This possible scenario surfaced when Bradley admitted he was still six pounds overweight less than a week before fight night.
Even if Bradley can make it in this Friday’s weigh-in, he will have to pay the price for not maintaining his weight as it could not only slow him down, but he could get tired in the late rounds because of his excess baggage.
“I’m one-fifty-three. Six more to go,” said Bradley last Friday in his private gym near Palm Springs.
More than a week before fight night, Bradley was walking in the vicinity of 160 and he had to do more workouts to catch up.
Bradley’s road works were reduced dramatically when new trainer Teddy Atlas took over from Bradley’s longtime trainer Joel Diaz.
If Bradley tires out after six rounds assuming nothing happens in previous rounds and Pacquiao or his trainer Freddie Roach would notice it, a gradual shift in Pacquiao’s hand and foot speed will follow as he prepares for rapid and relentless attack until Bradley could no longer cope because of his poor stamina.
Atlas seems to shun roadworks and other endurance or stamina-building exercises as he tried to give more time for Bradley to learn new tactics and strategies inside his gym.
Bradley now believes that winning a fight isn’t about heavy sparring as what Pacquiao does with his two main sparring partners.
“It’s all about being smart. It’s all about putting in the proper work. It’s not about sparring until you can’t spar anymore,” he said.
But Ghislain Maduma, one of Pacquiao’s sparring partners, predicted that Pacquiao could dispose Bradley after six rounds knowing Pacquiao’s improved stamina as a result of constant road exercises with proper guidance from conditioning coach Justin Fortune.
Maduma believes Pacquiao will go for a KO win this time after a long knockout holiday since his last KO win against Miguel Cotto in 2009.
“I’m thinking he’s gonna stop him. I think that’s the only point fighting Bradley again.” Maduma said.
“I think after 6 it’s gonna be tough for Bradley. Maybe the ref is going to have to do something or his corner.”he added.
In their second encounter in 2014, Bradley has already shown signs of poor stamina as he looked real tired in the late rounds.
Fighting smart is good but if it fails it could be disastrous for Bradley as he won’t last the distance with Pacquiao who is ready to go 12 rounds with his proven stamina.
