By NICK GIONGCO
Manny Pacquiao is going to make Tim Bradley fight every second of every round when they square off next week in Las Vegas, the Filipino star’s chief trainer declared yesterday from Los Angeles.
“Manny will not take his foot off the gas pedal this time and he will accept nothing short of an unconditional surrender,” said Roach as quoted by publicist Fred Sternburg after presiding over another intense workout at the Wild Card Boxing Club in Hollywood.
Roach said the 35-year-old Pacquiao has realized that he has to shed off his Mr. Nice Guy image in this rematch set for April 12 at the MGM Grand.
“As Leo Durocher used to say, ‘Nice Guys Finish Last.’ And when Manny enters the ring on April 12, he will not be the Mr. Nice Guy he was the first time he fought Tim Bradley. Bradley has been preaching a lot of revisionism when asked about their first fight against each other,” said Roach, referring to the former Major Leaguer’s famous line.
Bradley’s rants about having been denied the accolade and respect that he deserved has earned the ire of Roach, who believes the unbeaten 30-year-old US fighter is also not sure if he had indeed won the first fight.
“But the more I hear it, the more I am convinced that he is only trying to convince himself that he won that fight,” said Roach.
Bradley was the recipient of a split decision win the first time he faced Pacquiao in June 2012.
Pacquiao has apparently moved on and is aching to prove to one and all that the first time was just an aberration.
Meanwhile, the Nevada Athletic Commission has named the officials—referee and three judges—who will work the scheduled 12-round world welterweight title fight, according to Top Rank head and Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum.
Kenny Bayless, regarded as the best in the game, will be the third man on the ring. The judges are Michael Pernick of Florida, Glenn Trowbridge of Nevada and John Keane of England.
In the first Pacquiao-Bradley match, two judges—CJ Ross and Duane Ford—scored it 115-113 for Bradley. Only Jerry Roth favored Pacquiao by the same score.