Pacquiao keen to fight Bradley in April

By Josef T Ramos/Manila

Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao expressed his desire to have a rematch with undefeated American Timothy “The Desert Storm” Bradley for his next fight, scheduled sometime in April or May this year at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, US.

Although there is no formal announcement yet about his next foe, the eighth weight world division title holder has personally chosen Bradley over Siberian Rocky Ruslan Provodnikov.

“I really wanted to fight Bradley again in a rematch because I like to get back at him and at the same time, he’s holding my belt,” Pacquiao told The Manila Times in a live phone patch interview at DZAR Sunshine Radio in Guadalupe Nuevo, Makati City, yesterday.

Bradley defeated Pacquiao in June 2012 to snatch the World Boxing Organisation (WBO) welterweight title via a controversial split decision.

Bradley successfully defended the title twice against Provodnikov via unanimous decision last March and Juan Manuel Marquez of Mexico via split decision last October.

“So far, my promoter Bob Arum and I will still talk about it and nothing is final yet,” added the 34-year-old Saranggani congressman. “I guess next week, we will make a decision. But if you will ask me, I like to fight Bradley again.”

Pacquiao, who had a successful ring comeback last November by scoring a 12-round unanimous decision against Mexican-American Brandon Rios, said he is expected to adjust in terms of fighting style if ever he fights Bradley.

Although a fight against Provodnikov is also considered a good fight in April, Pacquiao believes that it is not yet time for the Russian fighter to fight him. “It will be detrimental to his career because he is a young fighter who has a lot of potential to be a world champion,” said Pacquiao, who currently trains with four-time trainer of the year Freddie Roach. “He is a good friend of mine and a spar mate.”