Manny Pacquiao admitted being under tremendous pressure to put up a good fight against Tim Bradley at the MGM Grand past noon Tuesday.
A horde of fans welcomed the 33-year-old superstar to the main lobby of the hotel where a makeshift ring was put up for the formal and traditional arrival ceremony.
He got up the ring, with his bodyguards, did interviews for the television crews, and faced all four corners to greet his fans that kept chanting his name.
With members of the print media, inside the hotel’s VIP lounge, he talked about Juan Manuel Marquez, Timothy Bradley and Floyd Mayweather Jr.
He admitted there’s pressure on him for Saturday’s fight against Bradley, the pressure to deliver following a so-so win over Marquez last November.
Pacquiao had to think hard when asked what the main reason was for the kind of performance he offered the world against Marquez.
He was asked how he could have underestimated the Mexican who had given him a tough time in their two previous matches.
Once again, Marquez came close to beating Pacquiao, and may have won it in the eyes of many the last time they met.
He must have learned a lesson that there’s no way he’s underestimating Bradley even if he stands a shade taller than the challenger from Indio, California.
When he climbs the ring on Saturday, he said everything else takes a backseat, and that includes his passion for reading the Bible.
All he needs is to switch the button, and he’s ready to fight.
Of course, it wouldn’t end without Pacquiao being asked about Mayweather, and the fight that nearly took place twice, and may never happen at all.
Pacquiao said it’s so simple why it’s not happening.
Then Bob Arum had to cut short the interview.
A horde of fans welcomed the 33-year-old superstar to the main lobby of the hotel where a makeshift ring was put up for the formal and traditional arrival ceremony.
He got up the ring, with his bodyguards, did interviews for the television crews, and faced all four corners to greet his fans that kept chanting his name.
With members of the print media, inside the hotel’s VIP lounge, he talked about Juan Manuel Marquez, Timothy Bradley and Floyd Mayweather Jr.
He admitted there’s pressure on him for Saturday’s fight against Bradley, the pressure to deliver following a so-so win over Marquez last November.
“There is pressure. But we (already) did our best in training for this fight. I have to give a good show to the people and make people happy.
“This fight will be a great fight and people will be satisfied with the result,” he promised.
Pacquiao had to think hard when asked what the main reason was for the kind of performance he offered the world against Marquez.
He was asked how he could have underestimated the Mexican who had given him a tough time in their two previous matches.
“It just happened that we underestimated Marquez,” he said of the boxer whom he had floored four times in 2004 and 2008 but not once last November.
Once again, Marquez came close to beating Pacquiao, and may have won it in the eyes of many the last time they met.
“I was already fighting bigger guys and then I fight someone my size. So, I underestimated him,” was Pacquiao’s answer.
He must have learned a lesson that there’s no way he’s underestimating Bradley even if he stands a shade taller than the challenger from Indio, California.
When he climbs the ring on Saturday, he said everything else takes a backseat, and that includes his passion for reading the Bible.
All he needs is to switch the button, and he’s ready to fight.
“When I step into the ring, I change the mode. I just switch the button,” he said.
Of course, it wouldn’t end without Pacquiao being asked about Mayweather, and the fight that nearly took place twice, and may never happen at all.
Pacquiao said it’s so simple why it’s not happening.
“He gives me $40 million and nothing in the pay-per-view and if I agree then he will be laughing at my back. That’s not the proper negotiation -- if you are a businessman,” he said.
Then Bob Arum had to cut short the interview.
“This is taking longer than his Bible studies,” the chief promoter said. - By Abac Cordero (Philstar News Service, www.philstar.com)
