Boxing Champ Flattered by Manny Pacquiao Offer, but will probably say No! By Johnny Benz (Dec 22, 2009) Doghouse Boxing
Legendary trainer Freddie Roach has made it substantially clear that he would like to use the reigning WBO jr. welterweight champ, Tim Bradley as a sparring partner for Manny Pacquiao. Roach's star pupil Pacquiao is set to face "Money" Floyd Mayweather Jr. on HBO Pay-Per-View this coming March 13th and Roach would love to utilize Bradley to help prep Pacquiao.
Although Bradley is flattered that team Pacquiao is looking towards him for help, Bradley isn't sure he is going for it.
Bradley speaking to Steve Kim of Maxboxing, states : "I’ll talk it over with my team. Personally, if Manny decides to retire or something, of course, but I don’t really want to give Manny a look at me if I’m going to end up fighting him one day. I don’t really want to give him a look. Ricky Hatton tried to get me over to his camp one time and it just didn’t happen because I’m not a sparring partner for anybody. I’m a world champion, I’m not a sparring partner. So I probably wont end up going over there to spar him. But it is flattering that they would want to use me for a sparring partner for Pacquiao."
The interview goes on with Kim asking Bradley: "Is there any price that Pacquiao can meet to change his mind?" To which Bradley responds: "Absolutely not, because he’s in my weight class. He’s going up to these catch-weights and going up because he’s chasing money. He has a goal in mind, him and his trainer, but if he wants to come get some at ’40, I’m going to be right there. I’m not going to give him a look at me."
The full interview with Bradley is so well worth the read. Here is a direct link to Steve Kim's Interview with Bradley on MaxBoxing: Click Here (Opens in New Window).
