Pacquiao-Bradley 3: Manny’s last hurrah?

LAS VEGAS – Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao faces what could be the final chapter of his long and glorious career when he seals his trilogy with American Timothy Bradley on Saturday evening (noon today in Manila) at the MGM Grand here.

Pacquiao said this fight is going to be his last. It takes place in the same venue where he had his US debut on June 23, 2001 and launched his way to stardom with a stunning sixth-round knockout win over South African Lehlo Ledwaba for the IBF junior featherweight title.

On that night 15 years ago, Pacquiao was the challenger, a late substitute and a massive underdog. He was a young man who had his hair dyed gold. It was his first partnership with American trainer Freddie Roach, and almost no one outside his dressing room entertained thoughts of a victory.

“I remember that fight,” he said.

Pacquiao won the fight in spectacular fashion, and people, including ring commentators who couldn’t even pronounce his name right, thought they witnessed the birth of a boxing superstar.

More victories, bigger ones, came on US soil, and soon, he became a household name.

On Saturday evening, the 37-year-old Pacquiao, now facing a bigger battle in the political ring, will carry the wonderful memories of the Ledwaba fight as well as all the others when he marches inside the 16,000-seat venue for what should be the last time.

He will climb the ring as the only boxer in history to win world titles in eight different weight classes, and one of the richest boxers ever. It will be his 26th fight on US soil.

“My decision is that I will retire after this fight, go home with my family and serve the people,” said Pacquiao, a two-term congressman in his province of Saranggani, and a strong senatorial candidate for the May 9 Philippine elections.

“This fight is very important for me. I don’t need to tell you why,” said Pacquiao, who is guaranteed another $20 million for his third matchup with Bradley, one of only six boxers to have defeated Pacquiao, following a very controversial decision in 2012.

Pacquiao avenged that defeat with a clear victory in 2014.

Saturday’s fight will be Pacquiao’s first since he lost to Floyd Mayweather Jr. last May. It was a disappointing performance for the Filipino who tore his rotator cuff on his right shoulder in the fourth round. Four days after the fight, he underwent surgery, and needed months to recover

“I feel new. I think the long layoff helped me. It’s my longest layoff ever,” he said.

After Friday’s official weigh-in witnessed by a few thousand people at the MGM Grand, Pacquiao said he expects the fight to be better and more exciting than the previous ones. He said the entry of Teddy Atlas as Bradley’s new trainer will guarantee that.

“Expect more action in the ring. It will be a good (better) fight than the last fight that we had,” said Pacquiao, who comfortably weighed in at 145.5 pounds. He needed to put on more weight in the last few days here to look good during the weigh-in.

Bradley, the 32-year-old native of Palm Springs, California, tipped the scales at 146.5 pounds, needing to shed off six pounds a week to the fight. He is guaranteed $4 million for this fight.

During the weigh-in, Pacquiao fans outnumbered Bradley fans.

“There’s going to be a lot of disappointed fans out there (tomorrow),” said Bradley.

On the scales, he shrugged his shoulders and opened his arms wide, showing off his chiseled frame, like telling the crowd that there’s no problem at all.

Bradley spoke on the microphone, saying the fight is an opportunity for him to prove to the world that he’s the top pound-for-pound fighter today.

“And that I can beat Manny Pacquiao,” he said.

“Saturday night is the only thing that matters to me now. That’s the only thing truly on my mind right now. I can say whatever I want right now but it won’t matter until Saturday,” Bradley said.

“I can say I’m gonna win a million times. But it won’t matter until we see what happens Saturday night,” he added.

Pacquiao blew kisses to the crowd and faced Bradley up close after they both made weight. They stared down each other’s eyes, and Pacquiao dropped his friendly demeanor. Neither boxer smiled.

On the scales, Pacquiao flexed his muscles. He looked good at 145.5 pounds, when just the other day he left the training gym, which is just a couple miles from the famous Vegas Strip, at 141 or 142 pounds. He is expected to climb the ring no heavier than 147 pounds; Bradley a little heavier.

From the weigh-in, Pacquiao spent the rest of the day at his official hotel, the Mandalay Bay Delano. He entertained a steady stream of guests in his massive suite, and in the afternoon joined all his supporters in a Bible study within the hotel.

Because it’s Pacquiao’s last fight, Bradley said he expects the best from the Filipino champion.

Bradley has envisioned Pacquiao riding off on a white horse down the boardwalk for what was advertised as the Filipino’s farewell fight.

Pacquiao is the favorite in this fight. At -230, you need to put in $230 to win $100. Bradley is a +180 underdog, meaning a bet of $100 wins $180.

Pacquiao said he did his best in training, which started two months ago in General Santos City, and ended with a four-round sparring session at the Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles.

In this gambling capital of the world, Pacquiao went out for morning runs at the UNLV track oval in the mornings and trained at the Top Rank Gym in the afternoons until Wednesday.

Last Thursday, his chief trainer, Freddie Roach, said there was no more need to train.

“I don’t want him to overdo things,” said Roach, a seven-time Trainer of the Year awardee.

Pacquiao wanted prove something in training, and that he is dead serious in giving his fans a fight to remember. He said he will go for a knockout. The least he’d settle for is a one-sided victory against Bradley.

“When a boxer says that it’s a last fight, most of them are lazy to train. They don’t have the focus anymore. They don’t have the eagerness anymore. For me it’s different,” said Pacquiao.

“Because it’s really important for me to win this fight and show a good fight and win convincingly. You know why. That’s part of my legacy. I love to fight,” said Pacquiao.