Manny Pacquiao and World Boxing Organization welterweight champion Timothy Bradley need to win when they fight for the second time around in Las Vegas this coming April 12.
Bradley, statistics are 31-0 with 12 knockouts, openly explained the predicament during a news conference at the Beverly Hills Hotel: "This is about redemption. I need Manny. He needs me."
The US boxer was quick to boast who's going to have the upper hand in the bout:
"I'm going to beat him again. I am younger and a better fighter. Manny fights for the money; I have the hunger to win. I am a different fighter than the one who fought Pacquiao in our first fight."
"I scored our fight eight rounds to four in my favour. No way he won that fight," he added, referring to the controversial split decision in favour of Bradley last June 2012.
Pacquiao was more forgiving about his loss, saying that it was "part of the game."
"He got the decision and my title. Now I want to get back that belt he won off of me. Boxing has always been fun for me. This time, the fun is secondary. This is a mission to prove I am the best," the Filipino boxer said.
News are circulating that Juan Manuel Marquez is seriously considering to fight the winner of the Pacquiao-Bradley match.
In an interview with The Ring, the 40-year old Mexican boxer explained his desire to win another title.
"With Bradley, I don't see that as a loss," Marquez said. "It was a close fight and I thought I did enough to win. If I decided to retire right now, I would be satisfied. I always said I wanted to fight Pacquiao and beat him and I did. I do want that title, but I'm not obsessed with it, though it would be a great achievement."
For Marquez, to win a welterweight title before he retires will put him in boxing history as a five-division world champion, which is a rarity.
The Pacquiao-Marquez V might just happen as former eight-division champion Pacquiao offered a prediction:
"The only way Bradley can beat me this time is to knock me out. He cannot outbox me. I will be the aggressor."
