TIMOTHY “Desert Storm” Bradley said he has a big game-plan to defeat eight-division world champion Manny Pacquiao when they clash for the third time at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on April 9.
Bradley won a widely criticized split decision over Pacquiao in 2012, but in a rematch some two years later, the Filipino dominated the American to win a lopsided unanimous decision.
Since the loss, Bradley fired trainer Joel Diaz and teamed up with renowned trainer and boxing analyst Teddy Atlas, a move that the two-weight champion believes has markedly improved his ring skills and fight preparation.
“Our approach this time [against Pacquiao] is going to be way different. We have a big game plan going into this fight and I am looking closely at Pacquiao and his weaknesses,” Bradley told Peter Gilbert of Sky Sports.
Bradley added: “I can take a lot from the first two fights. I didn’t really have a game plan for the first fight, pretty much fighting on my peer skills and my experience, and I did pretty well in that one. The second fight, Pacquiao definitely won that hands down, but I suffered an injury in the second round. The fact that now, I will have a big game plan, I think that I have a much better chance.”
Bradley, whose defeat to Pacquiao is his only loss in 35 fights, said Atlas has taught him to focus.
“I’ve learned a lot of things… but the hardest thing for me is to trust the game plan at all times in the ring, in training. What I mean by that is that no matter what’s going on, no matter how bad a day you’re having, you always have to be focused, you always have to be committed. That is enforced every single day [with Atlas]. I show up to the gym and it’s total concentration, total focus all the way through,” said Bradley.
The American is confident that he and Atlas have established a winning strategy for the April 9 showdown in Las Vegas.
“We have a game plan, I just have to go out there and execute it, just like I did against Brandon Rios (whom he stopped in the ninth round in his last fight.) I trust everything that Teddy is telling me and teaching me. I’ve just got to do my job. Teddy has shown me everything that I need to win this fight, but if I don’t go out there and do it, then I’m not going to win this fight.”
Bradley added: “Manny Pacquiao pretty much does the same things, he’s going to bring the intensity, he’s going to come forward, he’s going to be the Manny Pacquiao that we have always seen. He knows me, but I think I’m going to be a little different now.” Ronnie Nathanielsz