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Timothy Bradley is prepared to face the best Manny Pacquiao on June 9, and isn't letting himself think that the Filipino superstar will be distracted by any recent out-of-ring issues. Pacquiao has recently had criminal tax charges filed against him, and has been accused of housing a fugitive.
From RingTV.com:
"It won't affect his performance. I think that he'll be full-fledged ready and there won't be any distractions. He'll be ready to face me. ... I really don't know too much about what's going on with Manny, to be honest with you, I just really don't pay attention to it. I've been tending to my business. I know what's going on with Tim Bradley. I just tend to my business, and I don't know too much about what's going on with Manny."
This is the best stance to take if you're Tim Bradley, obviously, since these may be new charges and accusations and all that, but it's hardly the first time that one of the pre-fight stories is, "Is Manny distracted?" So far, no, he's not, at least as far as anyone can tell.
Bradley also says he'll do about a ten-week training camp and that he's already working out five days a week -- or, rather, that he always works out five days a week, so he's in good shape and not going to have to crash down to 147 or anything like that.
I'm really hoping this fight lives up to the expectations I have, and that some others have. This isn't a fight for the casual fan, really; this is a Manny Pacquiao fight for the true blue boxing fans, I believe. Bradley (28-0, 12 KO) isn't glamorous, but can really fight, and could be a world of trouble for the aging Pacquiao (54-3-2, 38 KO), and it's not even that Manny is "getting old" (which I believe he is, and that's not meant as some huge attack on him), but that Bradley is very good and fully capable of ending Manny's big run.
Currently, it's expected that the HBO PPV undercard will feature the vacant IBF welterweight title fight between Mike Jones and Randall Bailey plus a Jorge Arce fight, as well as a fourth bout. Someone like Mercito Gesta (should he win on April 14) could be in that opening spot, but there have been no firm rumors or anything just yet.