Subsob ang ulo ngayon ng beteranong ESPN boxing analyst at trainer na si Teddy Atlas sa dalawang laban ng alaga niyang si WBO welterweight champion Timothy Bradley kay eight division world champion Manny Pacquiao para matiyak na mananalo ang Amerikano sa Filipino boxing icon sa kanilang ikatlong pagsasagupa sa Abril 9 sa Las Vegas, Nevada.
Unang hinawakan ni Atlas ang karera ni Bradley sa unang depensa ng WBO welterweight title nitong Nobyembre 7 sa kababayang si Brandon Rios na impresibong dalawang beses niyang napabagsak bago napataigil sa 9th round sa Las Vegas din.
“I already looked at [the first two fights]. I don’t believe in waiting,” sabi ni Atlas sa ESPN Deportes. “When this fight was first discussed, I looked at it and I see what I should see and I see why Pacquiao was able to be effective and why Tim was able to be effective at the times when he was effective.”
Sa edad na 37 anyos at kagagaling lamang sa operasyon sa kanang balikat, aminado si Atlas na hindi puwedeng maliitin ang kakayahan ni Pacquiao kaya kailangan ang todong preparasyon para magwagi si Bradley.
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“Anyone who has watched me on ESPN for nearly 20 years knows I’m not one to throw out superlatives unless I believe them, but Pacquiao is one of the best fighters of the last decade,” giit ni Atlas. “It’ll be a tough challenge, but we’ll make sure we’re ready for [it]. We will respect the challenge Pacquiao presents. We will do what we’re supposed to do and be 100 percent prepared. It will be a difficult fight.”
Pero binalewala ni Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach ang tambalan nina Atlas at Bradley dahil ang tinalong si Rios ay nahirapan para makuha ang timbang at halatang wala sa kondisyon nang harapin si Bradley.
“Bradley looked good, but … with all that fat on Rios, I had never seen him look like that before, so I don’t think Bradley had that much in front of him,” giit ni Roach sa Los Angeles Times. “Bradley did what he had to do. Teddy Atlas is a good motivator, and Bradley fought a good fight. I don’t think you can give Atlas credit yet.”
“Teddy likes to tell stories, he’s said things to his fighters like, ‘I have your son on the line, you’re embarrassing him.’ He’s always been a real character, but I don’t think there’s any benefit for the fighter to those comments.,” dagdag ni Roach. “Bradley seems to have a better motivator, so it could make for a tougher fight. But I’m not going to give Teddy credit until I see the proof first.” (Gilbert Espeña)
