Only one man has faced both Manny Pacquiao and Timothy Bradley, and that is, of course, Mexican legend Juan Manuel Marquez, who fought Pacquiao in 2004, 2008, 2011, and 2012, going 1-2-1 officially, with each bout close and controversial until the fourth fight, which was also close when Marquez knocked Pacquiao out cold at the end of the sixth round. Marquez fought Bradley last October, losing a decision.
The 40-year-old Marquez says that he agrees with most people on the first fight between Pacquiao (55-5-2, 38 KO) and Bradley (31-0, 12 KO) being a robbery, but this fight he sees as more of a toss-up.
"I think Pacquiao won the fight. A lot of people think the same," Marquez told HBO Sports. "Right now, this is different, because Bradley, he knows Pacquiao. Pacquiao knows Bradley. This is interesting for the fight."
Asked to pick a winner, Marquez couldn't give a clear pick, but outlined briefly why the fight is so good.
"If Bradley uses his technique, uses his speed, Bradley wins the fight. If Pacquiao uses his aggressiveness, he's landing so many punches with the strength, maybe Pacquiao wins the fight. This is a great fight," he said.
Marquez (55-7-1, 40 KO) faces Mike Alvarado on May 17 at The Forum in Inglewood, California, with the winner of that HBO fight slated to meet the winner of Pacquiao-Bradley II later in the year.