Pacquiao vs. Bradley final words and Arum goes off!
Photos: Chris Farina/Top Rank
Yesterday at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Timothy Bradley and Manny Pacquiao met with media for the final presser leading up to their 12 round welterweight clash this Saturday. It was pretty much a normal press event until Top Rank promoter Bob Arum went off on the MGM for cross promoting rival Golden Boy’s “The Moment: Mayweather vs. Maidana” during Pacquiao vs. Bradley fight week.
Manny Pacquiao:
“Everything, it’s all said. Both camps have almost finished our training and we’re ready for Saturday and I think on Saturday it’s going to be a good fight and nobody knows, only God knows what’s going to be, but both fighters are doing our best to do our job in the ring to make you guys happy and to give a good fight to make people happy. This fight is very important to me and to my boxing career. Of course, my opponent is also claiming that this fight is very important, so it’s going to be a very, very good fight on Saturday so don’t miss it.”
Freddy Roach:
“Manny is in great shape and We know this is a big fight, We’re in a must-win situation I feel and Manny is 100% ready.
Timothy Bradley:
“Everything’s been said in the media. It doesn’t really matter what we say, it only matters what we do. This Saturday is all that matters, what we do in the ring and we’re gonna put on a great show for the fans and all the millions around the world. There’s not going to be a soul in the arena or any fan around the world that’s going to be disappointed. Me and Manny Pacquiao basically went through hell in training camp to put on a great show for the fans. I’m excited for this challenge and this opportunity and I’m definitely want to seize the moment.”
Bob Arum to Bradley:
“Why don’t you ask the guy (Mayweather) whose picture is up all over building when he’s going to fight somebody real?”
Joel Diaz: “All is said and we’re ready for Saturday night, April 12th. Both fighters are in tremendous shape and they are ready to give the world a great fight.”
Bob Arum:
“The only way you know that a match is competitive is to go outside and see what they’re doing in the race and sports book. If used to be when Bob Halloran was here, we used to have somebody from the host hotel’s race & sportsbook talk about the odds. But if you do a series of 10:1, 12:1 kind of fights, who wants to being in anyone from the race & sportsbook? So instead of having anyone from the race and sports book, I’ll take that role.”
“This fight, the line is under 2:1 with Manny the favorite. It’s a competitive match. No argument about it, as is what we’re gonna do in Madison Square Garden on June 7. Miguel Cotto and Sergio Martinez, also the odds under 2:1, a competitive match. And then in the new Forum in Los Angeles, Juan Manuel Marquez against Mike Alvarado, also a competitive match of around 2:1. So don’t listen to what myself, or any promoters say are competitive matches. Look and see what the odds are in the race and sports book.”
“I’m not going to say it… hell with it! In the Venetian they wouldn’t make a mistake like this. They knew what fight was scheduled in three or four days and they wouldn’t have a 12:1 fight all over the building that’s going to take place three weeks from next Saturday. But, that’s why one company makes a billion dollars a quarter and the other hustles to pay its debt. There it is. Say it like it is.”
“if whatever I said was incendiary, I’m an old guy and I apologize.”
Pacquiao vs. Bradley 2 goes down this Saturday at the MGM and televised on HBO PPV.