Boxing News: Timothy Bradley has perfect game plan against Manny Pacquiao

Timothy Bradley may have the perfect game plan to defeat Manny Pacquiao for the second time when they face each other on Apr. 9 at Las Vegas’ MGM Grand Arena. The former WBO light welterweight champion vowed to do whatever it takes to win over Pacquiao, including a tactical way of targeting the Filipino’s recovering shoulder.

In an interview with Boxing Scene, Bradley was asked if he intends to target Pacquiao’s shoulder, which was injured in May during a fight against Floyd Mayweather Jr. The 32-year-old American implied he would use Pacquiao's shoulder to his advantage, insisting it would be smart to exploit such a weakness against the Filipino boxing icon.

“I think the answer would be—what would you do? C'mon let's think here. You are a smart guy. What would you do? Would you target that shoulder? What would you do? I will do whatever it takes to win,” Bradley said.

However, Freddie Roach is convinced Pacquiao, who plans to retire after Pacquiao-Bradley III, will be fresher coming off a surgery that repaired a torn rotator cuff in his right shoulder. Roach said he trains the better fighter, although the Hall of Famer trainer admitted it would change the game a bit with a new Teddy Atlas on Bradley’s side.

Bradley defeated Pacquiao in their first meeting in 2012 via a controversial split-decision. Two years later, he lost to the Filipino boxing icon in a 12-round unanimous decision, which was the start of Bradley’s drop point in his career prior to hiring Atlas.

Bradley seems confident in fighting Pacquiao in their trilogy bout with Atlas on his corner. Bradley, who scored a knockout win over Brandon Rios in the American’s first fight under Atlas, insisted he will be a “different fighter” when he faces the former eight-division titlist in the ring.

“Manny will be the same Manny; vicious, fast and quick, powerful, and I’ll be different,” Bradley told Hoopjab. “I will be different. I won’t be the same fighter I was two fights ago.”