Philippine boxing legend Manny Pacquiao will get a chance to avenge his controversial split decision defeat by Timothy Bradley in a rematch set for April 12 at MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
Bob Arum's Top Rank promotions announced the bout on Saturday evening as Pacquiao looks to win back the WBO welterweight title he lost to Bradley two years ago.
Pacquiao, who boasts a record of 55-5-2 with 38, and Bradley met for the first time on June 9, 2012 at the MGM Grand when the American’s triumph ended Pacquiao's seven-year, 15-bout winning streak.
Many argued that the decision should have gone in favour of Pacquiao who will be keen to settle that score as he bids to get his career back on track.
Pacquiao's loss to Bradley was followed by another defeat, against Mexican Juan Manuel Marquez later in 2012, but he responded by recording a convincing win over American Brandon Rios in Macau in November.
The victory sparked renewed speculation of a long-awaited bout with Floyd Mayweather, but it seems the American will instead face either Marcos Maidana or Amir Khan – who told Sport360° earlier this month that he is confident of securing a bout with the undefeated Mayweather.
Pacquiao, an eight-weight world champion, may not have finally landed a shot at Mayweather but he will have the chance to win back the WBO crown. However, it is somewhat surprising to learn that the fight will be staged in Las Vegas as Pacquiao’s promoter Bob Arum had previously suggested that he would no longer fight in Nevada.
Pacquiao’s trainer Freddie Roach told Sport360° last year that he had received an offer for the Filipino to fight in Dubai but the 35-year-old has decided to return to Vegas.
Bradley, who is a two-division world champion, will be returning to the ring after three impressive wins.
After moving up in weight to beat Pacquiao , he co-starred in the 2013 Fight of the Year, winning a brutal 12-round decision over Ruslan Provodnikov. In his most recent fight, in October, Bradley gave a virtuoso performance to secure a split-decision victory over three-division world champion and Mexican icon Marquez.
Despite his impressive victories, Bradley has struggled to get the recognition his performances deserve and he hopes that he can finally prove that he is one of the best fighters in the world when he faces Pacquiao once again.
"It feels great to get this rematch," Bradley told The Desert Sun newspaper. "I'm happy to have this opportunity to get rid of this dark cloud that has been looming over me since 2012.
"Now I'm not the little dog on the block. I'm a top dog I'm a lot more mature as a fighter, as a man. I'm a little older, Pacquiao is a little older, so it's different. I've had some great wins in those two years and I feel I'm more than ready.
Bradley (31-0, 12 knockouts), also revealed the tactics he would employ when he faces the Filipino great for a second time.
"I think Manny Pacquiao will get aggressive until he gets hit," Bradley explained. "People are going to laugh about this, and it's OK, they can laugh. But like I said, if I was a non-puncher, if I didn't have anything, guys would walk completely straight through me.
“Guys who don't have any power, I walk them down, I go straight to them. I eat them up. I eat them alive. If I didn't have any power, or anything to keep guys honest, like Marquez, like Provodnikov and all these other guys, they wouldn't worry. They would just come through."
