Bradley urges Manny to keep on fighting
LAS VEGAS – Timothy Bradley saw something in Manny Pacquiao inside the MGM ring that convinced him that the Filipino boxing legend is far from finished.
Bradley said Pacquiao still has what it takes to move on as a fighter.
“Manny Pacquiao shouldn’t retire,” said the 32-year-old American after he was knocked down twice in a unanimous defeat to Pacquiao Saturday evening.
Bradley came prepared, armed with a battle plan drawn up by his new trainer, Teddy Atlas, and which he thought they had worked to perfection in training.
“But he was smarter than I was. He was always a step ahead of me,” said Bradley.
“I fought the best I could tonight. I wasn’t tired but Manny was always at the right spot. There were times I felt I was doing some damage,” he added.
But each time he did, Pacquiao would fight back, and the Pacquiao crowd, from among the 14,665 that came to the venue, would play its part.
“Occasionally I could do it (right thing) but not the whole round. He was waiting for me to commit. I did everything I can to make him come to me. But he was super smart,” Bradley said.
“He’s the best fighter I’ve ever faced in the ring,” he added.
It was the third meeting in four years between Pacquiao and Bradley. On paper, the latter holds one win against two defeats when in the eyes of many he also lost the first meeting.
Bradley is 33-2-1 with Pacquiao dealing him both defeats. He said he’s not done fighting, and all he wants to do now is put his feet up and rest.
“I’m going to enjoy my family and enjoy my beach house in San Diego,” he said.
Asked if his partnership with trainer Teddy Atlas would continue, he didn’t give a definite answer.
“I would love our relationship to continue. But at this moment we don’t know. We will talk about it and regroup,” he said.
At 32, Bradley has more fights ahead of him.
“I’m not done. I’ll be back. I got beaten by a legend and this won’t stop me,” said Bradley.
“I love you all. Peace,” he told the press.
And then he left the building.