In just a few hours, the boxing world will know what kind of stuff the muscular and cocky Timothy Bradley is made of -- is he a tough and worthy opponent for Manny Pacquiao, or just a B-plus attraction pushed up there by Top Rank, aided by some paid hacks in the media to make it appear that this fight is a compelling one even if it is not?
Timothy Bradley, on paper, is a quality and dangerous foe. He is fast, slick and undefeated. Aside from having youth on his side, he also wields an extra weapon in the form of his head, a weapon so lethal that his fight history is riddled with fighters that were victimized by his sweet old noggin. By these attributes alone he surely deserves a shot at Manny Pacquiao. Or does he?
In Manny Pacquiao, Timothy Bradley will face the toughest test of his boxing career as well as square off with one of the most devastating punchers in the history of the sport -- a tall order for anybody in the boxing world.
But because of Pacquiao's inability to deliver destruction in his recent fights that was attributed to turmoil in his personal life, Timothy Bradley, according to some 'well-respected' boxing analysts who will not be named, is a 'live dog' and therefore has a fighting chance and will score the biggest prize of his life -- the scalp of the Pacman and every bounty that goes with it.
And tonight, Manny Pacquiao is the one who is under heavier pressure to perform well. In many observers' eyes, Pacquiao needs to reclaim his stature in the eyes of both his fans and critics alike as the best fighter in the world today. He needs to get back to his old devastating self, of being the most fearsome and exciting fighter that he is, the whirlwind from the Pacific who electrifies the crowds everytime he fights.
A lot of people blasted Manny Pacquiao for being 'un-Pacquiao-like' for performing below par in his recent fights, most notably in his 'touched-glove' diplomacy with Shane Mosley that ended in a unanimous decision win, as well as his controversial split-decision victory over Juan Manuel Marquez, a fight that many observers still claim he lost (although this writer had it 7-to-5 rounds in favor of Pacquiao).
By virtue of Manny Pacquiao's recent so-so performances, some boxing observers have been emboldened and declared that the Filipino fighter is on the decline as a prizefighter. His age and hectic lifestyle have finally caught up with him and he is now ripe for the picking. The same observers opined that they will not be surprised if a catastrophic upset of the once invincible Pacman is in store tonight.
But let us consider some hard facts: Timothy Bradley may be fast, but Manny Pacquiao is faster. Timothy Bradley may have some pop in his punches, but Manny Pacquiao packs a wallop in his hands. Timothy Bradley takes pride in his durability, but Kendall Holt shows us that his chin is vulnerable from a big punch, while Manny Pacquiao's chin has withstood bombs from the likes of Miguel Cotto and Antonio Margarito, two fighters who possess power in their fists. Timothy Bradley may be a blue collar worker inside the ring, but Manny Pacquiao's stamina and work rate are legendary. Timothy Bradley may be a brave soul, but we all know that Manny Pacquiao is a warrior.
And lastly, Timothy Bradley may have been nicknamed as the "Desert Storm," but lest we forget Manny Pacquiao used to be called the "Pacific Storm" as he dismantled, with stunning ferocity, every fighter that stood in his way.
*This article was originally published in Detroit Fight Sports Examiner
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