Pacquiao, Bradley face-to-face, trade barbs

LAS VEGAS – Up on stage and in front of all the cameras, Manny Pacquiao and Timothy Bradley stood face-to-face during Wednesday’s final press conference.

From a short distance, it looked like Bradley said something to Pacquiao.

The Filipino responded, and they swapped one-liners. Their faces were just inches apart. Pacquiao smiled a bit. Bradley shook his head sideways.

After a few seconds, they shook hands and parted ways. Later on, members of Top Rank’s publicity team told Pinoy scribes what the two boxers said to each other during the staredown.

Bradley took the first shot.

“Are you ready?” he asked Pacquiao.

“Yes, I’m ready,” was the quick answer.

“Are you sure you’re ready?” Bradley went on.

Then again, Pacquiao said, “Yes, I’m ready.”

“You better be ready,” Bradley ended the exchange.

After at least two months in training, both fighters are definitely ready, and on Saturday evening (Sunday noon in Manila) the world will know who’ the better fighter is.

It will be a rematch of their 2012 showdown when Bradley pulled off a victory that was questioned by many. It will be his chance to prove that he deserved the win.

For Pacquiao, it’s basically the same thing, for him to prove that he was the winner of that first fight.

For most part of the press conference, Bradley didn’t bother to listen to all the drum-beating and all the introductions. He had dark shades and headphones on.

But in a separate room early on, he talked more about the fight. A reporter asked why he was wearing eyeglasses. Did he have anything to hide? Like a bruise perhaps suffered in training?

“I’m just trying to be cute, man,” Bradley said before taking his sunglasses off. He was clean.

Like his trainer, Bradley said what he’s been saying during training camp, that Pacquiao has lost the killer instinct inside the ring.

“His motivation isn’t there. He’s thirty-six (Pacquiao is only 35). And maybe this is one fight too late for him. I know this is my time.

And I know why I’m here,” he said.