Timothy Bradley says concussion gives him an 'advantage' in rematch with Manny Pacquiao
Bradley went through four months of slurred speech and failing memory after suffering a concussion in a decision win over Ruslan Provodnikov last year, but insists 'it's a huge advantage because I know I can endure a lot of pain.'
BY
Mitch Abramson
NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
Wednesday, April 9, 2014, 6:42 PM
LAS VEGAS -
Timothy Bradley has been open in acknowledging the pain he went through following his uncomfortable fight with Ruslan Provodnikov last year.
Bradley suffered a concussion and slurred speech and failing memory after he won a decision. He remembers little after he was nailed hard in the first round by a punch he described as pushing his chin to the back of his head, leaving him dizzy.
It took him four months and visits to concussion and neurological specialists to completely recover from those issues, he says.
While most fighters are reluctant to admit such details in public, Bradley, 30, has been open about the experience and of the help available to fighters.
"People need to hear it," Bradley told the Daily News on Wednesday, four days before he challenges Manny Pacquiao for the WBO welterweight title Saturday at the MGM Grand on HBO Pay-Per-View. It's a rematch of their controversial fight nearly two years ago, won by Bradley. "And not a lot of guys talk about it," he went on. "They keep it hidden."
Though it was difficult to go through, Bradley (31-0, 12 knockouts) embraces the experience, describing it as a defining moment in his career and he believes his ability to suffer through discomfort and overcome adversity will give him an edge against Pacquiao, who he sees as less committed to the sport.
In the lead-up to the fight, both camps have probed the issue of mortality in boxing as a way to poke fun, questioning the other's decision making.
"I think it's a huge advantage because I know I can endure a lot of pain," Bradley told the News. "Everybody thought I'd be damaged goods after the fight [with Provodnikov]. But I wasn't."
Pacquiao's trainer, Freddie Roach, who suffers from Parkinson's disease, isn't so sure.
A former fighter himself, Roach wondered of the lingering effects of Bradley's injuries.
"It can't be good," said Roach, who also trains Provodnikov. "I worry about him sometimes as a fighter. And I think Manny is going to remind him of those shots when they fight."
Bradley has suggested that Pacquiao, who also serves as a congressman in the Philippines, isn't the same fighter he once was when he was mowing down opponents, stopping Miguel Cotto, Ricky Hatton and Oscar De La Hoya to rise to the top of the sport. Bradley accused Pacquiao of lacking a "killer instinct."
Addressing reporters before the final press conference on Wednesday, Bradley said: "I just feel his motivation is not there. He's been in boxing for so long a time, been in fights with all the best. He's 36-years-old [Ed note: he's 35] and I'm thinking maybe this is one fight too late."
Pacquiao has acknowledged that perhaps Bradley is right- that he could have been more forceful in some of his recent fights. He hasn't recorded a knockout in four years. But Pacquiao dismissed the notion that Bradley has a mental or physical advantage over him.
While Pacquiao (55-5-2, 38 knockouts) discussed his time left in boxing- he doesn't plan on retiring anytime soon- he hasn't come close to unburdening himself the way Bradley has.
Bradley saw a concussion specialist in Manhattan and a neurological specialist in Long Beach, CA after the bout with Provodnikov, he said. Both put Bradley through a series of tests to "reboot and rechannel the damaged cells in my brain."
Bradley said he didn't experience any of the same worrying symptoms when he won a split decision against Juan Manuel Marquez in October of last year.
Bradley has also admitted to contemplating suicide after he received death threats following his split decision win over Pacquiao the first time they met. Bradley spoke of going out in public and getting ridiculed by Pacquiao fans. But Bradley also turned that experience into a positive, saying it made him stronger.
"Now I'm thankful it happened," he said. "I got told every word that can be said to me. And now don't nothing affect me."
Read more:
http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/more-sports/bradley-concussion-advantage-rematch-pacquiao-article-1.1751264#ixzz2yUEUHsgB
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@mr. smoke weed, 4 months later he was still suffering from effects and you're trying to brush it off as if people are "throwing shade"?
This article was written YESTERDAY and I found it funny it to be available, since we're talking about it. Hell, Bradley is telling you himself how much of a beating he sustained to the point where he figured people thought he would be Meldrick Taylor all over again (damaged goods).
Dude, says he barely remembers anything after the 1st round
That's crazy.
...Respect that p.o..v , who you think next for the serbian rocky? You think he ready for Canelo?
