Bradley has questioned Filipino’s motivation in build up to fight night.
Manny Pacquiao has insisted that his killer instinct is still there as he looks ahead to his title showdown against Tim Bradley at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on Saturday night.
The pair meet again to settle an old score after Bradley’s controversial points victory in the first meeting back in 2012, with many having Pacquiao as a clear winner over the 12 rounds.
It has been a real point of debate over the last two years, but the Filipino superstar is thankful that his rival has given him another opportunity in order to settle the controversy but ultimately he has a great deal to prove in the ring as the detractors become noisier.
While Pacquiao insists that he is ready for the fight and has prepared harder than ever before, Bradley is not convinced and has repeatedly insisted that the desire is no longer there for the eight-division world champion.
“My motivation is the same now as it was when I started my boxing career,” said Pacquiao. “I love the competition and I love to win. When that stops, so does my professional boxing career. But I don’t see that happening for a long time.
Pacquiao went on to state that he wants to become the first man to defeat Bradley, and has learnt a great deal after his sensational knockout defeat to Juan Manuel Marquez.
The 35-year-old hasn’t knocked anyone out since Miguel Cotto in 2009, and while question marks have been raised over his punching prowess and aggressiveness, he believes he rushed the knockout against Marquez and was ultimately severely punished.
Nevertheless, Pacquiao has reiterated that he will be back to his best on Saturday night, and served a warning to Bradley that if he wants the man who stopped Oscar De La Hoya, Ricky Hatton, Erik Morales and Marco Antonio Barrera, “he’s going to get his wish on Saturday”.
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