In this HBO Boxing video segment ahead of the pending Manny Pacquiao vs. Timothy Bradley rubbermatch, the trainers took their turns speaking. Here, watch what both Teddy Atlas and Freddie Roach have to say, including taking some jabs at each other.
Plus, here’s a longer Q&A with Atlas:
Do you think Bradley won the first meeting? When I first watched the fight in a room full of people and not giving full concentration I thought Tim lost. But having watched it again, with full concentration, I thought Tim won at least six rounds.
What did you see in the first two Bradley fights with Pacquiao you’d like to change in the third fight? Eliminate situations where Timmy is hit with lefts – either off the jab or leads. In the second fight, although I know Tim was injured, Pacquiao was able to walk him down and we can’t allow that.
What will be the keys to winning this fight — speed, power or smarts? Speed and power are always the key for Pacquiao- that makes him dynamic. For us, speed will be an important part of the equations, but calculated and controlled speed.
As a trainer, how much can you do during the fight when you are in the corner? As a trainer, the work is done in the gym. If you are looking to teach your fighter something new the night of the fight, you’ve missed the boat. In the corner, it’s always important to have a calm set of eyes that can remind your fighter of things he may be straying from.
How much is the fighter and how much the trainer in terms of adjusting between rounds? 60% fighter, 40% trainer. 60% where the fighter has the most difficult part, he has to make the physical and technical adjustment and some comes from instinct and judgment and the rest has to be pointed out from the trainer.
In what ways has age and injury changed Pacquiao? I didn’t see any influence from injury in the Mayweather fight. When he had to throw that hand, he did without wincing or discomfort. As for age, I haven’t seen any dissipation and I don’t expect any now.
How do you plan to take advantage of that? The only way I know how — to prepare my fighter for the ultimate Pacquiao.
After watching tape of the first two fights, what were Bradley’s biggest mistakes against Pacquiao that he will need to address? Not to allow Pacquiao to control the pace or rhythm of the fight.
Pacquiao vs. Bradley takes place Saturday, April 9 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas and will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET/ 6:00 p.m. PT.
