Bradley’s new trainer sees first Pacquiao fight as draw

MANILA, Philippines – Many boxing observers and fans saw Manny Pacquiao winning his first fight with Timothy Bradley in 2012, contrary to the official outcome.

Bradley was awarded with a controversial split decision that fateful night in June 2012 to escape with the WBO welterweight title, an outcome that was heavily criticized.

A five-member WBO panel that reviewed the fight later scored it for Pacquiao, but the official result stuck.

But for Bradley’s new trainer, the renowned Teddy Atlas, that fight should have been scored a draw.

In a report by boxingscene.com’s Keith Idec, Atlas said he reviewed the first Pacquiao-Bradley fight and saw things differently.

 “I’m a great believer in film, and using that as a tool to win and prepare. So I’ll look at the film. When I looked at the film, I don’t think there should be backlash. Because when I looked at it again, the first fight, I had Timmy winning six rounds. That’s a draw,” he said.

“That’s a draw in my book. I had him winning six rounds. If I look at it again – which I will look at it again, obviously – maybe I’d find something else. Maybe I’d say he won seven rounds. I don’t know,” Atlas added.

Atlas, who has trained several former world champions such as Michael Moorer, Barry McGuigan and Alexander Povetkin, recently took over as Bradley’s cornerman, replacing Joel Diaz. He guided the American to an impressive TKO win over former Pacquiao foe Brandon Rios last November.

Bradley, who lost to Pacquiao in their 2014 rematch, now has another shot at redemption on April 9 (April 10) in a rubber match with the Filipino. Again, observers have frowned Pacquiao’s selection of Bradley as his final opponent.

Atlas, for his part, said Bradley deserves the fight.

“And I also saw an injured fighter in the rematch, that had a torn calf muscle, being even at the midway point of that fight. He [Bradley] lost that second fight, but he was even in that fight [until the midway point],” he continued.

“I see a reason for them to fight a third time.” - Dino Maragay