MANILA, Philippines – Fans should expect the Manny Pacquiao of old to show up in his rematch against WBO welterweight champion Timothy Bradley.
Pacquiao vowed to return to his fiery form when he takes on Bradley for a second time on April 12 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
The two fighters faced the media early Wednesday at the Beverly Hills Hotel in Los Angeles to kick off their US press tour, with both fighters agreeing that they have unfinished business between them.
“One thing that I can assure: this is gonna be a good fight. Both of us have something to prove in this fight,†Pacquiao, sporting a red jacket, told a handful of media members.
The Filipino icon dropped a controversial decision to Bradley about two years ago, a fight he appeared to dominate. It was followed by another setback, a devastating knockout loss against Juan Manuel Marquez a few months later.
But the fighting congressman has returned to his winning ways with a lopsided win over Brandon Rios in Macau last November. Pacquiao hasn’t scored a knockout since stopping Miguel Cotto in 2011, and some boxing observers claim he has lost that killer instinct.
Pacquiao promised to come out with guns blazing this time and bring back the aggressiveness he is known for.
“I assure you, you will see the young and aggressive Manny Pacquiao on April 12,†he said.
Bradley, for his part, is raring to prove Pacquiao wrong.
“I'm gonna beat Manny Pacquiao and get credit I didn't have the first time around,†the American declared confidently.
Top Rank chief Bob Arum said tickets will go on sale Thursday, with prices at are $1,000, $800, $600, $400, $250 and $150. The fight will be available on HBO pay-per-view in the US.