FORMER American world welterweight champion Timothy Bradley would pick an in-form and rejuvenated Manny Pacquiao over compatriot and World Boxing Association lightweight title holder Gervonta “Tank” Davis if the two hard-punching southpaws were to duke it out today.
“If he (Davis) gets in that ring and he’s not all the way focused, he’s gonna get beat by Manny Pacquiao,” Bradley noted in an article written by Hans Themistode posted on the revered Ring Magazine website yesterday (Wednesday in Manila).
Bradley, who lost twice by unanimous decision to the Pinoy ring icon in the battle for the World Boxing Organization welterweight belt, made the observation after Pacquiao, 46, turned back the clock in battling WBA welterweight kingpin Mario Barrios two weeks ago to a majority draw at the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas.
Many ring pundits believed that Pacquiao, who was the more active and livelier fighter, had won the fight. The draw enabled the embattled Barrios to retain his crown.
Pacquiao mentioned in a video interview that he and MP Promotions chief Sean Gibbons, who handles all of the fights for his boss, were considering the unbeaten Davis, 30, who has won 30 bouts, 28 by knockout, as a likely opponent.
“If Davis can go up to a catch weight of 145 pounds, then we can fight him,” said the former fighting lawmaker, whose market value has soared due to his impressive outing against “El Azteca.”
Fighting Pacquiao would be one way for Davis to rebuild his image after being involved in controversy in his last fight that ended in a majority draw against Lamont Roach at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, last March 3.
“On July 11, the three-division world champion was arrested in Miami Beach, Florida and now faces a misdemeanor battery charge stemming from a dispute with a former girlfriend,” the report said.
Should the fight push through, the bout will likely be held either in late November or early December since Pacquiao is scheduled to organize a boxing card featuring three world championships celebrating the golden jubilee of the memorable heavyweight championship fight between legends Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier on Oct. 1 dubbed “The Thrilla in Manila.”
