Pacquiao Hints: It's Bradley After Marquez

Some may call it over-confidence or even arrogance, but for people who have keen business sense, it is just simply forward planning.
Five weeks before he defends his world welterweight title against Mexican Juan Manuel Marquez, Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao hinted Thursday night that his next pugilistic assignment could be the undefeated American Timothy Bradley, Jr., who holds both the World Boxing Organization (WBO) and World Boxing Council (WBC) junior welterweight titles.

That is, of course, if he disproves the boast of the Mexican boxing legend that he will be able to knock out Manny Pacquiao.

Bradley, who is being exposed by Top Rank promoter Bob Arum to Pacquiao fans worldwide in preparation for the match up with the Pacman sometime in the first quarter of next year, will defend his WBO and WBC titles against Cuban Joel Casamayor, a fight whose result is just as foregone as the Pacquiao-Marquez 3.

The undefeated American fighter from Palm Springs, California recently signed up with Top Rank, a move that immediately led to talks about a possible encounter with Pacquiao.

“Bradley is being exposed in your undercard. Is he your next opponent?” I asked Manny when he invited me to share dinner with him Thursday shortly before the awarding ceremonies for a basketball tournament that he sponsored at the Coyeesan sports center in Baguio City.

“Yes, he could be the next,” Pacquiao said.

The word “could” does not signify uncertainty rather a conditional scenario because I still feel that Manny Pacquiao’s camp is hoping fervently that Floyd Mayweather, Jr.would finally take up the challenge to meet the Filipino 8-division champion.

It “could” happen and if that happens, Bradley will have to wait farther down the line.

Bradley, 28, is managed by Cameron Dunkin who also holds a management contract over Fil-Am bantamweight champion Nonito Donaire Jr. He is undefeated in 27 fights with one No Contest, a bout against Nate Campbell in 2009.

He won the WBC light welterweight title in May of 2008 when he fought Junior Witter to a 12 round split decision in Nottinghamshire, UK and has successfully defended it five times, the last against Devon Alexander, scoring a technical decision in the 10th round of their January 2011 fight in Michigan.

While he is not considered a big puncher, posting a KO percentage of only 39.29, Bradley is a durable technical fighter capable of winning over tough opponents, like Kendal Holt, on points, and according to available records has never been knocked down.

At 5' 6", he is just as tall at the Filipino boxing icon and could prove to be a more exciting opponent than Joshua Clottey, more durable than Ricky Hatton, less intimidating than Antonio Margarito and more willing than Floyd Mayweather, Jr. (Source: Manny Pinol / www.themanilatimes.net)