American Timothy Bradley says he will rely on a “way different” strategy built on a highly detailed game plan when he defends his WBO welterweight title against Filipino Manny Pacquiao in Las Vegas next month.
The two boxers will be meeting for a third time, Bradley having controversially beaten Pacquiao when they first met in 2012, after which the Filipino gained revenge in their 2014 rematch by unanimous decision win.
Two-division world champion Bradley has since teamed up with renowned trainer and boxing analyst Teddy Atlas, a move that he believes has markedly improved his ring skills and fight preparation.
Photo: Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY
“Our approach this time [against Pacquiao] is going to be way different,” Bradley said during a conference call on Wednesday. “We have a big game plan going into this fight and I am looking closely at Pacquiao and his weaknesses.”
“I can take a lot from the first two fights. I didn’t really have a game plan for the first fight, pretty much fighting on my pure skills and my experience, and I did pretty well in that one,” he said. “The second fight, Pacquiao definitely won that hands down, but I suffered an injury in the second round. The fact that now I will have a big game plan ... I think that I have a much better chance.”
Asked what he had learned under the tutelage of Atlas, Bradley replied: “I’ve learned a lot of things ... but the hardest thing for me is to trust the game plan at all times in the ring, in training. What I mean by that is that no matter what’s going on, no matter how bad a day you’re having, you always have to be focused, you always have to be committed.”
“That is enforced every single day [with Atlas]. I show up to the gym and it’s total concentration, total focus all the way through,” said Bradley (33-1-1), who knocked out fellow American Brandon Rios in the ninth round of his last bout.
Southpaw Pacquiao (57-6-2) has won world titles in eight different weight classes during a stellar 20-year career, but Bradley is confident that he and Atlas have established a winning strategy for the April 9 showdown in Las Vegas.
“We have a game plan, I just have to go out there and execute it, just like I did against Rios,” Bradley said. “I trust everything that Teddy is telling me and teaching me. I’ve just got to do my job. Teddy has shown me everything that I need to win this fight, but if I don’t go out there and do it, then I’m not going to win this fight.”
“Manny Pacquiao pretty much does the same things, he’s going to bring the intensity, he’s going to come forward, he’s going to be the Manny Pacquiao that we have always seen. He knows me, but I think I’m going to be a little different now,” he said.
OUT AGAINST INDONESIA: Taiwan reached the semi-finals at the tournament for the first time by defeating Denmark, with Chou Tien-chen beating Viktor Axelsen Taiwan yesterday crashed out of the Thomas Cup team competition in Chengdu, China, but achieved their best result at the top-tier badminton event by reaching the semi-finals. Indonesia were too good in the semis, winning 3-0 to advance to today’s final against China, who eliminated Malaysia 3-1. In the opening singles of the men’s team clash at the Hi-Tech Zone Sports Center Gymnasium 2, Anthony Ginting defeated Taiwan’s Chou Tien-chen 21-18, 21-19 in 51 minutes, which put a huge hole in Taiwan’s aspirations to perhaps even make the final. In the men’s doubles, Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Ardianto downed Lee Yang and Wang
NO DOUBT: Spurs star Wembanyama was unanimously selected as NBA Rookie of the Year, winning all 99 votes to become the first Frenchman to capture the honor The Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday night produced a dominant defensive display to seize a commanding 2-0 lead in their best-of-seven playoff series against the Denver Nuggets with a 106-80 road victory. The third-seeded Timberwolves harassed Denver relentlessly to claim a second straight win over the NBA champions as the series heads back to Minneapolis for Game 3 on Friday. Karl-Anthony Towns and Anthony Edwards scored 27 points apiece, but the star of the show was Minnesota’s suffocating defensive effort, which knocked Denver out of their stride almost from the tip-off. The Timberwolves finished with 11 steals and 12 blocks, in sharp contrast to
Top-ranked Iga Swiatek on Saturday came through “the most intense and crazy final” she has ever contested to avenge her loss to Aryna Sabalenka in last year’s Madrid Open final with a grueling three hour, 11 minute victory in the Spanish capital. Coming back from 1-3 down in the decider and saving three match points in total, Swiatek claimed a 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (9/7) victory to secure the Madrid Open trophy for the first time. “Well, who is going to say now that women’s tennis is boring, right?” Swiatek said. Swiatek, who picked up the 20th title of her career, and ninth at
One of Malaysia’s top soccer clubs has pulled out of today’s season-opening Charity Shield after a spate of assaults, including an acid attack, on players in the country. It leaves the kickoff of Malaysia’s season this weekend under a cloud following the unprecedented acts of violence against players, which have left the country shocked and angry. Authorities said they have imposed tighter security, but Selangor said that they would not play in the showpiece curtain-raiser against Malaysian Super League champions Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) citing “a series of criminal incidents and recent threats.” Selangor and Malaysia winger Faisal Halim is in intensive care