Bradley primed for phone booth battle

INDIO, California – At first, Timothy Bradley’s open workout Friday at his gym in Indio, California (Saturday in Manila) went on as expected.

Members of the media and fans, armed with cameras and mobile phones, recorded as Bradley worked the heavy and double-end bags.

Then came Teddy Atlas, who requested the crowd to put their cameras away for a while. Bradley’s chief trainer did not want the next routine to be seen on YouTube or anywhere else on the Internet.

“Thank you all for coming. But please, no cameras for the next 15 minutes,” he told those in attendance.

When the obedient crowd complied, Bradley and Atlas went to the center of the ring to simulate a close-quarters combat. Manny Pacquiao’s upcoming opponent bobbed, weaved, then threw three- to five-punch counters  before spinning away from Atlas.

Bradley is ready to engage Pacquiao phone booth-style, perhaps a feasible plan if he wants to neutralize the Filipino icon’s speed, which works best when fighting at a distance.

“We're ready to be wherever we have to be,” Atlas later told Philstar.com/The STAR. “Be it in a phone booth, a suitcase, a cubicle.”

At the heavy bag, Atlas kept reminding Bradley to recoil immediately after a blow.

“If you're gonna be close, you have to keep things (punches) short, especially when you're in with a fast guy like Manny,” he continued.

A highlight of the demo had Bradley throwing a quick counter right straight reminiscent of what Juan Manuel Marquez did when he knocked Pacquiao out in 2012.

But Bradley’s father and assistant trainer, Tim Sr., said it’s just part of the overall package his son will be showcasing in the rubber match with Pacquiao in Las Vegas next week.

“It's not just one punch. Even the jab can give him (Pacquiao) a problem,” the elder Bradley told Philstar.com/The STAR in a separate interview.

“He (Tim Jr.) worked on everything. He primed up. If something comes up, he knows how to deal with it,” added Tim Sr.