Pacquiao gets defensive to prepare for Bradley

HOLLYWOOD, Calif. - The way Manny Pacquiao has been training for his June 9 fight with Timothy Bradley, one would think he would be better served coming into the ring at the MGM Grand Garden with a cape instead of a pair of boxing gloves.

Bradley's propensity for leading with his head has Pacquiao and his trainer, Freddie Roach, worried about a possible clash resulting in cuts. So Pacquiao has been preparing with sparring partners Ruslan Provodnikov and Kevin Hoskins charging him head-first at Wild Card Boxing Club. Call it the "Matador Defense."

"It's a concern," Pacquiao said Wednesday during his media day, which attracted close to 200 journalists. "Bradley likes to lead with his head, and there's a chance we might butt heads."

Roach said Bradley's two most recent fights, against Joel Casamayor and Devon Alexander, both of which drew blood from headbutts, provide all the evidence he needs to guard against it happening again a week from Saturday.

"I don't know that he's intentionally trying to headbutt his opponent, but there's no question Bradley leads with his head," Roach said. "We usually don't train for that, but this is the exception. Manny has to make sure he doesn't get headbutted."

Gamesmanship also might be involved. By going public with its concerns, Team Pacquiao is getting the word out so that Las Vegas referee Robert Byrd, who will be the third man in the ring, will be aware of Bradley and his potential tactics.

When asked if he was trying to get inside Bradley's head, Roach said, "Of course."

Bradley claims he's not falling for Roach's ploy. "Freddie Roach can say whatever he wants," Bradley said. "The fact is if you look at Pacquiao's fights, he leads with his head. He's a southpaw, and I'm not. It's likely at some point our heads might collide."

If they do, Pacquiao should be able to move on both of his legs to try to minimize the potential damage. He had suffered from leg cramps in his past two fights, against Juan Manuel Marquez and Shane Mosley.

However, Roach said Pacquiao has had no leg cramps during this training camp, and he credits Pacquiao's abstaining from playing basketball as the reason.

Pacquiao had a different explanation.

"I'm taking more potassium," he said. "I'm eating a lot of bananas."

Pacquiao (54-3-2, 38 knockouts) said facing a fresh, younger face in the 28-year-old Bradley (28-0, 12 KOs, one no contest) has rejuvenated him and created a more energetic environment during his camp.

"Bradley's a good boxer. He's young and strong, and it is going to be a good fight," Pacquiao said. "We brought in new sparring partners for this fight, and they have pushed me to work hard."

On Tuesday, Pacquiao went three rounds with Hoskins and five with Provodnikov, and both sparring partners landed shots that got Pacquiao's attention. Roach said that's what he has been looking for.

"These young guys have come in, and they're not taking it easy on Manny," Roach said. "They're forcing him to focus and concentrate, which is exactly what Manny needs."

Pacquiao said that unlike his preparation for the third fight with Marquez, who he beat by majority decision on Nov. 12 at the MGM, the distractions have been minimized for Bradley. Even the reported feud between Roach and strength and conditioning coach Alex Ariza has not been an issue for Pacquiao.

"No problem," Pacquiao said. "I work with Alex, and I work with Freddie."

The other thing that continues to motivate Pacquiao is the fact his career is entering the home stretch. The 33-year-old has said he intends to fight three more times after June 9, and he confirmed Wednesday that still is the plan.

"I'll fight a couple more fights," he said, alluding to a fight this fall and two more in 2013 before he hangs up his gloves and goes through with his plan to run for governor in his home province of Sarangani in the Philippines, where he currently serves as a congressman. "The plan is still there."

Who he will face in those remaining three fights remains to be seen. Bradley's contract has a rematch clause should he beat Pacquiao. There's a fourth fight with Marquez as a possibility in November or December.

And there's always Floyd Mayweather Jr. Mayweather is scheduled to report to the Clark County Detention Center on Friday to begin serving his 87-day sentence for domestic battery.

"I will pray for Floyd," Pacquiao said.

Contact reporter Steve Carp at scarp@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2913. Follow him on Twitter: @stevecarprj.