PACQUIAO AIMS KNOCKOUT WIN OVER BRADLEY; STARTS CAMP IN TWO WEEKS
By Aquiles Z. Zonio
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 24 Jan 2016
NEW YORK CITY ? World eight-division boxing champion Manny Pacquiao said he will try to knock out reigning World Boxing Organization (WBO) Welterweight champion Timothy Bradley if he gets the chance to do it in their April 9 ring trilogy in Las Vegas, Nevada.
?If I get the chance (to knock him out), why not? I want to win convincingly,? Pacquiao said when asked by reporters whether he?s expecting for a knockout during the fight.
The first two fights between Pacquiao and Bradley went the full distance. Bradley snatched a controversial win in their 2011 first ring encounter and Pacquiao won convincingly in their 2014 rematch.
Pacquiao, however, regarded their first two encounters as an ?unfinished business.?
?We still have an unfinished business, so, we need to settle this in our third fight. To me, he (Bradley) has improved a lot and that makes him a more challenging opponent atop the ring,? Pacquiao said.
Regardless of the outcome of his April 9 ring date with Bradley, Pacquiao said, he?s retiring from boxing to focus on a nobler endeavor, which is serving his country and the Filipino people.
Pacquiao is vying for a Senate seat in the upcoming May 2016 elections. He has been a congressman representing the lone district of Sarangani province for two consecutive terms.
The Filipino boxing icon said he wanted to serve not just the residents of Sarangani the reason why he decided to seek a higher elective position.
The boxer-lawmaker will train for one month in his own Wild Card Gym in General Santos starting first week of February then finish the last four weeks of his training camp in Los Angeles, California.
As usual, Restituto ?Buboy? Fernandez, Pacquiao?s assistant trainer, will take charge of the training in the first week of February until chief trainer and coach Freddie Roach arrives on February 13.
When asked whether distractions will not hamper Pacquiao?s training in his hometown, his Canadian adviser Michael Koncz said ?There would be distractions anywhere even in Los Angeles. So, we agreed to hold the first month of the training camp in Gensan then the final four months in the US.?
Koncz, however, emphasized they agreed to lock out the gym, particularly in the afternoon, during the mitts and sparring sessions to minimize, if not totally prevent, distractions.
?Ever since, as far as I can remember, there have been distractions during his training camp. We can only minimize but we can never prevent these,? Koncz said.
Koncz said Team Pacquiao needs to shut out the training venue to ensure that the Filipino boxing phenom is in top shape comes fight night.
?His fans and political supporters, I guess, would understand that this is Cong. Manny?s farewell fight. What a nice way to end his historic boxing career by putting on an impressive performance during the fight,? Koncz said.
Filipino boxing sensation Manny Pacquiao is being interviewed by reporters in New York City during the press tour for Pacquiao-Bradley III held at Madison Square Garden. With Pacquiao is chief trainer Freddie Roach and his Canadian adviser Michael Koncz. Photo by Aquiles Z. Zonio
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