Preview: Timothy Bradley vs Juan Manuel Marquez Preview: Timothy Bradley vs Juan Manuel Marquez

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by Erman Housein

When Timothy Bradley and Juan Manuel Marquez take centre stage at the MGM Casino in Las Vegas tomorrow night, we will be treated to an occasion which has unfortunately become increasingly rare in today’s boxing scene, a genuine main event fight where it is extremely difficult to pick a winner. It is an intriguing contest between a modern boxing legend and a young, hungry fighter looking to establish himself amongst the elite of the sport.  

The excitement surrounding the fight is given an extra dimension when you consider what is possibly at stake for the winner. The title on the line in this bout is of little significance (as a point of reference It is Bradley’s WBO strap), as we know that Floyd Mayweather is the top man in the division and tomorrow night’s main attraction could qualify itself as an eliminator to become one of Floyd’s chosen four as he counts down to the end of his six fight Showtime contract.  The validity of victory in this contest for either man would make a showdown with Mayweather all the more appealing; Bradley would be pitting an unbeaten record of his own up against Floyd’s ‘0’. The prospect of two undefeated fighters facing off is normally enough to sell a fight on it’s own, throw in a legitimate top class win for Bradley if he comes through Marquez and this will be the all American Showdown the US fight fans have been pining for.  If Marquez nicknamed “Dinamita” were to prevail he would offer Mayweather a very different animal to the version of himself which was soundly beaten by Floyd in 2009. He is now a legitimate powerful welterweight, and having finally exacted some revenge on Manny Pacquio via a devastating knockout victory I am sure he and his camp will lead us to believe he is capable of exacting a similar fate on Mayweather if they were to meet again (and without meaning to open up an old can of worms, without the controversy surrounding fighting weights.)

Of course a possible Mayweather showdown for the victor is a discussion point for another day.  In examining the fight itself, it is Bradley’s mindset and approach to the bout which is likely to prove key in the final analysis.  In the build up Bradley has continually expressed his desire to silence his doubters who feel he isn’t a legitimate player at 147lbs and that he was fortunate the night he picked up the WBO title, via a split decision verdict over Manny Pacquiao last year. As much as Bradley will use the criticism levelled at him as motivation, it could be his willingness to entertain and convert his doubters which ultimately proves his undoing in this fight.  If he approaches Marquez in the same vein as in his all out war with Ruslan Provonikov last time out, he may discover that giving Marquez the opportunity to tee-off at will, is likely to result in Bradley receiving a punch he won’t necessarily see coming until he watches a replay of the fight the following day.

Even if he were to act at the aggressor and take the fight to Marquez, Bradley is not a noted puncher with only 12 stoppage victories amongst his 30 wins, combining this with fact that Marquez has never been stopped in 62 fights, it would suggest that Bradley’s best chance of victory will be to take the bout the full 12 rounds.   In doing so Bradley, will be best to employ tactics which see him fight off of the back foot, moving constantly to really work the stamina and legs of his 40 year old opponent.  Usually when Marquez struggles in fights it is against slick boxers, who force the Mexican to come towards them rather than allow him to wait and choose his attacks.  From Marquez’s perspective, he will be entering the fight with his confidence sky high, having finally put to bed the ghosts of the first 3 Pacquiao fights and from looking at his physique, you can safely say that his recent training has all been geared around increasing his strength and punching power at the weight.  Surely he believes going in to battle that he will be able to end the fight before the scorecards are read if he can land flush on the chin of Bradley.  Marquez knows what his strengths are and he will look to counter punch and capitalise on any mistake Bradley may make on the night.

Obviously there are things we can’t know until the fight is under away, will Marquez have the same motivation than he did for the Manny Pacquaio fight, will the punishment Bradley took against Provonikov have taken a lot out of him. What we can be certain of is that Juan Manuel Marquez will not produce a display out of character, he will not chance a strategy which may jeopardise his chances of victory.  The big question is will Tim Bradley revert back to the style which established his success and led him to his biggest career victory over Manny Pacquiao or will he continue to try and prove himself to the boxing fans who question is legitimacy by fighting out of his comfort zone against a truly exceptional operator.

http://v2journal.com/16/post/2013/10/preview-timothy-bradley-vs-juan-manuel-marquezpreview-timothy-bradley-vs-juan-manuel-marquez.html

Lance wrote:I believe the Mayweather Bradley fight will happen. Arum might keeps his demands for Bradley in the same court as what Mayweather believes hes worth in the hope that Bradley is his best chance of beating him, and at least he might gain him extra recognition long term. Otherwise where next for Bradley? I guess we might get the Pac rematch next, depending on how the Rios fight goes

Arum like always is the road block.........

He likes to think of himself as the great negotiator.........Remember when he bragged he got Barkley on the cheap years ago against Nunn and other great deals.....where he screwed people over!!

He won't take less and Mayweather doesn't need Bradley..........

What was it Marquez drank inbetween rounds, a lot of fighters were on twitter going nuts because it is supposed to be banned from being used during a fight.

Reborn-DeeMcK-Reborn wrote:What was it Marquez drank inbetween rounds

Tequila

He probably would have won if that was what he drank. Angry Mexican's fighting full of the demon are not to be messed with!