Just moments after swallowing a difficult-to-accept split decision loss to Timothy Bradley, Manny Pacquiao said in a post-fight press conference that he vows to get a knockout in the rematch.
Pacquiao lost his WBO welterweight title to Bradley, Saturday (Sunday, PHL time) at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, with two judges giving him a 113-115 loss, while one had the reverse, a 115-113 win for the Sarangani congressman.
For Pacquiao's trainer, Freddie Roach, that was what he should have done in this fight, saying, "When Manny gave the 11th away, I said, 'Pick it up and finish this guy.' I told him to finish it in the 12th. I like knockouts."
As early as the end of May, Bradley was already prepping for a rematch against Pacquiao, creating mocked up posters and tickets for a November 10 bout (November 11, PHL time).
Bob Arum, CEO of Top Rank, which handles the promotion of both boxers, had a clause in Pacquiao's contract that should the Filipino ring icon fall, he would get first crack at Bradley again, before the two fighters seek other opponents.
Roach actually said prior to the fight that he thought his charge would go for a knockout, but it was not to be. - AMD, GMA News
source: gmanetwork.com
