Manny Pacquiao’s Future: Tim Bradley Says No Point in Fighting Young Guns

Tim Bradley says he sees no point in Manny Pacquiao sticking around the sport to fight the “young guns” after watching his fight against WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios on July 19th.

Bradley states that Pacquiao didn’t look like himself. He’d lost a lot from his game, leaving the withered 46-year-old that failed to get the victory. He doesn’t want Pacquiao to continue fighting, and potentially get hurt badly by one of the “young guns.”

Bradley: Pacquiao’s Health Concerns

“That wasn’t Pacquiao. Pac is 46 years old. He’s done a lot for the sport. There’s no need,” said Tim Bradley to Fighthype, talking about Manny Pacquiao’s recent comeback fight against Mario Barrios. “Just because you can do it don’t mean that you should. And I worry about his health. I worry about his health.”

It definitely wasn’t the Pacquiao from 2008 to 2012 that we saw in the ring against Mario Barrios on July 19th. Age has taken a lot out of his game. leaving the slow, tired old warrior who took a pounding against Mario Barrios in the championship rounds.

“Y’all infactuated with Pacquiao. You can be a fan, but if something happens to that man, you’re not going to be there next to him. 46, did he do good for 46? Yeah, he did good, but he still didn’t win,” said Bradley.

Pacquiao seems to be focused on getting the fights that’ll pay. He isn’t crazy, though. He’s not going to risk being knocked out by fighting Brian Norman Jr. or Jaron Ennis. He knows what would happen to him if he fought the best at 147.

Bradley: No More Young Guns

“An exhibition is one thing, but fighting these young guns, that’s another thing. Is Pacquiao capable? Yeah, it’s Pacquiao. He’s the best athlete I’ve been in the ring with. Fighting these young guns that are 16 years younger than you, it is dangerous. All it takes is one punch. He got through with it against Barrios. Moving forward, we’ll see what he does next,” said Bradley.

Pacquiao would be laid out on the canvas like he was in his fourth fight against Juan Manuel Marquez if he fought someone like Brian Norman Jr.

Manny picked the right guy with his comeback, choosing the non-puncher Mario Barrios to fight. But if he takes on WBA welterweight champion Rolando ‘Rolly’ Romero, it could end badly for Pacquiao. He would be getting hit hard in that fight, especially if he tries to slug.

Floyd Mayweather Jr., 48, is another guy that Pacquiao mentioned wanting to fight next. That’s not going to happen. Mayweather has lost too much hand speed since retiring in 2017. The only way he’d fight Pacquiao is if it were an exhibition with large gloves and shortened rounds.