BRISBANE, Australia — A person very familiar with Manny Pacquiao didn't look far at how he sees the outcome of the welterweight title fight between his former tormentor and Australian challenger Jeff Horn.
Tim Bradley sees a similarity between Horn and one-time world champion Jessie Vargas, both being young, aggressive and skillfull.
Yet, like Vargas, he also sees the 29-year-old Horn suffering the same fate as the Mexican when he finally comes face-to-face with Pacquiao on Sunday at the Suncorp Stadium.
"The last time I saw him (Pacquiao) fight, he fought against Vargas, a younger guy, very determined, dangerous fighter. And guess what? He beat him," said Bradley, who arrived here on Thursday to do the color commentary of the World Boxing Organization-sanctioned title bout for ESPN.
"I think this will be no different."
Bradley fought Pacquiao in a trilogy from 2012 to 2016, winning against the hard-puching Filipino southpaw in what went down as one of the most stunning decisions in boxing history.
But the Pacman would have the last laugh in their rivalry by claiming victories in their last two outings, including their 2016 showdown which was Pacquiao's final bout before briefly retiring from the sport.
A year since that meeting and following the fight with Vargas when Pacquiao came out of retirement, Bradley, 33, said the Pacman still has it.
The four-time world champion said Pacquiao’s reflexes remain, which unfortunately, can’t be said of other fighters who are already in the twilight of their careers.
“First thing that leaves you as a fighter, honestly, is your reflexes. And Manny’s reflexes hadn’t gone anywhere,” he said of his rival.
“He’s a phenomenal boxer. He still has his reflexes, he still has his power, and he still has his speed. He can still continue to fight.”
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