Even without the megabuck Pacquiao–Mayweather bout, the eight-time weight division’s camp will not likely face any opponent whose caliber cannot match the pound for pound champion.
News that super lightweight champ Timothy Ray Bradley Jr. would be Pacquiao's next opponent this May, unless Floyd Jr. finally agrees to one of the greatest match in history, hardly caused a stir in the training camp.
"Who cares?" said coach Freddie Roach about Top Rank's recent signing of Bradley as a prelude to his match with Pacquiao.
"It's really premature. (There is) no contract signing so it’s just talk," he added.
"It's a sham. It's going to be one of the [biggest] mismatches ever," said Pacquiao's conditioning coach Alex Ariza.
Despite having an unbeaten record, the 28-year-old American is not being taken seriously by Pacquiao’s camp.
"He's too small. They should try to picky somebody his own size," Ariza said.
Bradley, being the super lightweight champion, is fighting at 140 pounds, while Pacquiao, who is fighting Juan Manuel Marquez this November for the welterweight title (140 to 147 pounds), even climbed to 150 pounds in his light middleweight fight against Antonio Margarito last July 2010.
The lopsided fight almost cost Margarito his career, as he had to undergo eye surgery.
"And what has he done lately?" asked Ariza about Bradley.
Bradley fought only once last year and again this year, in a January defeat of Devon Alexander. He declined a July fight against fellow 140-pound titleholder Amir Khan.
He is expected to be in the highlight of the Pacquiao-Marquez undercard on November 12, fighting against 40-year-old Joel Casamayor.
Pacquiao is set to close his three-week training camp this weekend, according to "Team Pacquiao" assistant trainer, Boboy Fernandez.
Fernandez said the Filipino ring idol is just about to complete his scheduled training activities here before his departure to Los Angeles, California on Monday.
According to Fernandez, American boxing coach Freddie Roach was impressed on the dedication and training of his ward while he was here in the city, where legion of fans had already found their time to be with their idol in his various roadwork, sports events and social works. (Roderick Osis)
Published in the Sun.Star Baguio newspaper on October 07, 2011.
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