MANILA, Philippines - Images of Timothy Bradley posing like a Mr. Universe contestant don’t scare Manny Pacquiao.
In boxing, Pacquiao says, size doesn’t always matter.
“Wala naman ‘yan sa laki ng katawan (It’s not in the size of the body),” said Pacquiao, who stakes his WBO welterweight against Bradley on June 9.
Just the same, the 33-year-old Filipino icon will leave nothing to chance, saying he’d make sure he doesn’t give an inch to his younger foe.
“Magpapalaki din ako ng katawan (I will bulk up as well),” said Pacquiao, who has close to seven weeks to get to his desired physical condition.
Pacquiao said they will employ the same plyometrics method he used against bigger opponents like Miguel Cotto and Antonio Margarito. And Pacquiao beat the hell out of them.
Plyometrics is a method of training muscle elastic strength and explosiveness. It helps an athlete bulk up, in weight and in muscle, without losing speed.
Alex Ariza, the strength and conditioning coach, is here to help Pacquiao, who started his high-altitude training at the Burnham Park the other day.
Bradley is also deep into training somewhere in his native California. He’s a workaholic, and said there’s no time to rest.
“Tired but gotta get my hour long run in. Will rest when I die!” he twitted yesterday.
Bradley is made of such physique he looks more like a bodybuilder on steroids. But he said he’s all natural, and what people see in him is the result of hard work.
Bradley, five years younger than Pacquiao, said he’s willing to undergo test anytime, anywhere, and said he doesn’t care if his opponents are into performance-enhancers.
“Because it won’t work against me,” he said.
Sparring could begin in a week or two depending on how trainer Freddie Roach sees Pacquiao’s condition.
British boxer Amir Khan is also in Baguio training for his coming fight with Lamont Peterson but Roach said he won’t spar with Pacquiao because his style is different with Bradley’s.