Pacquiao solid, but isn?t Bradley all shook up?
By Recah Trinidad
PhilBoxing.com
Thu, 14 Apr 2016
THERE was an order for outright demolition. But Manny Pacquiao doesn?t regret having failed to score a devastating knockout in his third encounter against American Timothy Bradley Jr. in Las Vegas.
Pacquiao is truly overjoyed that, in beating Bradley ? while flooring the usually tough former world welterweight boxing champion a couple of times ? would come the realization that he could still compete at the highest level.
There were actually unvoiced fears that Pacquiao, as he continued to push himself hard close to the official weigh-in, could overwork and suffer from burnout.
* * *
The unanimous win over Bradley, whom Pacquiao had succeeded in knocking down for the first time in three encounters, can?t be counted among his finest performances. But it?s also in that bout wherein Pacquiao was able to display sustained defensive maturity.
Never careless, never careless, Pacquiao told a vivacious female interviewer, who also succeeded in drawing the official farewell message from the legendary Filipino boxing superhero on top of the ring.
Truth is that Pacquiao has delivered something that could in a way be equal to a knockout win as Bradley, cornered and under siege, was fortunate enough to have been saved by the final bell.
* * *
Pacquiao was not at his best, but didn?t he manage to secretly dismantle Bradley, whom trainer Teddy Atlas had supposedly reinvented?
For the record, Atlas, despite having done practically everything for Bradley, would blame himself, saying he failed to push the right button at the proper time.
To this, there however came questions on whether or not Atlas had also bothered to consider all the savagery Bradley had been through, like in that questionable decision win over tough Ruslan Provodnikov, who had dealt Bradley a concussive beating in their very cruel fight.
* * *
Wasn?t it a case of too many punches in too many brutal bouts for Bradley last Saturday in Las Vegas?
Wasn?t Bradley, based on past brutal beatings he had to take, already appeared like a shining but shaky building that still looks good from outside, but could actually be overdue for demolition, with all the invisible cracks in its foundation?
With all the glorious clamor, Pacquiao may have no choice but return to the ring after enjoying a brief retirement.
On the other hand, shouldn?t Bradley, after that alarming losing stand against Pacquiao, be first subjected to a serious clinical check before he?s exposed to more killing savagery again?
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Recah Trinidad.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Jake Paul, Anthony Joshua Tip the Scales Ahead of Netflix Heavyweight Spectacle in Miami
By Dong Secuya, Fri, 19 Dec 2025RICHARDS AND AZEEZ SET FOR HISTORIC SHOWDOWN AS SOUTH LONDON LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHTS FACE-OFF AT PRESS CONFERENCE IN GHANA
Fri, 19 Dec 2025Brooklyn’s undefeated Pryce Taylor Called one of top heavyweight prospects in U.S.
Fri, 19 Dec 2025INDIGO FIGHT NIGHT RESULTS AS GIORGIO VISOLI OVERCOMES TOUGH JOE HOWARTH – AND TIAH-MAI AYTON WINS AGAIN
Thu, 18 Dec 2025Weights From ProBoxTV’s ‘Merry Fistmas’ at War Memorial Auditorium in Fort Lauderdale, Tomorrow Night at 7 pm ET
Thu, 18 Dec 2025Undefeated Jose Tito Sanchez Returns to Face Jesus Ramirez Rubio in Super Bantamweight Main Event on Friday
Thu, 18 Dec 2025Three boxers aim for finals
By Joaquin Henson, Wed, 17 Dec 2025BOOM! Terence Crawford Stuns the World with Retirement at 42-0
By Dong Secuya, Wed, 17 Dec 2025Jake Paul vs Anthony Joshua: The Biggest “Crossroads” Fight Ever!
By Ralph Rimpell, Wed, 17 Dec 2025Donaire ready for Tsutsumi
By Joaquin Henson, Tue, 16 Dec 2025INDIGO FIGHT NIGHT: WEIGH-IN RESULTS AND RUNNING ORDER CONFIRMED AS CONNOR MITCHELL GETS READY FOR HIS PRO DEBUT
Tue, 16 Dec 2025THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION DECEMBER 15 DECEMBER 2025: Gassiev KO Pulev in 6; Mikaeljan Beats Jack for WBC Cruiser Title; Pacheco Outpoints Sadjo
By Eric Armit, Tue, 16 Dec 2025Sumalinog, Castanol rule Senior, PWD fun run
By Lito delos Reyes, Tue, 16 Dec 2025Vargas urges boxers to defy odds
By Joaquin Henson, Tue, 16 Dec 2025GIORGIO VISIOLI SETS OUT MISSION TO LAND MAJOR TITLES AFTER TENSE FIRST FACE-OFF WITH ENGLISH TITLE RIVAL JOE HOWARTH
Tue, 16 Dec 2025