Bradley bares chink in Pacquiao's armor

LOS ANGELES – In a way, Timothy Bradley exposed Manny Pacquiao the way Juan Manuel Marquez did in his third and last fight with the Filipino superstar.

“Hirap si Manny sa mga kalaban na marunong lumubog (Manny has problems with opponents who know how to duck),” said Pacquiao’s former mentor Lito Mondejar.

Still, the 74-year-old member of the original Team Pacquiao said Sunday that Pacquiao deserved the victory simply because he had full control of the fight.

Pacquiao hurt Bradley in the early rounds but when the American started to move away and throw his jabs, it got more difficult for Pacquiao to land his punches.

“Lumubog na ng lumubog si Bradley,” said Mondejar. “Hindi na tumama si Manny.”

The former owner of the L&M Gym in Sampaloc, where Pacquiao learned the ropes of the game, said Pacquiao is more comfortable with fighters who stand in front of him.

“Yung mga kagaya ni Eric Morales, Oscar dela Hoya, Ricky Hatton at Miguel Cotto. Pag tumayo ka sa harap ni Manny, patay ka (Stand in front of Manny and you’re finished),” said Mondejar.

But Marquez found the answer, and made it very difficult for Pacquiao, especially when they met the third time last November.

Pacquiao won a similar split decision when a lot of people thought Marquez, perhaps the greatest counterpuncher there is today, had won the fight.

“Lumubog na ng lumubog si Marquez kaya hindi na tinamaan,” said Mondejar, recalling that Pacquiao often ended up swinging wildly and missing against Bradley.

And Bradley took the cue from Marquez, and managed to stay out of harm’s way in the later rounds while landing his jab well and getting away with some good shots.

To the two judges who scored it 115-113 for Bradley, it was all they needed to see.