Bradley ready to bounce back and prove doubters wrong

In the first fight between Manny Pacquiao (55-5-2, 38 knockouts) and Timothy Bradley (31-0-0, 12 KOs), the undefeated American had just a quick stint at the post-fight press conference as he had to be rushed to the hospital. Bradley even needed to be wheeled into the press area, as he apparently injured both his feet during the fight.

It was a situation widely ridiculed, as the winner of the fight came out in a wheelchair and left early for the hospital, carrying his WBO welterweight belt, while the loser barely had marks on his face and was all smiles in front of the press.

Bradley however has a positive spin on the situation. Even if most people believe he did not deserve to beat Pacquiao in their first fight, he is firm in his belief that he will do so convincingly in their rematch scheduled for April 12 (April 13, PHL time) at the MGM Grand Arena.

"The first fight I injured my foot in the second round and by the fourth round my ankle on my other foot was also messed up. The second half of the fight I was coming on strong with two bad feet," posted Bradley on his blog. The American later admitted that his injuries were caused by the fact that he didn't wear socks during the fight.

"I didn't have the movement that I normally have and I was out-working him. I was fighting all three minutes of every round and not just the last thirty seconds of every round."

However, Bradley's claim that he out-worked Pacquiao is problematic as he did not beat the Filipino in any measurable statistic in the fight. Pacquiao landed a hundred punches more than Bradley and the American did not hurt Pacquiao at any point of the fight. The Pacman was also the aggressor throughout.

"I have already beat Pacquiao once and that was on my first try," Bradley continued. "I don't think I have to knock him out to get a definite result, but if the knockout presents itself I will take advantage of it.

"This second fight against Manny Pacquiao, I will pick up right where I left off the first fight. This will just be rounds thirteen through twenty four."

To his credit, Bradley did perform better in the last three rounds of the fight against Pacquiao. So picking up where he left off is a sound ploy. However, Pacquiao has often said that he took his foot off the gas pedal in those rounds because he felt he had won the first nine.

The question in the rematch lies on whether the Bradley that fought in the last three rounds of the fight can do well against the Pacquiao who fought in the first nine.

"I was able to show my boxing ability against Marquez with two good feet so this will be no different," Bradley said. "I will be faster than Pacquiao, I will have better defense than Pacquiao, I will be hungrier than Pacquiao. I have been in the ring with Pacquiao so I know exactly what to expect. There are a few adjustments that I will make and with two good feet under me and at the end of the night I will be victorious again." - AMD/OMG, GMA News