Philippines ring icon Manny Pacquiao will square off against Timothy Bradley at MGM Grand arena in Las Vegas on Saturday in what has been declared his final professional fight, a year after a disastrous loss against Floyd Mayweather Jr.
The bout will be telecast live on HBO pay-per-view at 9:00 pm ET/6:00 pm PT on April 9, Saturday.
Pacquiao is looking to end his 21-year career with a victory over Bradley, which will partly erase memories of his bitter loss against Mayweather in last April.
Though Pacquiao has said it will be the final match, questions have already been raised if a potential win by Pacquiao will entice Mayweather to come back from retirement to have another go at the Philippines star.
Pacquiao's camp has also not ruled out the 37-year-old's chances of going back on the retirement plan if he wins the bout against the 32-yeaar-old WBO welterweight champion on Saturday.
Pacquiao is guaranteed to make $20 million from Satruday's match while Bradley will make $4 million.
Apart from the Pacquiao vs Bradley bout, the four-fight HBO Boxing pay-per-view (PPV) subscription will also allow you to watch undefeated Gilberto Ramirez's bout against WBO Super Middleweight Champion Arthur Abraham, as well as Oscar Valdez vs Jose Ramirez matchup.
Pacquiao (57-6-2, 38 knockouts) is meeting Bradley (33-1-1, 13 KOs) for the third time on Saturday. They have an even record officially, but the popular verdict was that Pacquiao won both the bouts.
Did Pacquiao pick an easy rival in Timothy Bradley?
There has been some criticism that Pacman picked a lesser rival for his marquee last bout. The 37-year-old is not in his greatest physical powers and had suffered a niggling shoulder injury that troubled him during his match against Mayweather last year. He also lost three of his last six fights, a point analsysts cite as his vulnerability against elite opposition in recent times.
Again, Pacquiao has not won by knockout since 2009.
His first encounter with Bradley was in 2012, which he lost. Though Pac was judged the loser there was a feeling that he was 'robbed in broad daylight'.
A rematch two years later saw Pacquiao winning but it revealed later that Bradley suffered a calf injury during the second fight.
How is bad is Pac's shoulder injury?
Boxing experts do not think he is hundred percent fit now, though his camp exudes confidence. It has been reported that Pacquiao had skipped training sessions in both General Santos and Los Angeles. Generally Pac is a fierce fitness maniac but the aspiring politician is in the middle of a race to the Philippines senate.
At 37, Pac is Pacquiao is past his best. It is also noted that his natural style of game is not one that helps an aging fighter. All this means Bradley may not be that easy a rival for Pac to vanquish in his fabled last fight.
Will an unbeaten retired fighter Floyd Mayweather Jr. consider a return?
Interestingly, the Pac-Bradley fight has raised speculation about Mayweather returning from retirement to face off against a victorious Pacquiao, which will once again be billed as one of the biggest matches in boxing's recent history.
"I'm not going to say Floyd won't fight again," Floyd Mayweather Sr. told LA Times recently. "[The new arena], that might [convince him], too. He might be persuaded," he added. The 39-year-old Mayweather himself told Spike TV on Friday: "We don't know what the future holds."
Will Pacman really retire?
Irrespective of what the outcome of the bout is, there is talk that Pacquiao may continue on the scene after his world title match against Bradley.
"I do think Manny has more quality fights in him. His power, speed, work ethic are still superior to most others," his coach Freddie Roach has said.
However, boxing expert Bob Arum thinks the 37-year-old Filipino should retire. "If he asks me, I'll tell him to retire after this fight," said Arum.
Manny Pacquiao vs Timothy Bradley 3 Livestream and Live Online
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The fight is broadcast on Premier Sports in the UK.
