Showing posts with label Top Rank. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Top Rank. Show all posts

Thursday, June 7, 2012

Pacquiao - Bradley Predictions

 __
 
Manny Pacquiao against Timothy Bradley. What makes this fight so great? Isn't this just a replacement of the supposed Pacquiao - Mayweather fight? For me, personally, I don't think that this will be Manny's greatest opponent that he will ever face, and Timothy Bradley is not in the level of both Pacquiao and his previous opponents. I believe that Manny Pacquiao is just far more gifted than Timothy Bradley. Timothy Bradley may be worthy of a fight against Pacquiao, considering that he is in fact undefeated, number eight pound for pound, and has beaten a few good fighters, but for the most part.. that's just it. Despite his resumé, he owes nothing, Pacquiao will be the first pound for pound ranked fighter he will be facing. The problem is, Manny Pacquiao is on the pinnacle of these rankings.

Skill-wise:
Pacquiao has speed, agility, aggression, stamina, and power. I can compare Bradley's skills almost identical to Pacquiao's speed, agility, aggression, and stamina. What does Bradley lack? You guessed it, its power. Although Bradley's record shows early knock outs in his earlier fights, it never showed up against top competition. Pacquiao knocked out fighters that are so great that you wouldn't think he could. Pacquiao defeats all odds, and that is why he is so special. Stylistically, Timothy Bradley is quite similar to Pacquiao, in terms of aggression and non-stop action.

Thoughts:
I believe this fight will be entertaining. Both fighters will be coming at it until the final bell. (If it reaches there.) For the most part, this will just be another showcase of Manny's talents. Timothy Bradley will stay competitive as long as this fight lasts.

Prediction:
The action will be non-stop. They will be punching so much in every round that perhaps it will break all compu-box records. Expect lots, and lots of punches coming from both fighters. Watch out for head butts, because it always happens in a Timothy Bradley fight, and this occurrence will be highly likely with the match-up of an Orthodox fighter against a Southpaw. They will be brawling in the center of the ring, and this fight, possibly, could be a Fight of the Year candidate. For this reason that they will be hitting each other a lot, I would have to predict that this match will end quickly. Bradley must hold on to his promise of a second fight, because I don't think this match will go the distance in his favor.

I predict Manny Pacquiao knocking out Timothy Bradley in the first half of the fight. This means, it will never go past round six. There is a good possibility that Manny will knock him out in the early rounds too.

Final Comments:
Boxing mindset teaches us that anyone has a chance. Even in tune-up bouts, upsets happen, because it all depends on a fighter, and how much he wants it more. I can see Timothy Bradley's dedication for this fight, and I commend his training, that he describes was "like hell." I think a lot of us can relate to this. When someone is giving his all into something, I tell you, nothing is impossible. Bradley has a darn good chance to pull an upset if he goes into this fight as the fighter that his hard training represents.

Manny Pacquiao is aging considerably. Showing poor performances in his last fights. My theory on Pacquiao may be correct. He could just be, past his prime. He may be religious as a saint, but no miracle can stop him from aging. It is the weakness of all fighters. It is a testimony to our mortality. No great thing lasts forever. For this prediction I will be heavily favoring Manny to win, but if he will ever fight Floyd Mayweather Jr., it will be a different story.

Picture: Top Rank Poster of Manny Pacquiao against Timothy Bradley for a fight on June 9th on MGM Grand Garden Arena.

Monday, November 14, 2011

Pacquiao - Marquez III: The Controversy



A lot of people might have noticed that, although the Pacquiao - Marquez match-up was fast approaching, I wasn't able to post up my predictions on the upcoming fight. With the results you see now, you will know now why. I knew coming into the fight that Marquez was and will always be the greatest challenge for Manny Pacquiao. Juan Manuel Marquez is a technically sound fighter who has dominated fighters through counter-punching. Although, fans did not always admired the art of its style, that is why, in the Golden Featherweight Era, aggressive fighters were always at the limelight.

These fighters, particularly, Prince Naseem Hamed, Marco Antonio Barrera, Erik Morales, and Manny Pacquiao caught the attention of boxing fans, as Marquez fights in the shadows. Up until his opportunity in fighting Manny Pacquiao, first blood drew, and since that time, Marquez had already solved him. A draw from their first fight, it was clear that although the points might favor Pacquiao with his early knockdowns, Marquez had won more rounds. Controversy stirs even greater, as the Pacquiao - Marquez II had been concluded. The result is a split-decision favoring Pacquiao.

A lot of people had their differences in opinion, some favoring Pacquiao, some for Marquez, or even a Draw. It was a close fight. So it was high time that Pacquiao - Marquez III will be imminent, and so I had my thoughts that it will be a dangerous fight for both fighters, and there was no doubt in my mind that it won't be a great fight. Before the fight, I had predicted a Unanimous Decision for Pacquiao. I knew Marquez won't get knocked-out, but I had the feeling that he might get knocked down, which wasn't the case.

Marquez did last the full twelve rounds with the Pacman, and all rounds were close rounds, although two rounds, I saw Marquez dominating. People were shocked and in awe with the performance Marquez had done in the ring against Pacquiao. Truthfully, I was expecting that. Marquez had always been the Pacquiao Nemesis. There is no other fighter that Marquez wants to beat except Pacquiao. Even in the Mayweather - Marquez match-up, Marquez had overlooked Mayweather and was hoping to fight Pacquiao next. For me, that indicates of how determined he is to defeat the current pound for pound fighter in Pacquiao.

I had tremendous respect for Marquez and I knew coming into the fight that its going to be a very close match up. Did I predict it to be controversial? No, but I did predict that each round will be close rounds. What surprised me is that Marquez was able to dominate Pacquiao in certain rounds, and Pacquiao was unable to do it. Nonetheless, I had to score the fight the way I see it. Setting aside what the commentators had to say or the loud Mexican's in the area, I had to look on who was more effective in each round.

Sure I had Marquez dominating two rounds, but my initial score was two rounds up for Pacquiao 115-113. I heard what the commentators and the crowd had to say, but I actually felt and saw Manny Pacquiao winning by a slight margin in my scorecards. Everyone had split opinions, so I had to watch the fight all over again on replay. Top Rank commentators and Sky sports had Marquez winning the fight. Harold Lederman, the Official Judges, as well as myself, on the other hand, had Pacquiao winning. It was a Majority Decision win for Manny Pacquiao.

So it definitely was a close fight and the decision can go either way. I know a lot of people may have felt Juan Manuel Marquez should have won that fight, but stepping aside from favoritism, I had to judge the fight fairly. Based on aggression in the close rounds, I had Pacquiao stealing some rounds. There were times in the fight, that although close, I just saw that Pacquiao landed more punches than Marquez. No doubt in my mind though that Marquez was hitting the cleaner and harder shots.

I was basing each round on punch stat, and that is the reason why I had Manny ahead by two points. Pacquiao was hitting Marquez too much although not as clean and solid as Marquez', but just the volume of punches sealed every rounds that Pacquiao had won in my score cards. Final Decision: Even after watching the replays, I have Manny Pacquiao 115-113. It's a close fight so I can't blame anyone with the marks their giving on either sides, but the most important aspect that we need to understand, is that Boxing has produced another great match-up, and I am so excited to be even part of this hype.

The feeling I feel right now, is indescribable. At the end of the day, It is a close fight, and everyone is entitled to their opinions, but a Pacquiao - Marquez 4 is watchable. There is still much controversy in these dispute, and as long as there is controversy, match-up's don't end. The Spirit of the fight remains alive. I want a fourth fight and I know Floyd Mayweather Jr. knows it's time to fight this guy. Either Pacquiao - Mayweather or Pacquiao - Marquez 4, I would pay a fortune to watch any of these fights.

Tremendous respect for Juan Manuel Marquez. I haven't seen Pacquiao getting hit as much as how Marquez has hit him. I thought, the performance he did in this fight must place Marquez on the third spot on the pound for pound rankings. He must not retire, for he has more to offer in boxing. I know a lot of people must be upset, but I just can't help it. I actually saw what the judges were seeing in that fight. I saw it. Even if you call me blind or whatever, I scored it, and I had Pacquiao winning by two points.

Picture: One of the clean shots Juan Manuel Marquez had been landing flush on Manny Pacquiao's face.