5 Reasons Pacquiao-Bradley III is a worthy fight

While the excitement level for a Pacquiao-Bradley III isn’t high, here are 5 reasons why it is happening.

April 9th. MGM Grand. Pac’s final bout? Bradley’s redemption? Why is it happening? Does it need to happen? Why did Manny Pacquiao go back to the well to fight Timothy Bradley? Redemption and closure. Each man needs this fight. Here are 5 reasons why it had to happen and will be worth your money.

5. Teddy Atlas, folks!

As much as the third fight is about the two men gloving up in the ring, this night will be about two all-time trainers and boxing minds clashing. Pacquiao’s Freddie Roach and Bradley’s new trainer, Atlas. If you watched Bradley take apart Brandon Rios in December, the highlight was Atlas literally spitting Mickey Goldmill like fiery statements at the fighter in between rounds. He was prying Bradley from a career nap. His team-up with Desert Storm helped get this fight made.

4. Another chance to bury the first fight

The first fight in June of 2012 was an injustice to the sport. Bradley scoring a decision over Pacquiao was the beginning of the semi end for the Filipino. Though he clearly got the best of Bradley and connected more and at a higher rate of consistency, judges Duane Ford and C.J. Ross(neither judge these days) gave the fight to Bradley. Twitter blew up. Ringside analyst Dan Rafael couldn’t believe it. A review panel re-watched the fight and voted unanimously for Pacquiao. The third fight is one more attempt to dig a deeper hole for a very bad night in boxing.

3. Pacquiao needs to close with a bang

Manny Pacquiao needs this fight. He hasn’t fought in 11 months. He didn’t look good against Floyd Mayweather Jr. last year, even though he fought with a torn rotator cuff. If this is his last fight as a professional (he will fight a few off the books when they attack him for his horrible singing), it needs to be a win and needs to be legit. Closing his career on Bradley and going for the series win and final say would help that ledger get clean.

4. Bradley needs a worthy opponent to re-enter title status

If Bradley seriously wants to step back into the big boy arena of contenders, he needs Pacquiao to do so. A win over Manny would cement his return to the ring and to the list of pound for pound title contenders. Beating Rios didn’t do that. It was the small flight of steps to the door. Beating Pac Man gets Bradley back into the building.

5. These two produce entertaining buy worthy matches

The first two fights were entertaining and the third could be explosive. Pacquiao allowed the judges to be unwise towards the end of the first fight and failed to finish, something he corrected in the second fight. Now, both men are older, angrier and want to prove something. Pac wants to prove this guy never deserved a second fight. Bradley wants to silence his critics who say he can’t win the big fight.

Prediction

Who wins? My money is on Pacquiao. He has beat him twice in 99.9 percent of the public eye and is angry after his showing against Mayweather Jr. last year. Bradley does have Atlas in his corner but that could get him in trouble. If Atlas tries to fire him up in between rounds, the trainer could send his fighter into a Pacquiao ambush. Manny is the smarter fighter and should prevail. It would be sweet nostalgic boxing  harmony for Pacquiao to knock Bradley out. April 9th will be a good one! So much to prove for both boxers.