Although Manny Pacquiao peppered Brandon Rios for 12 rounds in a one-sided beating in China the last time he stepped in the squared circle, he needs a major victory if he's ever going to command Floyd Mayweather Jr.'s attention again. Beating Timothy Bradley may be enough to do that.
Bob Arum thinks Pacquiao could be the next Muhammad Ali
Bradley earned a highly questionable decision over Pacquiao in 2012 that began Pacman's drop from the height of the sport alongside Floyd, and now he has a chance to avenge that defeat. He's also said he isn't bitter about that initial loss, and is just fully focused on April 12. I'm not angry after the decision," Pacquiao said.
"The officials did their best, and no one is perfect in this world, and sometimes they make mistakes. It's part of boxing. I wasn't really bothered after the fight.
Pacman says "killer instinct" alive and well
Pacquiao is more bothered by Bradley stating on a few occasions that his "killer instinct" is gone, and that will leave him without the hunger to hand "Desert Storm" his first loss.
"The more he says it, the more it inspires me to show the hunger and the killer instinct he is talking about," Pacquiao said. "I am not angry or disappointed about what he says to me, but I'm happy that he has told me that because it inspires me to train hard and to focus in the gym on my game plan and focus on the fight. It is a benefit for me."
Pacquiao flashed his old form when he fought Rios, and prior to that looked very explosive against Juan Manuel Marquez before getting caught and knocked out. He thinks his aggression will be there in full vs. Bradley, who might not want to brawl.
"I do not think Bradley will fight toe-to-toe with me either, so I will have to hunt him down," Pacquiao said. "I am prepared for that. I am not going for a knockout, but if the opportunity presents itself I am going for it this time."
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