++++Manny Pacquiao vs Timothy Bradley: Technical/Tactical Breakdown Thread++++

Sorry posting up a long winded post.

 

Still a little while away but this is one of most thought provoking fights of year IMO. I'm firmly on the Bradley to win bandwagon and here's why..

I've watched Pacquiao for years, on the come up from the smaller weights to where he is now and the difference in style and mindset for me is far different. Manny's a now more refined fighter. His mentality is now different to the young fighter back in the late 90's early noughties. Still a fighter, still wants to win but he's now not fighting for a better life. He's now comfortable in life, has different aims outside the sport and his faith is becoming more prevalent in his life.

This is in stark contrast to Bradley who's looking to make this his break out fight to a world wide audience. He's beaten pretty much everyone he needed to beat bar Khan. He feels he's had enough education to get to this point and now feels it's time to join the major players and go from a pawn to a king in this game. I think he has a good point his education has been more then enough he's beat world class fighters, he's fought different styles. He's fought different attributes he's pretty much covered all bases he could of to get to this point. If he ain't ready now when would he be?.

Mentality will play a massive part in this fight, there will be deep waters. There will be a time when both men will need to go to the well. I've got no doubts Manny will want to go there, but at same time i have no doubts Bradley will match him each and everytime.

Stylistically it's a interesting match up, Nacho Beristain made a point in lead up to the 3rd fight between Pacquiao-Marquez that Juan would find that fight easier due to Manny's technical refinements. He would be proven right as Marquez would IMO out box Pacquiao over the course of 12 rounds. He didn't ever have the trouble he did in the other two fights. Manny in first two fights was more of a wildcat, unpredictable in his attacks.

Manny's balance as a fighter, his punch selection, his ring iq is so much better but has he traded off his best attributes?. Well before Mosley and Marquez you'd of said no but his last two opponents have changed the concept of how to beat Pac-Man. Instead of fighting him like a smaller man they've fought him as if he's the bigger man they haven't fallen into the trap. Manny likes fighters to come to him, he's never had the best balance and although it's improved if you move away from him he falls out of position when leading and is open to aggressive counters. If you walk towards him his speed and variety is such your going to get hit with 3 to 4 punches get hurt and then turn into more punishment. A snowball effect really..

Mosley used small steps, staying just outside of long range and Manny struggled to be effective with his aggression. Mosley's problem was he couldn't counter (Pull trigger?) and didn't want to as he was hurt and put down early in fight and seemed to be happy to survive. Marquez would then use a similar tactic but was willing to throw and expose the openings Manny gives you when leading.

Manny is a fans fighter, he feels that he has to entertain fans and by allowing that to get to him i feel Bradley can exploit that like Marquez did even using his lead foot as a stopper as Pac comes forward he can stand on lead foot at times and pick up his range. Bradley is a tactical fighter who can fight going forward, can fight going back. When he does back off he becomes a aggressive counter puncher. He's sharp with his counters and doesn't hit with great power but when he lands it gets your respect.

I feel Bradley will need to mix his attacks up, He will need to put polish on this performance because i have no doubts the Judges will favor Manny in tight rounds. Bradley's got good lateral movement, he moves side to side well which will trouble Manny who likes a standing target of the target to move into his range. Bradley will use side steps and half steps back offsetting Manny and testing his patience. Both have issues with patience. Bradley can be so well disciplined but like Marquez of old he often will snatch at counters and leads and fall out of position and that's when Manny can land. Bradley will need to stay patient all night otherwise he could well be tasting the canvas like he did against Holt. He's got a habit of snatching for no reason at times. Tension and that's one weakness he does have heading into this. Marquez also had same problem against Pacquiao but when he did fall out of position against Pac last time out he would dip and slide into space and reset. Bradley will need to do the same or as i said he could well get floored heavily by Manny.

The changing of angles, the offsetting and the feints will bait Manny and he won't resist. It's then when Bradley needs to make him miss and make him pay. Bradley is extremely hard to hit clean because of low centre of gravity. He makes you punch down with takes away from power but also he dips into a shell which makes him even harder to catch and when you miss or cuff him he springs back with quick counters.

Bradley has the better Ring IQ IMHO Manny's a natural fighter but Bradley is schooled extremely well on what to do in ring and how to get wins as a boxer, He will often find himself in different positions in the ring and knows how to deal with it. Now many feel he will need to back away otherwise he'll get knocked out. Well i think he will have to come forward and will do just that at times. As i said he'll need to mix it up to show judges he's in control of fight. I can see Bradley shooting in on some counters, or from different angles and going on the inside. Pacquiao is a strong guy but so is Bradley and Bradley is a better inside fighter. He's got the dimensions, and know how and variety to fight on inside and often Manny covers up in full guard when it gets there. Bradley will work the body, shoe shine it and then away at a angle and draw Manny forward.

For Bradley to key is patience, and a good snappy jab Manny's open to it due to wide seam between his guard and footwork. Manny has to cut ring down, Put his punches together and maintain balance. When Manny attacks move off to Manny's right away from the left hand. Make him reach and open more of a target. Don't create to much space, stay at long range and keep fight centre ring!. Marquez had joy with looping right hand counters, Bradley throws good looping shots. There's so much there for him in this fight, It's not totally one sided but these are my views on why the Storm will take out Pac-Man.

I feel Bradley will win, I think a UD is to optimistic. A split or majority is nearer to truth. One judge will favor Manny's work even if it's not that effective..

 

Looks like Manny is expecting Bradley to press the fight, there gonna use a up jab and side step away from his attacks.

 

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jEKqGBSctDw&feature=related[/ame]

 

I think two reason's his output declined, the tactics employed by opponent and in ability physically to get close enough. Leg cramps being that factor.

 

Got a kid on the way pal, Think he's becoming housewife for next 9 months.

Cheers Rico :good, Pers hear what your saying but i remember people saying same after Mosley. He's not finding it easy to turn on the switch to perform each time now. I think there extremely naive if they think Bradley's just gonna bull forward.