MANILA, Philippines - Freddie Roach thinks that Timothy Bradley made a very big mistake by saying Manny Pacquiao can no longer pull the trigger.
Bradley beat Pacquiao when they first met in June 2012 and had to wait nearly two years for the rematch that takes place April 12 in Las Vegas.
While he waited, the undefeated Bradley survived Russian Ruslan Provodnikov and outclassed Mexican Juan Manuel Marquez to move to 31-0.
On the other hand, Pacquiao suffered a stunning knockout loss to Marquez but bounced back with a one-sided victory over Brandon Rios last November.
Bradley watched the Rios fight, and said he noticed only one thing: Pacquiao has lost the killer instinct and will never get it back.
The reigning WBO welterweight champion also said Pacquiao, who turned 35 last December, is too old to beat him in their rematch.
“By saying that he (Pacquiao) has no killer instinct, [Bradley] really woke him up, and we thank him for that,†Roach told the Boxing Voice.
Roach insists that by beating Rios, who is younger and bigger, Pacquiao proved that he has gotten over his horrific knockout loss to Marquez.Roach said Pacquiao is back as his old self and will prove it in April.
Pacquiao is taking Bradley’s statement saying he’s already old as a challenge. He admitted he was “too nice†to Bradley in their first fight.
Pacquiao, who hasn’t scored a knockout in four years, is dropping the “Mr. Nice Guy†tag, and vowed to prove that he still has the killer instinct.
“(He’s) Fresh and hungry. He won every round against Rios and you’re going to see the same thing with Bradley,†Roach also said.
Bradley insists that he won the fight against Pacquiao. He said he watched the tape of the fight, did his own scoring and gave himself eight of the 12 rounds.
Of course, Roach disagrees.
“He (Pacquiao) won the first fight handily. The thing is he just was too compassionate. He knows he can’t be compassionate anymore.†because otherwise you don’t make money and you don’t sell tickets.â€