PACQUIAO?S SPARRING PARTNER RHODES SAYS HE?S FASTER AND HITS HARDER THAN BRADLEY
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 17 Feb 2014
Rhodes.
?Fighter of the Decade? Manny Pacquiao?s sparring partner, undefeated Lydell Rhodes (19-0, 9 KO?s) in a wide-ranging, exclusive interview with the Manila Standard some hours after he arrived on Sunday said ?I bring more speed, more elusiveness as a boxer and have a little more power? than unbeaten WBO welterweight champion Timothy ?Desert Storm? Bradley.
Pacquiao faces Bradley in an eagerly awaited rematch at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on April 12, determined to avenge his widely criticized split decision loss in June 2012.
Rhodes who was a prot?g? of Floyd Mayweather Sr, trainer and father of Floyd Mayweather Jr, said Pacquiao has all the advantages over Bradley.
He said ?the advantage is Manny?s power. He?s got a lot of power, a lot of speed, I think he has more speed and power than Bradley . But Bradley improved since they fought before. I believe in my heart of hearts he (Pacquiao) won the first fight even though I am a Bradley fan myself. On paper everything favors Manny who does everything a little bit better ? he?s got the experience, speed, power footwork, all of it.?
Rhodes told us he?ll be aggressive with Pacquiao. ?I am going to take it to him. That?s why they brought me here. They didn?t bring me in to sit back even though I said I was a fan, I still come to compete. When I get into the ring with him it's not going to be a walk in the park. They want me to go at him I?ll go at him and bring more than Bradley brings. That?s my job and that?s what I?m going to do.?
Rhodes conceded that he ?may not be in the best of shape like fight shape but within a week or so I?ll be in fight shape because I stay running and stay in the gym everyday. You?ll never catch me out of the gym.?
He indicated ?right now I?m probably 152 which is the right size and better for Manny. I?m a lightweight, started my career as welter dropped down to light welter and then lightweight.?
When asked what Pacquiao must do to beat Bradley, Rhodes replied,? I think he has to take it to him because Bradley doesn?t have much speed or power. Don?t get me wrong he wouldn?t be a champion if he didn?t have speed and some power so he is a really good fighter but Manny is going to have to bring it to him because Bradley is going to stand behind his jab and backing away with jab, jab, jab and when Pacquiao is not expecting him he?s going to come in with body shots. I believe like he did in the first fight. He might do downstairs a little more than he did in the first fight to slow Pacquiao down.?
Rhodes echoed what trainer Freddie Roach and other boxing people have said, ?Manny just has to have that killer instinct which we all know he has and bring it and the fight?s all his.?
Rhodes arrived in GenSan on Monday along with Pacquiao's adviser Michael Koncz and met the eight division world champion at his Pacman Wild Card Gym before resting because of jet lag.
Koncz told the Manila Standard that Pacquiao went four rounds on the punch-mitts and also ripped into the heavy bag as part of a regular regimen and later played basketball which he loves to do in order to stay in shape.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
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