Timothy Bradley is set to face Diego Chaves on December 13 in Las Vegas, but he hasn't been shy about offering his opinions on other fighters while he trains. Recently Bradley was asked about a possible Manny Pacquiao vs. Floyd Mayweather Jr. fight, and hinted it might not be such an easy bout for Mayweather.
"I think he [Pacquiao] does well, I honestly think it goes well," Bradley said. In April Pacquiao avenged a 2012 defeat to Bradley with a unanimous decision victory, handing Bradley the first loss of his career.
"I think that the fight is a little more even now. I'm gonna have to favor Floyd Mayweather because he's just brilliant in his boxing ability but you can't take anything away from Manny Pacquiao. I'm not trying to blow smoke up my a** but I'm a really difficult fighter to deal with and Manny Pacquiao was able to deal with me, and if Manny Pacquiao is able to deal with me, he's able to deal with anybody else, I truly believe that."
Bradley also noted subtle changes that have occurred in both Mayweather's and Pacquiao's game. "Floyd's a little bit more flat footed and Manny is a little bit more cautious in his approach now," Bradley said before mentioning how the knockout Pacquiao suffered vs. Juan Manuel Marquez may have forced an adjustment.
"He's not as tenacious and aggressive as he used to be - if he gets you hurt, he'll definitely try to take you out but most times now he's thinking. He doesn't rush his attack anymore and just come in recklessly, he's thinking about his approach now, a little bit more now since he got knocked out by Marquez."
Mayweather's next step following two straight wins over Marcos Maidana is unclear, but before a Pacquiao fight can be considered Pacquiao must get past WBO junior welterweight champion Chris Algieri. He is coming up to welterweight, albeit at a 144-pound catchweight, and has advantages in height, reach and age.
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