Pacquiao Assured Of Rematch, Just In Case

source: mb.com.ph

Even though Manny Pacquiao is not taking any chances against Tim Bradley, the Filipino star has a rematch clause included in the contract in case he suffers an upset loss in their June 9 world welterweight title fight at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

Top Rank chief Bob Arum told the Bulletin from his Las Vegas home on Monday (Sunday in the US) that while he is looking beyond Bradley, the 80-year-old Hall of Fame promoter bared that an immediate rematch will be held once Bradley wins.

"Bradley is a very good fighter and the only Manny has over him is he is a better puncher (than Bradley)," Arum said, citing the growing list of fight aficionados who are picking Bradley, 28, over Pacquiao, 33.

Bradley’s reputation as a live underdog against Pacquiao was enhanced even more when experts just tagged him as a 3-1 underdog, a far cry from the lopsided odds given to past Pacquiao foes.

"This is a very difficult fight for Manny," stressed Arum, noting that had they picked Miguel Cotto as an opponent, the Puerto Rican would have easily been "an 8-1 or 7-1 underdog because Manny had killed him (when they fought in 2009)."

But because Pacquiao has reformed and is determined to walk the straight path, Arum said he expects Pacquiao to take care of Bradley and then train their sights on another huge fight in November.

Pacquiao holds a 54-3-2 win-loss-draw record with 38 knockouts, while Bradley has a 28-0-0 slate with 12 knockouts.

The Bradley fight will be Pacquiao’s 22nd fight on US shores since his debut in June 2001 and has actually complied an 18-1-2 mark with 12 knockouts although his last four fights have gone the distance.

The choice of Bradley as opponent was seen as an attempt by his team to inject confidence back into Pacquiao and his fans and followers as he is expected to prove that he hasn’t lost his appetite for destruction.

But Bradley insists he won’t assume the role of cannon fodder and vows to shock the world with a smashing showing.

Pacquiao is guaranteed $25 million in purse alone and sizeable cut in pay-per-view and gate attendance sales, while Bradley is assured of $5 million--his biggest purse--and a share in the pay-per-view revenue
source: mb.com.ph