"I feel I'm the more intelligent fighter. I'm coming off one of the biggest wins of my career against Marquez, and he's by far one of the most intelligent fighters in the boxing game and I was able to out-think him. I'ma be able to out-think Pacquiao as well. Coming into this fight, I feel I definitely will be able to out-think Pacquiao," stated undefeated WBO welterweight champion Timothy Bradley, who talked more about his April 12 rematch with multi-division world champion Manny Pacquiao. Check it out!
BT: When people talk about Pacquiao's advantages, they always mention his speed and his use of angles. If you had to pick your biggest advantage going into the rematch, what would it be?
TB: I feel I'm the more intelligent fighter. I'm coming off one of the biggest wins of my career against Marquez, and he's by far one of the most intelligent fighters in the boxing game and I was able to out-think him. I'ma be able to out-think Pacquiao as well. Coming into this fight, I feel I definitely will be able to out-think Pacquiao.
BT: Having already fought both guys, which do you think will be the tougher rematch for you?
TB: I think Marquez. I think Marquez would probably be more difficult. Pacquiao has a lot of speed and power in both hands, but he's very predictable. Marquez is not and that's the reason why Marquez was able to give Pacquiao fits all the time was because he made Pacquiao think. You know, Marquez was more cerebral than Pacquiao. Marquez always said, "He won't beat me because he's not smarter than me." I honestly feel that Marquez is very, very, very smart and he made adjustments in the fight. He altered his game and, you know, I had to alter my as well because I had to be ready for whatever he was doing. Pacquiao only fights really one way, man. Yeah, he only fights one way.
BT: Wow. You basically just called Manny Pacquiao one-dimensional (laughing).
TB: (Laughing) Yeah. Hey, I call it like I see it. He only fights one way. Pacquiao only fights one way and the way that Pacquiao fights is effective when you have a guy that comes straight at him. It's not effective when you have a guy that doesn't come straight at him.
BT: Do you think they would've preferred to fight Provodnikov, but agreed to fight you again because the rematch was a better fight financially?
TB: They would've loved to fight Provodnikov. He knows Provodnikov very well. Yes, it would've been an exciting fight for as long as it lasts, but that's pretty much like a Brandon Rios. He comes straight forward, you know what I'm saying, and so that works in Pacquiao's favor. Fighting me, you know, it's a little bit different. You gotta train for a little bit of everything, man, because I can do it all. I can box and I can fight, I can brawl; I can do it all, man, so I am definitely a tougher fight than Provodnikov or any other fighter out there.
BT: Talk to me about that difference in styles for a minute. As a fighter, someone who was taught the ins and outs of boxing, the right and the wrong way to fight, are you surprised to see that more technically skilled fighters - guys like yourself, Andre Ward, Guillermo Rigondeaux, and Floyd Mayweather - get less respect from fans than guys that would be considered "brawlers", like Provodnikov or like Brandon Rios?
TB: You know, I think that everybody has an opinion on what they do like and what they don't like. I just think that those type of fighters that are brawlers, you know, people want to see blood and guts. They don't really care about The Sweet Science anymore. The Sweet Science is very underappreciated these days. Everybody wants to see two guys beat the crap out of each other; blow for blow, Rocky style, you know what I'm saying, and that's not boxing. I love watching Floyd Mayweather fight. I love watching Rigondeaux fight. I understand The Sweet Science and it takes craft and it takes time to master your craft to be that good; Andre Ward and all these guys, they have a craft, man, and they can adjust to any style. I think that's beautiful, man. It's beautiful. You know, the sport is hit and not get hit; that's the sport. Like I said, everybody loves when guys are aggressive and blow-for-blow, punch-for-punch type of fights because they get excited and it gets their adrenaline pumping and that's what they want to see. Mike Tyson was an exciting fighter like that. Manny Pacquiao is that type of fighter and that's the reason why he has that type of following is because of his aggressive style and how he comes and knocks guys out, and that speed and that power together, that's what people like to see, man. People like that, but me personally, I like The Sweet Science. I like a thinking fighter. I have respect for every fighter in the game, whether you're a brawler, or a puncher, or a boxer, whatever, you know, I have respect for every fighter in the game, but I just like what I like and I like the more cerebral type of fighters who set traps and are luring a guy in and taking his best away from him and finding his weaknesses and just dissecting these guys, man. That's what I love, man, and that's what I do so well. That's the reason why I'm undefeated, man, is because I can break down these guys, man. I can break down film. If I get in there and do what I'm trained to do, they won't beat me.
BT: Are you guys gonna be doing extra drug testing for this fight?
TB: We're gonna go with VADA.
BT: Oh, okay. So you guys already agreed on the testing organization. There's not going to be any issues with that like there was for the Marquez fight?
TB: No, no, no. It's VADA. Like I said, all the terms are met. I'ma continue on my quest to clean up the sport and find all of these shady athletes and fighters. Like I said, I had my terms. Top Rank met every term there was as far as the contract to fight Pacquao and the extension. I'm happy. I'm happy with my decision. I'm happy with everything Top Rank has done so far. So, I mean, I can't complain.
BT: No doubt. Well before I let you go, let the fans know what they can expect on April 12.
TB: It's going to be the same, man. (Laughing) I'm telling you, everybody gonna be just sitting there with their mouth open again just like they was when I beat Marquez. They just gonna be like, "Wow! Damn! Who's gonna beat this kid?" Everybody is gonna have to wait and see, man. I start training camp next week, and it's on, man. It's on now!
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