TRAINER Freddie Roach predicted that the presence of coach Teddy Atlas won’t make any difference to World Boxing Organization welterweight champion Timothy “Desert Storm” Bradley’s chances when he faces eight-division champion Manny Pacquiao at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on April 9.
That’s because Pacquiao will knock Bradley out in nine rounds.
Boxing Scene.com reported that the hype for their third fight centers around Bradley being a better fighter since the veteran Atlas took over and helped him demolish Brandon “Bam Bam” Rios in nine rounds.
Roach conceded there is a possibility that Bradley is “a better fighter,” since he lost a lopsided rematch against Pacquiao in 2014 after winning the first in a bitterly criticized split decision.
But Roach pointed out that Rios was not in the same shape he was when he faced Pacquiao and lost a 12-round unanimous decision.
Roach said he won’t give Atlas credit until Bradley beats Pacquiao on April 9, insisting he has “the better fighter, so I’m not worried about it. Manny isn’t a hard guy to to get up for fights. He knows he has to be at his best to win this fight. Once he’s in the gym, he gives me 100 percent.”
He said his rotator cuff tear in his right shoulder has healed and his doctor gave him the green light to fight again.
Roach said he will go to the Philippines on Feb. 2 to begin training camp, with Pacquiao in the fighter’s hometown of General Santos City.
Roach indicated that since it will be Pacquiao’s farewell fight before he hangs up his gloves, he wants him to “go out with a bang and Manny wants to knock Tim (Bradley), out so I predict a knockout in nine.”