BRADLEY?S TRAINER TEDDY ATLAS SAYS PACQUIAO IS STILL A DANGEROUS, EXPLOSIVE FIGHTER
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Thu, 17 Mar 2016
Timothy ?Desert Storm? Bradley?s veteran trainer Teddy Atlas says he sees eight division world champion Manny Pacquiao as the same dangerous, explosive fighter he has always been.
Boxing writer Keith Idec reports that while Atlas expects Bradley to box better in their third fight he doesn?t anticipate that the 37 year old Pacquiao to be any different from the opponent Bradley battled twice when they clash at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on April 9.
Atlas said ?To me, there?s no dissipation as far as talent. I haven?t seen the talent dissipate. He?s still fast, he?s still explosive, he?s still powerful, he still punches well. He?s still got a lot of those quick-twitch fibers. ? That?s not just in his hands, but in his feet. He?s dynamic. I haven?t seen any dissipation in that at all, to be honest with you.?
However, the trainer who has been credited for Bradley?s impressive 9th round stoppage of Brandon ?Bam Bam? Rios in his last fight said ?The only thing that may be different is that he may be more conservative ? maybe. Maybe toned down to where it?s still the same level of ability, but maybe used more conservatively. He?s still above most other fighters? work rates and punch numbers and everything else, but for himself, maybe just a little bit more thoughtful about what he?s doing.?
He believes the shocking 6th round knockout at the hands of Mexican legend Juan Manuel Marquez in their fourth meeting on December 2012 has resulted in the heightened caution shown by Pacquiao.
Atlas added, ?I think to a certain degree we?re all influenced by what happens to us,? Atlas said. ?And I think that probably has been part of it. I don?t know that it?s a negative. It?s something that could even be a positive for him. The ability of what he does is still there ? the quality, the level of it.?
The third bout between Pacquiao (57-6-2, 38 KOs) and Bradley (33-1-1, 13 KOs, 1 NC), of Palm Springs, California, will be Pacquiao?s first fight in more than 11 months. He hasn?t fought since undergoing shoulder surgery in the immediate aftermath of his unanimous-decision defeat to unbeaten pound for pound No.1 Floyd Mayweather Jr. (49-0, 26 KOs) on May 2 at MGM Grand in the ?Fight of the Century.?
Mayweather has since retired while Pacquiao who is running for a seat in the Senate in the May elections has said the Bradley fight will be his farewell bout although trainer Freddie Roach and Top Rank promoter Bob Arum believe Manny will fight again especially if he puts on an impressive performance against Bradley with the possibility of a Mayweather rematch still being talked about.
Pacquiao is scheduled to spar with unbeaten welterweight Frankie Gomez on Thursday (LA Time) following eight rounds of sparring last Tuesday in which he used his previously injured right hand a lot and demonstrated burst of awesome power.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Villanueva to fight Antaran on April 27 in Gensan
By Lito delos Reyes, Sun, 20 Apr 2025MASOUD AND MCGRAIL CLASH IN ALL-BRITISH SHOWDOWN
Sun, 20 Apr 2025Semifinals Conclude at 2025 USA Boxing International Open
Sun, 20 Apr 2025FM Arca is inching closer to his 3rd and final IM norm
By Marlon Bernardino, Sun, 20 Apr 2025Weigh-In Results: Fundora and Conwell Ready for Golden Boy Fight Night in Oceanside
Sat, 19 Apr 2025Undefeated, rising Canadian prospect Eric Basran wins in Opening round to advance to quarterfinals of inaugural Riyadh Season/WBC Boxing Grand Prix in Saudi Arabia
Sat, 19 Apr 2025WEIGHTS FROM LONG BEACH
Sat, 19 Apr 2025Weights From Washington, PA
Sat, 19 Apr 2025Jerald Into Advances in WBC Boxing Grand Prix with Dominant Win Over Ahmad Jones
Sat, 19 Apr 2025Press Conference Notes: Keyshawn Davis Set for Homecoming Title Defense against Edwin De Los Santos at Norfolk's Scope Arena
Sat, 19 Apr 2025JAKE PAUL vs JULIO CESAR CHAVEZ JR / ZURDO RAMIREZ vs YUNIEL DORTICOS JUNE 28 in ANAHEIM
Sat, 19 Apr 2025June 8: Junto Nakatani-Ryosuke Nishida Bantamweight Unification Showdown Headlines Tokyo Super Card Streaming LIVE on ESPN+
Sat, 19 Apr 2025Thursday’s Action at the 2025 USA Boxing International Open Concludes
Sat, 19 Apr 2025H2O Sylve Returns to the Ring April 26th At Gateway Center Arena in Atlanta Amado Vargas Is Co-Main Live On BLK PRIME
Sat, 19 Apr 2025FM Arca bounces back, defeats IM Laohawirapap of Thailand in 6th round
By Marlon Bernardino, Sat, 19 Apr 2025