Bradley says Pacquiao must knock him out

MANILA, Philippines - Timothy Bradley is insisting that Manny Pacquiao is a changed man, that Pacquiao can’t be the same old vicious fighter that he used to be.

Bradley faces Pacquiao in a rematch on April 12 at the MGM Grand. He said unless Pacquiao knocks him out there’s no way he could lose this one.

The 30-year-old American, who is five years younger, won a controversial decision when he and Pacquiao fought the first time in June 2012.

This time he wants to leave no doubt.

“If Pacquiao doesn’t knock me out he’s not going to win the fight, and I told it straight to his face. ‘If you don’t knock me out you’re not going to win,’” Bradley told The Boxing Voice.

“I said it to Marquez as well and look what happened,” added Bradley, who scored convincing win over Juan Manuel Marquez after the Mexican had knocked Pacquiao out.

Bradley said this fight can’t be as close as their June 2012 encounter.

“It has to be convincing. I don’t think the fight can be close. I think the fight has to be convincing like to where it’s like eight rounds to four. It has to be no questions asked that Bradley won that fight.

“That’s the way it has to be. Either that or it has to be a knockout. That’s pretty much to it,” said Bradley.

Pacquiao lost two in a row against Bradley and Marquez in 2012 then stayed off the ring for almost a year. Then he returned with an impressive win over Brandon Rios in Macau last November.

Pacquiao failed to put Rios down when it looked like he had several chances.

In the post-fight press conference, Pacquiao was asked why he seemed to back down and pull his punches when he had Rios in trouble.

“Boxing is not about killing your opponent,” was Pacquiao’s reply.

Bradley said it only proves that Pacquiao, a congressman and bible preacher, has lost the killer instinct, and may never get it back.

Bradley and Pacquiao sat face to face for an interview with Max Kellerman, and no matter how he tried, Bradley said he can’t get Pacquiao into a fighting mood.

“I’m like, ‘Pacquiao just tell me you’re going to knock me the f...k out. Just tell me you’re going to knock me out. That’s all you got to say. Why is it so hard to say that?’

“He’s still compassionate. He still has a huge heart. I honestly think he’s not the same guy. I think skill wise he is phenomenal. He’s fast, great combinations, crisp shots, he moves in and out on angles. He’s Pacquiao, but as far as heart, as far as his love for the game still, as far as his love for people, I think it’s completely 360,” said Bradley.

That’s his opinion.