On June 12th, broadcaster Bob Sheridan will be inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame, along with the rest of the 2016 class. Sheridan has been one of the signature voices on the sport of boxing for over 40 years, having called some of the greatest fights in boxing history. Sheridan has also seen some of the biggest legends of the sport, from the start of their careers to their very last bouts.
In part 2 of my interview with Bob Sheridan, I discuss with him the final bout of Manny Pacquiao’s career, a third fight with Timothy Bradley. Sheridan gives his thoughts on Pacquiao’s decision to pick Bradley and what mindset he might carry into the ring. Bob also breaks down the fight, explaining who he is picking to win it and why. Additionally, Sheridan talks about Manny Pacquiao’s legacy and what he has meant to the sport of boxing. Here is what Bob Sheridan had to say.
Robert Brown: How much are Freddie Roach and Teddy Atlas going to add to the narrative of the third Pacquiao-Bradley fight?
Bob Sheridan: Well you have two different sort of characters. Atlas who in my opinion mellows out a lot in ways that he trained other fighters, particularly when he had Michael Moorer, he was certainly like a cheerleader in the ring against George Foreman and his fighter made a huge mistake at the end of the fight. Freddie, struggling with the disease that he has, he does a great job of motivating his fighters and has done a great job with Manny throughout his career.
There will be storylines leading up to the fight. The promoters are going to have to really promote this fight as a great one in the trilogy, the last opportunity to see Manny Pacquiao and I do believe this will be Manny’s final fight. Tim Bradley continues to come on, he’s a great guy. It may be a changing of the guard, the old goes out and the new comes in, but Tim Bradley still has to beat this guy.
On the other hand, it seems that for every fight with all of the distractions that Manny Pacquiao has around him, he always seems to get himself in terrific shape for fights — of course we didn’t know about the shoulder injury going in to his last fight with Mayweather, which sort of put the dampers on the whole thing and he didn’t perform well. But it’s very hard to look good against Mayweather for any fighter.
So let’s assume that his shoulder is going to be one hundred percent for this fight and it’s not just another payday to close out his career. I know that he’s a tremendous athlete and he wants to win so bad, so we’ll see how it goes. It certainly is an interesting fight.
Robert Brown: Could Manny bring out a special performance knowing this is his last fight?
Bob Sheridan: Sometimes great fighters have that one last great performance. You bring up a good point, he is a competitive athlete, he loves competing in basketball, he’s been a great competitor as a fighter, he’s a multi divisional champion destined for the Hall of Fame. He’s got a lot of pride, and having a spectacular performance for him will enhance his likeability to his election too, so that’s gotta be in the back of his mind.
Instead of being a distraction, it may be a motivational factor in the fight, who knows. One thing I’ve learned over the many years that I’ve been involved in boxing is you never know what’s in the head of a fighter, you never know, you never hear them going into the fight saying they’re not going to win the fight.
Robert Brown: What is your prediction for Manny Pacquiao vs. Timothy Bradley III?
Bob Sheridan: I think that Bradley will beat him.
Robert Brown: By points?
Bob Sheridan: That I don’t know, if the knockout comes, it comes. Right now I just say that Bradley will win the fight, most likely it figures to be by points but it depends on so many factors on the night of the fight and how the fight unfolds with injuries and that sort of things. We’ll see exactly what happens on fight night but I would lean toward Tim Bradley right now.
Robert Brown: Do you think the fight will be close?
Bob Sheridan: Yeah, I think it will be a very close fight. Wherever Manny’s head is will dictate how this fight is, and the physical being of Manny Pacquiao. I know that he will have himself in shape because he always has no matter what distractions he has in his life, he always comes in shape, with the sole problem with the shoulder that he developed in what was the biggest fight we’ve ever seen, at least money wise.
Robert Brown: After this fight, how do you see Manny Pacquiao’s legacy being remembered?
Bob Sheridan: Win, lose or draw, his legacy is already made. He’s an eight time world champion, and there are guys in the Hall of Fame right now that don’t have those credentials. He’s a first ballot Hall of Famer, his legacy is already set in stone as far as I’m concerned. Manny is destined for the Hall of Fame, he’s a tremendous fighter and has had a tremendous career.
follow me on twitter @robertkoboxing
Pacquiao has been in fights where if his opponents start grabbing & holding him, he doesn’t know what to do…………… and Roach was worthless in those situations.
Bob pAcman has beAten brAdley twO times alreAdy therefore whAtever tim will do in this fight hE won’t win. AtlAs could never hElp him. if not for the WBO belt and the purse they will not cross pAth for the 3rd time. Pacquiao isn’t the fAt Rios!
It is very hard to come out of a “defeated” attitude once a fighter has been defeated twice by the same opponent. In Tim’s case, it showed when he said “you will see what speed is when you have fought Manny.” That speaks volume in itself. He is afraid of Manny’s speed and this will show in the fight. Once Manny connects during this fight, Tim might freeze. So, I am betting on Manny.
When was the last time Tim KO/KD an opponent ? Rios does not count as he was physically unfit and did not train well.
Only when Manny will follow the example of Rios.
Nobody will want to pay just to watch this Retarded rubber match. Manny should just retire and just be a plain born again pastor. He should also stay away from politics, basketball, singing because he is not qualified. He should give his wealth to charity so Filipino’s will never him. But it is for sure wishful thinking.