How And Why Manny Pacquiao Is Going To Lose To Timothy Bradley

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Strap yourselves in, this is about to get tedious.

I have carefully analysed this fight as hard as I possibly could, the same way I did with the Mayweather/Cotto fight. I went with Cotto to lose but be very competitive, something not many went for, mildly controversial. (Minor gloating out of the way) Now I'm going for something perhaps a bit more controversial, a Tim Bradley win on June 9th.

Yes Tim, not only will I be sticking it on the line for you, but I will be rooting for you also. So Tim you and that huge head better be on your game, otherwise I'm gonna look an idiot if Manny blasts you away as many are suggesting!!

Now where do I start when analysing this? Well I'll start with one thing, Manny is somewhat over rated in my opinion. An all time great? Yes. An amazing fighter? Yes. One of the most exciting to watch in the ring at this moment in time? Yes. But one dimensional? Also, YES.

The gameplan is there, or the "blueprint" as his arch rival seems to like to call it, has been written on how to beat the Filipino, easy to type out, easy to read out, but much harder to execute in reality, however the blueprint is there.

The fact remains for me, that with Manny he has never decisively beaten a boxer in his prime as in mine and most peoples opinions he didn't beat JMM decisively. Now I'm not suggesting Timothy Bradley is going in with the exact same gameplan, or is going in there to replicate this exactly, or even has the skill and technique to do so, but will use most parts of JMM's type of tactics and mould it around his own style. (I hope.) When Manny faced Erik Morales, Morales used similar tactics to JMM, however he also moulded in his own style and in part through Morales' aggressiveness and warrior-like attitude he fell away from the gameplan somewhat and actually made the fight a lot closer than it could have been, I also think that Morales was slightly past it at this point, nevertheless he still beat Manny, in what is actually one of my favourite ever fights. The second time around Morales in my opinion was weight drained and I think it showed when he couldn't maintain the pace that he set near the beginning which was a similar beginning to the previous fight and Manny was able to break him down due to this.

I think it is also a fair assessment to say that while Sugar Shane Mosley lost a very one sided fight he made Manny look very ordinary in the way he beat him and this was due to Brother Nazim Richardsons tactics for Mosley, while you could say this means nothing as Manny won every round, this was down to the fact that at this stage of his career he was no longer capable of actually putting in a serious fightback and actually throwing back with any real tenacity, a shadow of his former self in the boxing ring if you will. In my opinion a Mosley that could have done what he did defensively with Nazim Richardsons tactics on how to beat Manny Pacquiao and then had the same speed and explosiveness that he did against De La Hoya twice would have been far too much for a Manny Pacquiao and perhaps also the reason that Roach was unwilling to put Manny in the ring with him previous to that before Mosley was schooled by Floyd.

I think we can draw an AWFUL lot from the Marco Antonio Barrera (2nd) fight also. The first fight was pure and simple what it was Barrera having his bum handed to him in a fight that shocked everyone and made everyone sit up and look at this explosive Filipino slugger. Barrera quite literally didn't have an answer for what Manny threw at him, had no idea as to how to handle him was most probably shocked and underestimated Manny and was subsequently taken apart and knocked out due to it. Now we go to the second fight, this fight was staged after the Morales fights and the first Marquez fight and how did he adapt? A very much faded Barrera was able to make it a much closer affair and was able to frustrate and land much more punches than the prime version of Barrera. How did this happen? He used the blueprint that Marquez and Morales had laid down onto him and realised that was what he needed to do to have a chance of beating Manny. Personally I, and most people have the fight much closer than the judges had it, but most certainly Manny won, but was caused lots of problems with the way Barrera was fighting him, a very much aged Barrera take into consideration. I think it is of no coincidence that Barrera was able to somewhat mimic JMM's tactics (Though whilst still using parts of himself) to push him a lot closer when he was much more faded than the prime version that decided to take him head on.

Ok, so is it possible for Timothy Bradley to do something of this note? Well... Possibly, I think Bradley is something of an unknown quantity, at this moment in time, whenever he has been asked the question he has responded and has showed the ability to adapt, so again I say possibly, but I'm putting my faith in Bradley to be able to do so. He seems open minded, a quick thinker, someone that is willing to learn to understand how to beat fighters and with the fact that he has been studying Manny on film ever since the fight as called I can't help feeling he's going to attempt something a little bit specialist.

One other factor is that (And I could be completely wrong) I believe that Manny's heart is no longer 100% in boxing whilst Bradleys is in with question. What does this mean? Well from my own experience, it's not always the person that's the most talented that can win, it's sometimes the smarter man that understands what he has to do and is absolutely determined to do so. I see Bradley like that for this fight, completely determined, loves being the underdog and so badly wants to prove everyone wrong and is willing to go to other places that others aren't to do so. I think the main difference being Manny is perhaps, not necessarily tired of being at the top, but perhaps comfortable at the top and maybe not as prepared to go into a real tussle whereas I think Bradley is relishing the challenge to go at the big guys at the top and really wants to test his boxing ability with genuine belief that he can do it.

Mental strength!!

Possible things:

Cuts, Manny is slightly susceptible to them and with the styles of Bradley occassionally coming in head first and Manny with in and in and out Southpaw style heads could be banging together all night. Bradley, with his *Ahem* oddly shaped head seems to never come off worse in this respect and Manny has tended to panic when cut before. Strange to talk about a great fighter that panics when he sees his own blood, but it is true.

Bradleys chin and Mannys power. Well Bradley without doubt has a fantastic chin and showed incredible powers of recovery when decked by Kendall Holt and came back much stronger, can he take Manny's power?



Ok, it's not all 100% scientific and there's not always an actual one blatant reason as to why Bradley should win, but piecing it all together in my view I really feel as though Bradley has a terrific chance and am officially picking him to eek out a result. I'm unsure as to whether it's more hope than anything but Tim my faith is in you!

What say you people?

So it turns out that Manny also outlanded Bradley in 10 of the 12 rounds....

What a terrible decision this was.

If the rematch does happen, I hope the scoring is not now weighted in Manny's favour, like in the Morales Barrera rematch.

It was a clear robbery. Anyone who thinks otherwise are deluding themselves. Round 1 even and rounds 10-12 Tim. The rest clearly to Manny.

Rodney wrote:

azumah HOF wrote:

Rodney wrote:

azumah HOF wrote:

Rodney wrote:Watching the fight though rose tinted Floyd glasses Zoomy, It was a shocking decision.

hahahahha!!! Shocking decision haaaahahhaha!!! i love it!!!! This is boxing folks... all go back and re-educate yourselves on how fights should be scored... how can it be shocking when all judges saw it as close!!!

Wow!!! REALLY!!! what is for sure through my rose tinted Floyd glasses... is that if Manny wants some let him come get it coz Floyd WILL STOP HIS ASS!!!
And if you think different now after ur man has labored against Tim and Marquez, i'll gladly have some of ur money son!!!

All the judges scored Rios over Abril. Marquez over Manny, we all knw they were wrong so what is your point, do you know how to score a fight ?

Pacquaio beat Bradley hands down, and I couldn't care what the hell Floyd does as neither are my boy, maybes you should just concentrate being a boxing fan instead of a arm chair self obsessed Floyd fan. It's kinda embarrassing

Cheers

Rodders

AND THE BOXING KNOWLEDGE CONTINUES TO FLOW FROM UR MOUTH LIKE THE AROMATIC INTOXICATINGLY DELUSIONAL SMOKE FROM AN RASTAMAN'S PIPE!!! BEAT BRADELY HANDS DOWN..... HOW DIRT POOR IS THAT

And listen to the boxing oracle, talking about boxing should be scored in a stylistic impression, I think it's easier to score a fight on who landed the cleaner more effective punches, and controlled the fight, I thought Marquez did that with Manny in Nov, But how you can score the fight for Bradley on stylistic performance is beyond me, if Manny has the poorest jab in a reigning champion, what was Bradley's he hardly touched Pacquaio with it. You seem more interested in scoring the fight from a Floyds fan perspective than as a boxing fan I'm afraid.

Cheers

Rodders

Got to bow to the esteemed Trussy's judgement on this one... you dear sir are nothing short of consistently shocking!

Scored it 115-113 to Manny. Wasn't particularly impressed with either man. I don't see how it was the biggest robbery of all time etc. HBO commentary was shocking. You'd swear Manny was rocking Tim with every punch the way they were talking about his power.

paperbag_puncher wrote:Scored it 115-113 to Manny. Wasn't particularly impressed with either man. I don't see how it was the biggest robbery of all time etc. HBO commentary was shocking. You'd swear Manny was rocking Tim with every punch the way they were talking about his power.

I haven't seen the fight PP but it sounds very much like that old chestnut of a fight being a 'robbery' is getting a reet good airing. I have read reactions from posters whose opinion I greatly respect that either have it a close fight or even a Bradley victory. Against that, some other hugely knowledgeable posters have it wide for Manny and are calling it some huge swindle.

As I said, I haven't seen the fight yet but it certainly sounds like a closer affair than some would have you believe.

Trust me, it wasn't that close. As clear a points victory as you can see barring a shut-out.

Mind the windows Tino. wrote:

paperbag_puncher wrote:Scored it 115-113 to Manny. Wasn't particularly impressed with either man. I don't see how it was the biggest robbery of all time etc. HBO commentary was shocking. You'd swear Manny was rocking Tim with every punch the way they were talking about his power.

I haven't seen the fight PP but it sounds very much like that old chestnut of a fight being a 'robbery' is getting a reet good airing. I have read reactions from posters whose opinion I greatly respect that either have it a close fight or even a Bradley victory. Against that, some other hugely knowledgeable posters have it wide for Manny and are calling it some huge swindle.

As I said, I haven't seen the fight yet but it certainly sounds like a closer affair than some would have you believe.

Agree with Fists. You can't score that fight to Bradley unless you're desperate to be anti-Manny and avoid the general rules of scoring boxing. You need to score unaffective aggression, missed and blocked punches to give Tim a hope and penalise Manny heavily for a lack of activity. A bit like scoring the Haye-Valuev fight to Valuez. Haye didn't do much but landed a few punches, Valuez swung plenty but landed almost nothing.

I'm with Az on this, tied the first round and gave the championship rounds to Bradley, everything else was Manny's.

TopHat24/7 wrote:

Mind the windows Tino. wrote:

paperbag_puncher wrote:Scored it 115-113 to Manny. Wasn't particularly impressed with either man. I don't see how it was the biggest robbery of all time etc. HBO commentary was shocking. You'd swear Manny was rocking Tim with every punch the way they were talking about his power.

I haven't seen the fight PP but it sounds very much like that old chestnut of a fight being a 'robbery' is getting a reet good airing. I have read reactions from posters whose opinion I greatly respect that either have it a close fight or even a Bradley victory. Against that, some other hugely knowledgeable posters have it wide for Manny and are calling it some huge swindle.

As I said, I haven't seen the fight yet but it certainly sounds like a closer affair than some would have you believe.

Agree with Fists. You can't score that fight to Bradley unless you're desperate to be anti-Manny and avoid the general rules of scoring boxing. You need to score unaffective aggression, missed and blocked punches to give Tim a hope and penalise Manny heavily for a lack of activity. A bit like scoring the Haye-Valuev fight to Valuez. Haye didn't do much but landed a few punches, Valuez swung plenty but landed almost nothing.

I'm with Az on this, tied the first round and gave the championship rounds to Bradley, everything else was Manny's.

Fair enough Fists/TopHat. It just seems strange to someone who hasn't seen it how many people have a different take on it. Obviously the massive majority are with a Pacquiao win, but the degree of domination certainly seems to be causing some difference of opinion.

I will try and watch it later and make my own mind up. Obviously when I have given my opinion on it, it will be the only one that really counts...

Mind the windows Tino. wrote:

paperbag_puncher wrote:Scored it 115-113 to Manny. Wasn't particularly impressed with either man. I don't see how it was the biggest robbery of all time etc. HBO commentary was shocking. You'd swear Manny was rocking Tim with every punch the way they were talking about his power.

I haven't seen the fight PP but it sounds very much like that old chestnut of a fight being a 'robbery' is getting a reet good airing. I have read reactions from posters whose opinion I greatly respect that either have it a close fight or even a Bradley victory. Against that, some other hugely knowledgeable posters have it wide for Manny and are calling it some huge swindle.

As I said, I haven't seen the fight yet but it certainly sounds like a closer affair than some would have you believe.

Tino. I didn't catch the fight at the weekend so had seen all of the outcry and shock at the result before watching it yesterday. I really was expecting a totally different fight to what I saw. I said on a different thread I may have been kind to Tim and 116-112 would also be fair but I really don't see the near shut out or dominant performance from Manny that I've heard about. There were a few scrappy hard to score rounds for me and don't think either won too many rounds big. You'll have to watch it yourself as there does seem like there's 2 very differing camps on the matter.

Manny should have got the nod but I disagree completely with Fist's assessment.