LAS VEGAS, USA – Few can tell you better how much Manny Pacquiao has left in the tank than Haskell Rhodes and Ghislain Maduma, who traded punches in sparring with the Filipino boxer in the weeks leading up to his third fight with Timothy Bradley Jr on April 9 in Las Vegas.
Maduma (17-2, 11 knockouts) and Rhodes (23-1-1, 11 KOs) estimate that they sparred nearly 100 and 50 rounds, respectively, with Pacquiao during training for what Pacquiao says will be the final bout of his 21-year career.
Rhodes, who also sparred Pacquiao before his second fight with Bradley in 2014, says he thinks Pacquiao is in better form for this fight.
“He added new dimensions this camp. He countered a lot, he made me pay with a lot of stuff. He tried to take my jab away, he was throwing good check right hooks,” said the 28-year-old from Oklahoma on Thursday, April 7 (US time).
Rhodes helped prepare Pacquiao for the rematch where the 8-division boxing champion avenged his controversial defeat to Bradley in 2012. He observes that Pacquiao is pushing himself harder for this fight than the last time they worked together.
“He actually pushed harder in the runs. He was showing up every day, pushing, pushing, pushing. Especially the last two weeks, he turned into an animal.
“I’m more confident this fight than I was the second one because he impressed me a lot this time.”
Maduma, 31, of Montreal, Canada, says Pacquiao’s work ethic impressed him in the gym. “He makes us work hard. I don’t know if he’s gonna stop because the way he’s working, he’s working like it’s his first day in the gym sometimes,” says Maduma.
“I felt him getting better each sparring. He’s so smart, how he uses his speed and his power.”
Pacquiao did his typical morning run at the University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV) track on Thursday but didn’t train despite stopping by the Top Rank Gym just off the Vegas strip, meaning that he and trainer Freddie Roach may have had their final workout session together.
Rhodes believes Pacquiao will most likely take a decision over Bradley due to the American boxer’s durability, but leaves open the possibility of a stoppage victory in the middle rounds “when Bradley abandons his game plan and starts fighting.”
Maduma is convinced that Pacquiao will score his first knockout since 2009, when he stopped Miguel Cotto in 12 rounds.
“I’m thinking he’s gonna stop him. I think that’s the only point fighting Bradley again.
“I think after 6 it’s gonna be tough for Bradley. Maybe the ref is going to have to do something or his corner.”
Pacquiao and Bradley will meet face-to-face one more time on the scales at 3:14 pm Pacific time on Friday for the weigh-in before stepping into the ring to complete their trilogy. –Rappler.com
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