Filipino boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao faces Timothy Bradley Jr. for the third time. This is for the welterweight championship of the world, Saturday night. This could be the 8-division champ's last fight.

• Date: April 9, 2016 (April 10, Manila)


• Venue: MGM Grand, Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada


• Division: Welterweight


• 12 Rounds


• At stake: The Welterweight Championship of the world.

The fighters

Manny Pacquiao (57-6-2, 38 KOs), a former world champion in eight weight divisions. He holds victories over boxing greats Oscar De La Hoya, Shane Mosley, Miguel Cotto, Ricky Hatton and Marco Antonio Barrera (twice).

He had also epic battles with Juan Manuel Marquez (one draw, two wins and one loss). Thrice with Erik Morales (one loss and two wins).

After 21-year as a pro boxer, this could be Pacquiao's swan song. Pacquaio's career started in 1995 with 65 total fights around his waist.

The incumbent congressman is seeking a higher post in Philippine politics. He runs for a senatorial seat for the May 2016 national elections. If Pacquiao wins, (most likely as he's in the magic 12 on most surveys) he would probably hang his gloves for good to focus his job as senator.

"Sa lahat ng mga Pilipino nanawagan po sa ako sa inyong lahat na magkaisa po tayong lahat para sa karangalan ng ating bansa. Baka ito na po ang huling laban ko na masasaksihan ng boung sambayanang Pilipino," Pacquiao said in Tagalog. (I call on to all the Filipinos to unite for the glory of our country. Maybe this will be my last fight for the Filipino people to see.)

Timothy Bradley Jr. (33-1-1, 13 KOs) won the first Pacquiao fight in one of the most controversial decisions in the history of boxing. On paper, Bradley won, but many believed Pacquiao won convincingly. In 2014, a rematch was set to prove each fighter's case in the first fight. Bradley lost to a decision. He's been 2 wins, 0 losses, 1 draw since then.

In a third fight with the Filipino star, Bradley is very motivated. This could be his last chance of beating Pacquiao.

"This is about legacy for me. I'm getting a third crack at it. I'm ready, and if I'm gonna win this fight is now... is now", said Bradley during the Final press conference Thursday. I'm ready for everything! More than any other fighter that I've ever been in... is now! If I'm gonna beat Manny Pacquiao is now. This is my only opportunity... this is my last opportunity."

The stage

Following Floyd Mayweather Jr.'s retirement, and the inactivity of Juan Manuel Marquez, Pacquiao now sits at the number one spot. While Timothy Bradley is at the number two spot on most welterweight rankings.

The Transnational Boxing Rankings Board had Pacquiao and Bradley at number one and two respectively.  The board's championship policy, wherein a fight between number 1 and number 2 warrants a championship. Hence, the vacant welterweight throne will be filled on April 9, not unless we have a draw or no contest.

Fight Prediction Pacquiao vs Bradley Jr III preview and prediction

"One thing I can be sure though is, we've prepared Manny as he wished he would, to win .... and win with a bang. Over the last week, I finally am happy with what he's doing. The last two days of sparring was really good", said Freddie Roach, Pacquiao's long-time trainer.

Although Pacquiao lost the most important fight in his career against Floyd Mayweather Jr, it doesn't mean that he's a totally diminished fighter. However, the performance of his right arm remains to be seen after the subsequent surgery 11 months ago. Pacquiao lost a clear-cut decision against Floyd in a mind-blowing revenue in May 2015.

“I think Manny still has it. I mean, who hasn’t lost to Mayweather? If you’ve fought him, you’ve lost to him. Mayweather is a great, intelligent fighter. Just by losing to him, that doesn’t mean Pacquiao’s done” said Rios, a common denominator between the two top welterweights, in an article written by Eric Raskin on Inside HBO Boxing.

Bradley stopped Rios in his last outing, having new trainer Teddy Atlas on his corner. Many believed that Atlas played a big factor in Bradley as a fighter. Atlas, a respected trainer and a disciple of Cus D'Amato "is a mental strategist whose philosophies seemed like adaptations from Sun Tzu's diary", if you let me borrow those quoted words from Rappler's sports editor Ryan Songalia.

However, I think, at this point in Bradley's career, may not be able to change drastically his tendencies as a fighter into a fighting style that would guide him to victory. But Atlas' motivation would definitely push Bradley to its maximum limit. Atlas has a unique way of ensuring his instructions or motivations are retained in the brain and stimulate a call to action on his fighter. He used to hold his fighter's face to look at him in the eyes while he gives instructions. This is crucial in a close fight.

I think this fight is gonna be close. A 50-50 fight. The fighter who pushes to the limit, the fighter whose willing to do everything inside the ring, this Saturday night would get the decision. And to me that's Pacquiao.

Pacquiao by decision.

Manny Pacquiao and Timothy Bradley stepped on the scales Friday evening at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Pacquiao vs. Bradley happens Sat., April 9 live on pay-per-view beginning at 9pm ET/6pm PT.

 

Timothy Bradley endorsed Manny Pacquiao's senatorial bid during a friendly final press conference.

Although Bradley wrongly mentioned the position Pacquiao is running to when he said 'governor'. But Bradley believed that Pacquiao is "truly the only one that gonna do right for the Filipino people". Pacquiao is running for senator in his native Philippines. The national elections will be on 9th May, one month after the scheduled championship bout between the two top welterweights this Saturday night 9th April.

"Sooner or later he'll become the governor of the Philippines. He had shown everybody what he is made of, what he has done in the Philippines and to the Filipino people. He is truly, truly, to me, the only one out there that's gonna do right for the Filipino people", Bradley said.

Bradley also reiterated that the fight has nothing to do with and should not be a factor for the incumbent congressman to win his bid for a higher position in his country.

"He (Pacquiao) rightfully deserves to win," said Bradley.

Pacquiao deserves to win on May 9 to Bradley.  But of course for Bradley not on April 9.

"This is about legacy for me. I get a third crack at it. I'm ready. And if I gonna win this fight, is now... is now!", said Bradley.

TBD will be live blogging the welterweight championship match between Manny Pacquiao and Tim Bradley.

Multi-division champion Manny Pacquiao (57-6-2, 38 KOs) and American top welter Timothy Bradley Jr. (33-1-1, 13 KOs) on Saturday night, 9th April 2016 (Sunday morning, 10th April 2016).

Pacquiao and Bradley will face for the third time. Bradley won a disputed 12-round decision over Pacquiao in their first encounter in 2012.

Instead of gaining recognition for his victory, Bradley told that he received 'death threats' because of the controversial decision that he has nothing to do but the judges.

The incumbent congressman, who seeks a seat at the senate of his native Philippines, is planning to hang his gloves for good for a cause greater than boxing. The Pacman is looking to get out of the sport with a spectacular and explosive performance.

Tune in to our live blog if you're not able to watch the fight live, as we will provide you round by round action of the fight.

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