Freddie Roach is expecting a tough fight for Manny Pacquiao when the former pound-for-pound king faces Timothy Bradley in a rematch on April 12 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
Roach was convinced Pacquiao got robbed during their first fight in June 2012, but the Hall of Fame trainer had nothing but praises to Bradley, who is coming off two-straight impressive victories after their first showdown.
Pacquiao's long-time trainer said that he has high respect for the reigning WBO welterweight champion, who successfully defended his title against Ruslan Provodnikov and Juan Manuel Marquez last year.
Roach thinks that Bradley improved a lot since their first fight, but he vowed that Pacquiao will be 100 percent ready to go toe-to-toe with the undefeated American.
"Bradley's the champion, we respect that," Roach said in an interview with The Philippine Star. "All I can guarantee is Manny will be 100 percent for Bradley that means he'll have his power and speed. Manny's motivated. I predict a great fight."
Pacquiao has been working double time in training camp as he is very determined to prove his doubters wrong by showing that he still has the vaunted killer's instinct that he was known for during his reign as pound-for-pound king.
Sparring mate Lydell Rhodes attested how serious Pacquiao is over the first few weeks of training camp, saying that Pacquiao's speed and punching power has been unbelievable during their sparring sessions.
Rhodes, who is one of the few sparring mates lined up for Pacquiao's preparation for the Bradley rematch, said that Pacquiao punches so hard that it made him feel that he was going up against a super middleweight.
"It feels like I'm fighting a super middleweight," Rhodes said. "He cracks, so the best thing for me or anybody else is try not to be there. That's hard because he's fast too, so he's going to you regardless so you just got to brace yourself and be ready."
When asked about his thoughts about Pacquiao-Bradley II, Rhodes said that the rematch is too close to call because both fighters will look to prove something, but he thinks his sparring mate will win a close decision.
"I think it's going to be a close decision but I think Manny's going to come out and edge him in the decision," Rhodes said in a Rappler interview.
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