by: Marv Dumon
On Saturday, fans will witness the "Desert Storm" engage the "Typhoon from the Pacific". Timothy Bradley (28-0) is close to a 5-1 underdog to the great Manny Pacquiao (54-3-2), but those odds belie the junior welterweight champ's resolute determination to pull off an upset. The 28-year-old native of Palm Springs, California can turn the boxing world upside down. [ Article: A bad omen for Pacquiao ]
On June 9, a physically declining Pacquiao - buoyed by a resurgence in his Christian faith - will be a better human being and purer soul, furthering his desire to inspire people through spiritual revelation. Yet, his evangelising qualities are attributes largely championed within the confines of ministry, charity, and Thanksgiving dinners.
The squared circle inside the MGM Grand will once again reveal the essence of war, which harbors the profane, evil, and brute elements of our nature. Battle knows no moral or ethical bounds and its sole concern is to draw blood from its participants - elevating the victor higher on Darwin's evolutionary plane. Alas, the Filipino hero, elected legislator and soldier of God will face an old demon in Tim Bradley. The latter is a hungry lion who'll bring out the past, bad ways that a "resurrected" Manny Pacquiao now seems to reject.
For this reason, the undefeated Bradley holds a mental and motivational advantage over the all-time great, but aging, fighter. Pacquiao seems to resemble a mid-30s Muhammad Ali going through the motions without displaying the pugilistic ferociousness from his youth. To win, Pacquiao cannot suffer from pugilistic amnesia against a swarming pit bull.
Despite Bradley's do-or-die resolve, the 33-year-old congressman holds the advantage in most skill areas. While Bradley is almost just as fast, Pacquiao has more power, better foot movement, greater agility and ring generalship. Bradley will be most dangerous with that lunging, gigantic-sized head butt which could cause a highly problematic eye injury during the fight. He also throws (wide looping) zipping left and right hooks to the head and body. Some of these are going to stun the Pacman, and perhaps cause a bigger eye cut sprinkling precious blood upon the ring canvass.
On the other hand, the Filipino will see plenty of counter-punching openings, including uppercuts, against the go-forward attacking Bradley. Pacquiao should also see numerous opportunities to stop his opponent with that incredible left whallop. Along with more experience and a superior strategy devised with trainer Freddie Roach, a fading Manny Pacquiao wins a unanimous decision.
Pacquiao vs. Bradley should be a spirited battle, and a crossroads fight for a legend, who for years, has contemplated walking away from this blood sport.
It doesn't take a hero to order men into battle. It takes a hero to be one of those men who goes into battle. - Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf
Copyright 2012 Marv Dumon. This material may not be published, rewritten or redistributed. All rights reserved.
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