WORLD Boxing Organization welterweight champion Timothy “Desert Storm” Bradley hinted he will target the right shoulder of eight-division world champion Manny Pacquiao when they clash for a third time at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on April 9.
Pacquiao injured his right shoulder rotator cuff in his May 2 “Fight of the Century,” which he lost on points to unbeaten pound-for-pound king Floyd Mayweather Jr. and underwent surgery five days later in Los Angeles to repair a tear.
Top Rank promoter Bob Arum and trainer Freddie Roach have both expressed some concern that he didn’t have his injury checked and that he hasn’t taken his rehab seriously, although he continues to play basketball without any apparent difficulty.
When he was asked by BoxingScene.com whether he planned to target the shoulder, Bradley said: “I think the answer would be—what would you do. C’mon let’s think here. You are a smart guy, what would you do? Would you target that shoulder? What would you do? I will do whatever it takes to win.”
Pacquiao said he is not taking any chances in his third fight against the World Boxing Organization welterweight champion and has already begun light training in his hometown of General Santos City.
After the fight with Mayweather, Pacquiao claimed he was bothered by a rotator cuff injury in his right shoulder and underwent surgery some five days later.
Pacquiao plans to put in nine weeks of training for his third fight against Bradley to whom he lost a hugely controversial split decision in his first fight, but avenged that defeat with a lopsided victory in their rematch.
The two fighters had a whirlwind, two-stop media presentation in Los Angeles and New York after which Pacquiao returned home and shortly afterwards began light training.
Philboxing.com quoted Pacquiao, who said: “We need enough time so we have to start early, nine weeks because of the long lay-off.”
He jogged four kilometers around the Antonio Acharon Memorial Sports Complex and later did some sit ups and stretching exercises with assistant coach Roger “Haplas” Fernandez. He said he felt fine because he has stayed in condition by playing basketball regularly although he has announced he will not compete in the import-reinforced Philippine Basketball Association conference as he picks up his training regimen for the Bradley fight.