Pacquiao seeks KO win

CEBU CITY -- “David and Goliath.”

That’s how Manny Pacquiao sees himself and American challenger Timothy Bradley on Saturday night (Sunday morning Philippine time) when they go up against each other at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

Pacquiao, in an interview over ABS-CBN, said Bradley is like Goliath who made “too much talking” just before the battle that ultimately claimed his life.

Oozing with confidence, the eight-division world champion Pacquiao said he is ready and, like David, is set to deliver the fatal blow that would tarnish Bradley’s clean 28-0 win-loss slate.

Pacquiao is expected to be on the offensive right at the start and score his first knockout victory in his last five fights as he aims to prove that he’s still the best pound-for-pound boxer in the world after his lackluster performance last November against Mexican Juan Manuel Marquez.

Although heavily favored to win over Bradley owing to his speed and power, Pacquiao must never lose his mental focus against Bradley, who is likewise confident of a convincing victory.

To recall, Pacquiao lost his focus against Marquez, whom the 33-year-old Filipino icon hardly beat by majority decision six months ago.

The 28-year-old undefeated Bradley, who stands to earn his biggest paycheck of $5 million from this fight, likewise expressed his confidence to defeat Pacquiao in resounding fashion.

“I’m ready to shock the world,” said Bradley, who vowed to punish Pacquiao and strip the Pacman of his World Boxing Organization welterweight crown.

However, boxing analysts unanimously see a Pacquiao win over Bradley. Some international boxing experts said Pacquiao will knock Bradley out in the sixth round the earliest, while others said the fight would go the full 12-round distance with the Pacman winning by decision.

The Sarangani representative, who is guaranteed $26 million plus share in pay-per-view and gate receipts, packs a deadly uppercut and a lethal left hook and is determined to finish off Bradley the soonest time possible.

But whatever the outcome would be, whether by knockout or by decision, Pacquiao said he is sure to fashion out a dominant victory. (LBG/Sunnex)