Would a Manny Pacquiao vs. Timothy Bradley Jr. III be a fitting return for the Filipino boxing icon in 2016?
With no word yet on what Pacquiao plans to do next year, a possible opponent could be a nemesis he already fought twice.
On paper, the two are dead-even with Bradley winning the first one (a controversial split decision in June 9, 2012) and Pacquiao coming back strong with a unanimous decision (April 12, 2014).
So could a rubber match be something fans would like to see?
As far as Bradley’s trainer, Joel Diaz, is concerned, anything is possible.
"He doesn’t doubt it, and I don’t doubt it. They went at it twice and you know they had controversy in the first one, and he beat him the second time" Diaz was quoted of saying in an interview with On The Ropes Jenna J.
Apparently both fighters don’t have anyone lined up yet as far as their next opponents are concerned.
Pacquiao is still on the road to recovery from his recent right shoulder surgery and chances are he will be 100 percent fit by early 2016. Pacquiao’s last fight was of course against Floyd Mayweather Jr. last May 2, a match that left many disappointed and won by Mayweather via unanimous decision at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
Bradley on the other hand is coming off a unanimous decision victory over Jesse Vargas, something that is ironically also marred with a bit of controversy.
Apparently Vargas believes that he had Bradley in a situation where he could have finished him off before the final bell until Pat Russell stepped in to prevent him from doing so.
Russell later claimed that he mistook the tap as the final bell in the final seconds, preventing Vargas from following up on a seemingly hurt Bradley.
There will be no rematch for the said fight as ruled by the WBO though Vargas is still appealing his case.
A Pacquiao vs. Bradley III may be possible unless both fighters have other opponents in mind. Pacquiao is reportedly ruling out any rematch of his own against Mayweather should the undefeated American boxer hold off any plans of retirement after his September 12 fight which could be against Andre Berto.
Bradley is of course out to put his career back on track and the match against Vargas was his first step in doing so.
For Pacquiao however, his next fight would determine if the right shoulder surgery has affected his hand speed and quickness. It could likewise become a barometer to see just where the Filipino boxer/lawmaker stands as far as his boxing career is concerned.
Does a Pacquiao vs. Bradley III sound interesting?