FORMER world champion turned ring analyst Timothy Bradley gives undefeated Errol Spence Jr. the edge when he stakes his welterweight championship belts against Manny Pacquiao on Aug. 21 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
“I think it’s gonna be a great fight but I will favor Errol Spence,” Bradley said in an interview with Fight Hub TV that was posted yesterday on YouTube , explaining why he favors the defending World Boxing Council and International Boxing Council welterweight king.
In a battle of southpaws, Bradley said he expects the jab and reach of the taller and younger American boxer to play a huge factor.
“But you have a younger Errol Spence, bigger guy, stronger guy. I’m sure you’ve heard this over and over again by many, many guys that are attached to boxing. This distance control is going to be very important I believe for Spence,” he said.
“If he (Spence) can control the distance on the outside and not allow him (Pacquiao) to get on the inside and close the gap on him quickly, he really has a good chance at beating and defeating Manny Pacquiao quite easily,” Bradley explained.
Having fought Pacquiao thrice, losing the last two of them for his only setbacks in 33 matches, Bradley said he could anticipate what the Filipino fighter would do.
“Manny’s gonna come out very quick, he’s gonna test him (Spence) early. Spence takes a little time to warm up a bit, (but) he does make adjustments on the fly very quickly,” he said.
“Once he adjusts his distance and gets that jab pumping, that’s gonna be something that Manny’s gonna have to deal with and worry about,” Bradley added. “That jab constantly in his face breaks the timing of fighters. It’s really hard to get inside a guy who has a good jab like Errol Spence. He’s very disciplined with his hands, too on the outside.”
