LAS VEGAS – It took Tim Bradley two meetings with Manny Pacquiao for him to be confident about his chances when the two fighters climb the ring for the third time on Saturday (Sunday, Manila time) at the MGM Grand here.
The 32-year-old American fighter said he trained for seven weeks in Palm Springs, California and traveled all the way here with trained Teddy Atlas with one major thing in mind.
“I’m going to win the fight. I’m going to win the fight,” he kept repeating before members of the media the moment he stepped inside the luxurious hotel for his scheduled grand arrival on Tuesday.
“That’s what I was trained to do. Twelve round decision.”
Although Bradley won his first showdown with Pacquiao in 2012 and then lost in their rematch two years later, the five-time world champion (33-1-1, 13 KOs) admitted he wasn’t really in his element in both fights where he suffered injuries (ankle and calf muscle) during the course of the matches.
“Both times, I felt that I came out a little short,” he said. “The second time, I lost the fight. But no excuses. He beat me fair and square.”
Bradley still had Joel Santiago for his trainer at the time, unlike today when he has Atlas, the 1994 Trainer of the Year, in his corner.
And for him, the third time is definitely a charm.
“The third time, I get another opportunity to seal the deal and show the fans that I’m one of the best fighters in the whole world,” said Bradley.
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