No bigger fight for Bradley than this

LAS VEGAS – Timothy Bradley’s father is not looking ahead of Saturday’s fight against Manny Pacquiao, not even thinking that a victory could put them on top of the boxing world.

There’s no other fight they’re thinking of right now.

“No other fight is bigger than this,” said Ray Bradley, fully aware that with Floyd Mayweather now enjoying his retirement, and Pacquiao on his way, this is the biggest fight for his son.

“There’s no other fight out there,” he said.

Bradley, a five-time world champion, is being paid $4 million to face Pacquiao for the third time, after the two fighters split their first two fights.

Unless it’s against Pacquiao or Mayweather, the pride of Palm Springs can’t get anywhere near the figure fighting someone else.

“To us, this is the fight,” said Ray.

Bradley used to struggle as a boxer, and said he has gotten used to fighting for as much as $800 for a four-rounder, in a place just a little bit bigger than a hotel ballroom.

“Four-rounders are tougher than twelve-rounder,” he said, explaining that in a four-round fight, you go down once in the opening round means you must win the next three.

“For eight-hundred, eight hundred,” said Bradley.

He is far over those days, with three lucrative fights against Pacquiao in just four years. There’s enough money in the bank.

“This fight means a lot to both men. This goes down the history books. That’s what this is all about,” Ray told The STAR.

In the first two fights with Pacquiao, the 32-year-old Bradley had never been down. But his father said it doesn’t mean he’d never been hurt.

“He’d been hurt – twice. In the first fight, it was his feet, and in the second fight, it was his calf. He tore his right calf,” said Ray.

“But he didn’t moan, he didn’t gripe, he didn’t b*** about it. And he finished the fight. With Jesus help, in this fight, he’s going to be solid and healthy,” he said.

“No doubt in my mind. That man got problems, and I’m speaking about Manny Pacquiao,” Ray said.