Pacquiao makes good choice in picking Bradley as last opponent

Less than a year after fans watched Floyd Mayweather Jr. retire from professional boxing for the second time, another one of the sports’ stars is getting ready to hang up the gloves and walk away from the ring.

Filipino superstar Manny Pacquiao announced he will face current World Boxing Organization welterweight champion Timothy Bradley, April 9, in what will not only be their second rematch, but also Pacquiao’s last fight. Although Bob Arum, Pacquiao’s manager, said he wasn’t sure if the Filipino fighter was serious, the former world champion set the record straight and said he intends to run for a senate seat in his home country of the Philippines in May.

“I am retiring from boxing to concentrate on my political career,” Pacquiao said in a Jan. 4 interview at his mansion. “My fight with Timothy Bradley will be my last.”

Pacquiao has accumulated many world championships and accolades throughout his 20-year career, including the Boxing Writers Association of America’s “Fighter of the Decade” award. I think it’s a good time for him to retire and I believe Bradley is a good opponent for his final fight. There are many up-and-coming boxers he could have picked, including current World Boxing Association super lightweight champion Adrien Broner, two-time world titleholder Amir Khan or WBO junior welterweight champion Terence Crawford, but Bradley provides an intriguing fight for Pacquiao.

Bradley and Pacquiao first fought in 2012 where the former won by a controversial split-decision to take Pacquiao’s welterweight title. Although it wasn’t Pacquiao’s first loss in his career — he had three defeats prior to the fight — Bradley snapped his 15-fight winning streak and planted seeds of skepticism among critics and fans as to whether or not the Filipino fighter could hang with Mayweather in the ring. The Mayweather vs. Pacquiao dream fight happened last May, but it was regarded by fans and critics as one of the worst fights in sports history.

Less than two years after their first encounter, Pacquiao would face and defeat Bradley, via decision, reclaiming the welterweight title.

Like the first two bouts, Pacquiao vs. Bradley III will be for the WBO welterweight title. Bradley, who held the interim title, was promoted to full-time champion after the WBO stripped Mayweather of the belt for not paying the $200,000 sanctioning fee and not vacating his WBO light middleweight championship after winning the welterweight title.

Pacquiao’s upcoming rematch with Bradley and looming retirement is a contrast to Mayweather’s last fight. When Mayweather picked Andre Berto as his final opponent, fans and critics panned the decision. They saw it as an underwhelming fight and an easy win for undefeated Mayweather. Although Berto went the distance with Mayweather, it was clear who was going to win that fight the moment it was announced.

Bradley is still a credible threat in professional boxing. In addition to being a world champion, Ring Magazine ranks him as the No. 4 welterweight in the world and No. 10 on the pound-for-pound list, which encompasses all weight classes.

Pacquiao choosing Bradley as his opponent also erases some of the stink that came after his fight with Mayweather, including the controversy surrounding his shoulder injury that he did not disclose before the fight, and the $5 million lawsuit by two fans.

Pacquiao vs. Bradley III is simple in storytelling, but also brings some intrigue to it. Can Pac-man go 2-1 against Bradley or will the WBO champion once again defeat the biggest opponent of his career?

If Pacquiao comes away with the victory, he wins the trilogy and adds one more title to his large trophy case. If he loses, he can take his last bow in the ring and ride off into the sunset.

And once his run as senator is over, there’s a chance he could return to the ring.

Al Stover can be reached at [email protected].