Even with multiple reports stating that American Timothy Bradley is the likely opponent for Filipino Manny Pacquiao for a bout next year, the former still stated in a recent interview that he prefers Puerto Rican Miguel Cotto rather than complete a trilogy with the Filipino champion.

Bradley (33-1-1, 13 knockouts) admitted that both parties are still negotiating for the fight-- likely to be held April 9, 2016 in Las Vegas, Nevada in the United States-- which is believed to be the farewell fight for Pacquiao (57-6-2, 38 knockouts).

“I've faced Pacquiao twice and if I do it a third time it would be a fight of reckoning if anything else. It's the only way I could describe it,” Bradley said via elvocero.com.

“However, Miguel Cotto will be something new. I have never before faced a fighter who's that big and strong. Cotto has always faced the best. He's been in there with everyone. So to get a fight with a fighter like him, with so much class and shown such greatness, inside and outside the ring, it would be great. I've always said that greatness is measured by the amount of risk you take.”

Bradley has fought Pacquiao twice in the last four years with the American beating Pacquiao in a controversial decision in 2012 and with the Filipino returning the favour in 2014, also winning via a 12-round decision.

Cotto (40-5-0, 33 knockouts) has fought Pacquiao once, losing via technical knockout (TKO) in the 12th round of the one-sided match in 2009.

Cotto is coming off another one-sided loss in his last match against Canelo Alvarez last November while Bradley won via 9th round TKO over Brandon Rios also last month.

In the same interview, Bradley threw heaps of praises for Cotto, calling the Puerto Rican “a great fighter, a big name” and a “living legend.”

Pacquiao has yet to announce his next opponent for next year but multiple reports state that Bradley is the frontrunner. Others reportedly being considered are British Amir Khan (31-3-0, 19 knockouts) and American Terence Crawford (27-0-0, 19 knockouts).

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