MANILA, Philippines – Timothy Bradley was so confident of defeating Manny Pacquiao in their first meeting in June 2012 that he even brought an oversized ticket to their “rematch†during a press conference.
Bradley held the oversized ticket – which resembles those large replica checks given in television contests – for everyone’s viewing pleasure during that presser on June 8, 2012. The ticket also came with a matching poster for the rematch.
Pacquiao, seated on the same table with trainer Freddie Roach and adviser Michael Koncz, could just laugh heartily at the gesture.
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Bradley, as it turned out, ended with the last laugh as he escaped with a majority decision to take Pacquiao’s WBO welterweight title in an upset. It was considered as one of the most controversial results in boxing history, as almost everyone – from boxing scribes at ringside to fans – thought Pacquiao dominated the fight.
Even the WBO, after conducting a review of the bout through a five-member international judging panel, concluded that Pacquiao won the fight.
But the official scores of 115-113 both for Bradley (by judges Duane Ford and C.J. Ross) and 115-113 for Pacquiao (by Jerry Roth) would stick, and the American – who was then a 5-1 underdog against Pacquiao – kept the biggest win of his career.
Bradley went on to defend his title against Ruslan Provodnikov and Juan Manuel Marquez. Now, he’ll put it on the line against the man he took it from.
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He may not have gotten the date right – the rematch ticket stated November 10, 2012, or five months after their first duel – but Bradley is turning his prediction into reality as he gets to face Pacquiao again on April 12 at the MGM Grand.
A $6-million payday awaits Bradley in the rematch, and though it is a million less than what he got during their initial encounter, it is still among the biggest checks of his career. Pacquiao, for his part, will pocket $20 million.
Both Pacquiao and Bradley are satisfied to have finalized the deal for their rematch. And when the official pressers kick off next month, it will be intriguing to see what stunt Bradley will pull off this time.
Maybe it’s Pacquiao who’ll be bringing his version of a ticket to their rubbermatch.