WBA light heavyweight champion Amir Khan.  He was consequently stripped of his WBC title; not the first time he had failed to play ball with organizers and the public alike.  Many insiders believe he was unhappy with only receiving $1.3 million for a fight against such a high profile figure, while he has also intimated that it could have jeopardized his chances of ever fighting the Pac-Man. Bradley seems to be a man who knows the importance of savoring the moment and taking it for all its worth, but he is going to need more than humility in Saturday’s encounter. 

He is moving away from his favored light welterweight category, as he is the challenger to Pacquiao’s WBO welterweight crown. Seeing as he boasts a relatively meager 12 knockouts in his 28 victories, it would seem that the 28 year old is going to battle to put down the Filipino as he has suggested he will. His furious hooks combined with his movement (a combination leading to the nickname ‘Desert Storm’) will attempt to subdue the all-out attacking dynamo that is Pacquaio. The Filipino has looked vulnerable before when his aggressive style has been counteracted by defensive soundness and crisp counter-punching, and Bradley will have to subdue an early onslaught in order to implement any game plan he may have. 

The decorated Pac-Man in all his glory.

In Bradley's WBO and WBC unification bout against Kendall Holt in 2009 he was crushed by a left hook (Pacquaio’s best shot) in the early rounds. He stabilized, was put to the canvas in the final round, and eventually won on a point’s decision. This shows two things.  He can take a punch. And he can take a beating. And one thing Manny can do in those early rounds is punch (just ask a certain Ricky ‘Hit-the-Deck Man’ Hatton). Bradley will have to use his slight reach advantage of 175cms to 170cms in a bid to keep the charging southpaw at bay, establish himself with some crisp shots, and hope that Pac-Man’s legendary past battles come back to haunt his legs in the latter rounds against a younger man in peak physical condition.

It is ironically Bradley’s last victory against 40 year old Joel Casamayor on the Marquez-Pacquaio 3 undercard that probably distills the gulf in class between the two fighters. Pacquaio went toe to toe with Juan Manuel Marquez, the pride of Mexico, while Bradley took down a 40 year old veteran in defense of his title. Saturday will only be the second time Bradley has fought at the MGM Grand; it will be the Pac-Man’s ninth battle in this great Coliseum of boxing. It just does not seem feasible that a man with only 12 knockouts in 29 fights, who is moving up from his preferred weight division can take down a man with as much ability, as much power and as much conviction on the big stage. Pacquiao will look to wrap this one up in the early stages, completing the job that Holt could not.

And spare a thought, if you please, for a certain Floyd ‘Money’ Mayweather who will no doubt listen to (or watch on a 50 inch plasma screen in his cell) the events unfolding on Saturday night.  How he will be hoping Bradley can remarkably dethrone Pacquiao and thus render their potential showdown redundant. And how he will go to sleep, disappointed, thinking of another excuse to not fight the man who presents him with his most likely chance of professional defeat.

Written by Damien Kayat for @Hollywoodbets. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook now!

Think we've got it wrong? Well leave your comments below and tell us how you think this one is going to play out.