VETERAN trainer Teddy Atlas, who is preparing Timothy Bradley for his third encounter with eight-division world champion Manny Pacquiao, said he didn’t see any influence from injury in the Filipino’s fight with Floyd Mayweather Jr.
“When he (Pacquiao) had to throw that hand, he did without wincing or discomfort. As for age, I haven’t seen any dissipation and I don’t expect any now,” said Atlas.
Both Pacquiao and his trainer Freddie Roach claimed that Pacquiao aggravated a rotator cuff tear on his right shoulder in the fourth round of his “Fight of the Century” against unbeaten pound-for-pound king Mayweather Jr. last May 2. He underwent arthroscopic surgery five days later, but there have been those who have been skeptical of the injury claims.
In an interview on Boxing Scene, Atlas said: “Speed and power are always the key for Pacquiao—that makes him dynamic. For us, speed will be an important part of the equations, but calculated and controlled speed.”
Pacquiao insider Joe Ramos told The Standard that he had watched Manny train in General Santos City for the past week and indicated he was in terrific shape, showed remarkable speed and punching power.
Asked what he saw in the first two Bradley fights against Pacquiao which he would like to change in their third encounter, Atlas said they need to “Eliminate situations where Timmy is hit with lefts—either off the jab or leads. In the second fight, although I know Tim was injured, Pacquiao was able to walk him down and we can’t allow that.”
He indicated he is preparing Bradley “for the ultimate Pacquiao.”
Atlas also said that after watching tapes of the first two fights and noting Bradley’s mistakes, Atlas said Bradley “must not allow Pacquiao “to control the pace or rhythm of the fight.”
The Pacquiao-Bradley trilogy is scheduled at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on April 10, Manila Time.