Please Lock.

Prospect of the year: Welterweight Errol Spence Jr..

Floyd Mayweather, who retired as pound-for-pound king in September, was notoriously hard on sparring partners, often taking them on like it was a real fight and grinding through them during rigorous training camps.

When Mayweather was preparing to fight Robert Guerrero in 2013, a young fighter was brought in to give him left-handed sparring. But this fighter didn't just give Mayweather good work. He impressed Mayweather, which is hard to do.

The young man? Errol Spence Jr., a 2012 U.S. Olympian, a dynamic fighter with the complete package of skills, speed, power and work ethic, and now the 2015 ESPN.com prospect of the year.

Rafael's Prospect of the Year
2015: Errol Spence Jr.
2014: Felix Verdejo
2013: Vasyl Lomachenko
2012: David Price
2011: Gary Russell Jr.
2010: Canelo Alvarez
2009: Daniel Jacobs
2008: Victor Ortiz
2007: Amir Khan
2006: Andre Berto
2005: Joel Julio
2004: Samuel Peter
2003: Jermain Taylor
2002: Miguel Cotto
2001: Francisco Bojado
2000: Julio Diaz
"When I was getting ready for Guerrero, the first guy I started looking to spar with was a southpaw and Errol was giving me real good work," Mayweather said. "He pushed me and made me get in tip-top condition, and once I was in tip-top condition, I was ready and the best I could be. He's a hell of a fighter."

Mayweather went on to brag about Spence's talent and said he deserved an immediate shot at titleholder Keith Thurman.

Those were huge compliments to Spence (19-0, 16 KOs), 25, of DeSoto, Texas.

"It's an honor for him to stand behind me and say I'm the future of boxing, and I'm not even signed with [Mayweather Promotions]," Spence said. "He obviously believes in me. I have to prove him right by winning titles and beating these top fighters."

Spence began boxing at 15 when his father, a Lennox Lewis fan, took him to a Dallas gym.

"It really wasn't my choice," Spence said. "I came home from school and 20 minutes later we pulled up to a boxing gym. He didn't tell me where we were going. What's going on? We going to pick up something? And then we're in a boxing gym and he's asking the coach when can I start, and I started the next day."

Now, as Spence moves closer to a major fight, he feels training with Mayweather was big for his development.

"The intensity level of sparring felt like a real fight," Spence said. "We were sparring 5-6 minute rounds with 30 seconds rest. I handled myself great. I only had a few pro fights then but I got a lot of experience. It was a big deal. I watched Floyd every second I could. I really just wanted to beat him up. He's the best in the world so I wanted to prove a point and make a statement. I think I definitely opened some eyes."

Spence is said to have given Mayweather a black eye in one session, not to mention widespread word that he later knocked out Adrien Broner in sparring. Spence, however, is not one to punch and tell. When asked about the stories, he chuckled, adding, "I don't know anything about all that."

Regardless, most view Spence as a lock to win a world title and expect that he'll eventually find a place on the pound-for-pound list. He had a tremendous amateur career -- three U.S. national championships (2009-11) and two National Golden Gloves titles (2009-10) -- and was tabbed my most as the best pro prospect from the 2012 U.S. Olympic team. He has done nothing but enhance that view.

Managed by Al Haymon and trained by Derrick James, Spence was 4-0 (all knockouts), in 2015 against decent opposition (Samuel Vargas, Phil Lo Greco, Chris van Heerden, Alejandro Barrera) with a combined record of 97-5-2. He wants a significant fight in 2016.

"A lot of people have high hopes for my career," Spence said. "I'll stay in the gym and prove everybody, and myself, right, that I'll be a top pound-for-pound fighter, win titles in multiple weight classes, and beat the best fighters out there."

Here's the rest of the top 20 rising stars (with age, home, division, record):

2. Anthony Joshua (26, England, heavyweight, 15-0, 15 KOs)


Anthony Joshua Richard Heathcote/Getty Images
The 6-foot-6, 245-pound Joshua has great size and power and is built like a truck. He won the 2012 Olympic super heavyweight gold medal at home in London and looks like he has a legitimate chance to be the next heavyweight king. There are huge expectations for him but he has handled the pressure with ease. In 2015, he won all five of his fights, including a serious test Dec. 12 versus amateur nemesis Dillian Whyte, who took him past the third round for the first time and gave him some trouble before ultimately succumbing to his power in the seventh round.

3. Felix Verdejo (22, Puerto Rico, lightweight, 19-0, 14 KOs)


Felix Verdejo Alex Menendez/Getty Images
Puerto Rico's next big star was a 2012 Olympian and 2014 prospect of the year, and remains one of boxing's most talented and exciting up-and-comers, not to mention being a big draw at home and in New York. In 2015, Verdejo, a close friend of island legend Felix Trinidad, made his HBO debut in a dominant win versus then-unbeaten Ivan Najera, but was limited to three fights (two KOs) because of a six-month layoff and surgery to remove bone spurs from his left hand.

4. Oleksandr Usyk (28, Ukraine, cruiserweight, 9-0, 9 KOs)


Oleksandr Usyk AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky
Southpaw Usyk won the 2012 Olympic heavyweight gold medal and 2011 world amateur gold during a storied amateur career in which he won around 400 fights. He has a ferocious, crowd-pleasing style, is a showman and draws crowds. Backed by the Klitschko brothers' K2 Promotions East, Usyk won his three 2015 bouts by knockout versus solid opposition sporting a combined record of 52-5-2. He's in a mandatory position, so expect to see him in a world title fight in 2016.

5. Egidijus Kavaliauskas (27, Lithuania, welterweight, 11-0, 10 KOs)

Insiders call him a beast. He's an aggressive, puncher trainer Robert Garcia describes as a Gennady Golovkin/Ruslan Provodnikov combination. He was a 2008 and 2012 Olympian with around 400 amateur fights who is in the same Egis Klimas-managed stable that boasts light heavyweight titlist Sergey Kovalev and featherweight titlist Vasyl Lomachenko. A ruptured right biceps cost Kavaliauskas most of 2015, limiting him to two late-year fights. If healthy, he's a good bet to be his nation's first titleholder.

6. Joseph Parker (23, New Zealand, heavyweight, 17-0, 15 KOs)


Joseph Parker Duco Promotions Limited
Parker, 6-foot-4, 235-pounds, who has sparred with ex-champion Wladimir Klitschko, is a fresh face in a division needing new blood. He's a big puncher with good skills and excellent conditioning. Already an attraction at home, Parker (who has had two U.S. fights) has a good team behind him, including noted trainer Kevin Barry. In 2015, Parker went 5-0 (all KOs), including versus experienced foes Bowie Tupou and countryman (and former title challenger) Kali Meehan in a huge all-New Zealand fight.

7. Erickson Lubin (20, Orlando, Florida, junior middleweight, 13-0, 10 KOs)


Erickson Lubin AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee
Lubin, a lanky southpaw known as "The Hammer," went 143-7 as an amateur and was considered a slam-dunk for the 2016 U.S. Olympic. But he instead signed a pro contract on his 18th birthday and has so far shown the total package against a solid batch of opponents, including Michael Finney and Orlando Lora in 2015, a year in which he went 5-0 (4 KOs). He's young and patience is needed but the sky's the limit for this kid.

8. Sergiy Derevyanchenko (30, Ukraine/Brooklyn, New York, middleweight, 7-0, 5 KOs)


Sergiy Derevyanchenko Rosie Cohe/Showtime
"The Technician" was a 2008 Olympian and finished a brilliant amateur career 390-20. Then he went 23-1 in the World Series of Boxing, so he's advanced despite so few pro bouts. He can box or bang and is an intelligent fighter who is probably ready right now to fight top opponents. In 2015, he was 4-0 (3 KOs) and blew away experienced Jessie Nicklow and outpointed former title challenger Elvin Ayala.

9. Oleksandr Gvozdyk (28, Ukraine, middleweight, light heavyweight, 8-0, 6 KOs)


John Leyba/The Denver Post/Getty Images
Gvozdyk, who trains with Robert Garcia, was a 2012 Olympic bronze medalist and is part of the Egis Klimas-managed stable that boasts light heavyweight titlist Sergey Kovalev and featherweight titlist Vasyl Lomachenko. Gvozdyk is a well-schooled, mature technician with a good jab who's patient and wears opponents down with a precise attack. In 2015, he went 4-0 (3 KOs) and beat experienced opposition, including Cleiton Conceicao, Francisco Sierra and Cory Cummings.

10. Oscar Valdez (25, Mexico, featherweight, 18-0, 16 KOs)


Oscar Valdez AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill
The hard-working Valdez is an exciting fighter on the brink of a major fight. He was a two-time Mexican Olympian and the only Mexican to medal at the amateur world championships, claiming bronze in 2009. He has good power and boxing skills, but seems most comfortable brawling. In 2015, Valdez went 4-0 (3 KOs) and made his HBO debut. In September, he looked superb stopping ex-junior featherweight title challenger Chris Avalos in the fifth round for his most notable victory.

11. Ievgen Khytrov (27, Ukraine/Brooklyn, New York, middleweight, 12-0, 11 KOs)

Khytrov had a huge amateur career (reportedly 480-20), including a gold medal at the 2011 world championships and 2012 Olympic berth. Despite not turning pro until late 2013, Khytrov is moving quickly and promoter Lou DiBella has compared him to a younger Gennady Golovkin. In 2015, Khytrov was 5-0 (4 KOs) while raising the level of his opposition with wins versus experienced foes Jorge Melendez and Nick Brinson.

12. Marcus Browne (25, Staten Island, New York, light heavyweight, 17-0, 13 KOs)


Marcus Browne Al Bello/Getty Images
The 2012 U.S. Olympian, a southpaw, was a decorated amateur, winning numerous national tournaments and three New York Golden Gloves championships. As a pro, the likable Browne has good skills, size and a fan-friendly personality. He continued to improve in 2015, going 4-0 (3 KOs) against a solid group of experienced opponents, Francisco Sierra, former titleholder Gabriel Campillo, Cornelius White and Aaron Pryor Jr., and looked sharp against all of them.

13. Callum Smith (25, England, super middleweight, 18-0, 13 KOs)


Callum Smith Dave Thompson/Getty Images
A pro since 2012, Smith has moved quickly and could be the best of the fighting Smith brothers, Paul (former super middleweight contender), Stephen (junior lightweight contender) and Liam (junior middleweight world titlist). Callum, who has excellent size at 6-foot-3, went 3-0 (2 KOs) in 2015 and won the British title with a supremely impressive first-round destruction of Rocky Fielding in November.

14. Jose Ramirez (23, Avenal, California, junior welterweight, 16-0, 12 KOs)


Jose Ramirez Chris Farina/Top Rank
Ramirez was a superb amateur, going 145-11, winning 11 national titles and making the 2012 U.S. Olympic team. He has shown speed and power and is a good body puncher, but his most dangerous weapon is a fight-altering left hook. He was 3-0 (2 KOs) in 2015 because a thumb injury cost him a September date. Besides his talent, he's a bona-fide box office attraction, drawing a 13,120 for a December fight in his home region of Fresno, California.

15. Takuma Inoue (20, Japan, junior bantamweight, 5-0, 1 KO)

Inoue is the gifted younger brother of junior bantamweight titlist Naoya Inoue (8-0, 7 KOs), already a two-division titleholder at 22, and could be just as good. Takuma, 52-5 as an amateur and a former Japanese high school national champion, doesn't have the power of his older brother but is a similar prodigy who has faced quality opposition and probably will challenge for a world title in 2016.

16. Joseph Diaz (23, South El Monte, Calif., featherweight, 19-0, 11 KOs)


Joseph Diaz Jr. Ed Mulholland/Golden Boy/Getty Images
A 2012 U.S. Olympian, Diaz fights with a joyful exuberance and has shown tremendous improvement since turning pro. Diaz is not a huge puncher, but he can box and also likes to mix it up and please the fans. In 2015, Golden Boy kept him busy and he won all five of his bouts against credible opposition. He's likely to get a shot to fight on HBO in 2016.

17. Jesse Hart (26, Philadelphia, super middleweight, 19-0, 16 KOs)


Jesse Hart Al Bello/Getty Images
Hart, 6-foot-2 with speed and long arms, has boxing in his genes as son of 1970s middleweight contender Eugene "Cyclone" Hart. He was a standout amateur (85-11) and won the 2011 National Golden Gloves and USA Nationals, and just missed a 2012 Olympic berth via double-tiebreaker. In 2015, he went 3-0 (all KOs) and is so highly thought of by Top Rank boss Bob Arum that he was given a coveted spot on the Floyd Mayweather-Manny Pacquiao undercard.

18. Antoine Douglas (23, Burke, Virginia, middleweight, 19-0-1, 13 KOs)


Antoine Douglas Rosie Cohe/Showtime
Born prematurely to a drug-addicted mother, shuffled from one abusive home to another and often going hungry, Douglas has been a fighter all his life. Now reunited with his mother, an animated ringside figure, Douglas has a chance to make it big. He's athletic with a pleasing style, solid skills and a deep desire to succeed. As a "ShoBox" regular, Douglas won his three 2015 fights by knockout against two unbeaten foes and experienced Les Sherrington, whom he dropped five times.

19. Robert Easter (24, Toledo, Ohio, lightweight, 16-0, 13 KOs)


Robert Easter Harry How/Getty Images
The first thing that jumps out at you with Easter is that he is 5-foot-11 with a 76-inch reach, both tremendous for a 135-pounder. Easter, with good power in both hands, had a strong amateur background (2012 U.S. Olympic alternate) and has sparred with many quality pros, including pal Adrien Broner, brothers Lamont and Anthony Peterson and Hank Lundy. Went 4-0 (4 KOs) in 2015, including an impressive third-round demolition of experienced Juan Ramon Solis in October.

20. Regis Prograis (26, Houston, junior welterweight, 16-0 13 KOs)


Regis Prograis Rosie Cohe/Showtime
A southpaw, Prograis went 87-7 as an amateur (including in the 2011 Olympic trials) and took a big step forward in 2015, going 4-0 (2 KOs) and defeating then-unbeaten Amos Cowart and Abel Ramos on "ShoBox." Prograis, who is from New Orleans but was displaced to Houston by Hurricane Katrina, is aggressive, busy (often throwing 100-plus punches per round) and has a crunching body attack. He has gained valuable experience sparring with the brothers Jermell and Jermall Charlo.

2015 knockout of the year: Canelo Alvarez KO3 James Kirkland.

On May 2, as all boxing fans know, Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao laid a giant egg in their much-ballyhooed megafight, one that generated a record-slaughtering $600 million or so at the box office but little excitement or drama between the ropes.

Rafael's Knockouts of the Year
2015: Canelo Alvarez KO3 James Kirkland
2014: Wladimir Klitschko KO5 Kubrat Pulev
2013: Adonis Stevenson TKO1 Chad Dawson
2012: Juan Manuel Marquez KO6 Manny Pacquiao IV
2011: Nonito Donaire TKO2 Fernando Montiel
2010: Sergio Martinez KO2 Paul Williams II
2009: Manny Pacquiao KO2 Ricky Hatton
2008: Edison Miranda KO3 David Banks
2007: Darnell Wilson KO11 Emmanuel Nwodo
2006: Calvin Brock KO6 Zuri Lawrence
2005: Allan Green KO1 Jaidon Codrington
2004: Antonio Tarver KO2 Roy Jones Jr. II
2003: Rocky Juarez KO10 Antonio "Chelo" Diaz
2002: Roy Jones KO7 Glen Kelly
2001: Lennox Lewis KO4 Hasim Rahman II
2000: Lennox Lewis TKO2 Francois Botha
The sport of boxing suffered from that hangover for much of the rest of the year. However, a brief respite came one week later, on May 9, when Canelo Alvarez, one of boxing's biggest stars, and power brawler James Kirkland met at 155 pounds in front of a wild, pro-Alvarez crowd of 31,588 at Minute Maid Park in Houston.

They delivered an action-packed slugfest that ended in violent fashion, with Alvarez annihilating Kirkland with one thunderous right hand for the 2015 ESPN.com knockout of the year.

Kirkland, already dropped in the first round, went down again on the end of a pinpoint right uppercut with about a minute remaining in the third. After the bloodied Kirkland beat the count, referee Jon Schorle told him, "Show me something." But Kirkland had nothing left.

Alvarez went right at him and backed him into the ropes before dropping the hammer. He touched Kirkland to the stomach with a left jab and followed with a devastating right hand to the jaw that connected flush, spun Kirkland halfway around into the ropes and sent him crashing to the canvas, his arms over his head, his eyes closed and blood visible inside his open mouth and smeared on his face. Schorle immediately waved off the fight at 2 minutes, 19 seconds.

EDITOR'S PICKS

Fighter of the year: Canelo Alvarez
Canelo Alvarez showed in 2015 why he's one of the best fighters in the ring, highlighted by his victory over lineal middleweight champion and future Hall of Famer Miguel Cotto.
"There's a perfect straight right hand, and Schorle's gonna stop the fight," HBO's Hall of Fame broadcaster Jim Lampley exclaimed. "What a performance by Canelo Alvarez."

Medical personnel rushed to Kirkland's side as Alvarez, who with the victory had blasted his way into a Nov. 21 middleweight world title shot against Miguel Cotto, bent over his fallen foe to make sure he was OK. Kirkland went to the hospital for precautionary reasons, and Alvarez savored his big win that was punctuated by a sensational knockout.

"I'm happy about the win," Alvarez said matter-of-factly. "The result was what I expected."

Other sweet shots:

2. Mairis Briedis KO5 Manuel Charr (Aug. 22 at Grozny, Russia)


Unbeaten heavyweight Mairis Briedis scored a memorable knockout by drilling former title challenger Manuel Charr. Courtesy Main Events
Briedis, an unbeaten heavyweight, took on his first legitimate opponent in ex-title challenger Charr and absolutely ruined him by spectacular knockout. In the waning seconds of the fifth round, Briedis landed a clean right uppercut on Charr's chin, instantly turning out his lights. But Briedis continued with his combination, crushing Charr with a left hook to the jaw that sent Charr crashing face first. Already unconscious, Charr was unable to break his fall and landed hard on the bottom rope. His limp body was draped over the rope, half inside the ring, half on the apron, with his hands at his side as referee Irakly Malazonia immediately waved off the fight at 2:55. Charr, who never saw the punch, was down for several minutes while receiving medical attention.

3. Krzysztof Glowacki KO11 Marco Huck (Aug. 14 at Newark, N.J.)


Krzysztof Glowacki's dramatic stoppage ruined Marco Huck's attempt at setting the all-time cruiserweight title defense record. Ed Diller/DiBella Entertainment
The fight was supposed to be a coronation for Huck, who had come to the United States to fight for the first time hoping to set the all-time cruiserweight title defense record at 14. Instead he found himself getting drilled in a fantastic fight that ended with Huck's body limply slithering down the ropes after getting pummeled. Huck had dropped Glowacki in a sensational sixth round and was ahead on all three scorecards as they went to the 11th. But Glowacki rallied to drop Huck for the first time in his career. Huck was badly hurt, and referee David Fields could have stopped the fight, but he allowed Huck to continue. Glowacki hammered Huck with a series of big shots, mainly overhand lefts that finally drove him into the ropes, and Huck slumped between them. Fields waved off the epic fight at 2:39. "Huck is in major trouble! It's over! It's over! It's over! The streak is over," Spike announcer Scott Hanson roared. "Glowacki with the amazing 11th-round knockout to win the cruiserweight championship!"

4. Enzo Maccarinelli KO4 Roy Jones Jr. (Dec. 12 at Moscow)


All-time great Roy Jones Jr.'s late-career fade continued with a scary knockout loss to Enzo Maccarinelli in Russia. AP Photo/Ivan Sekretarev
An all-time great a decade removed from his reign as pound-for-pound king, Jones suffered another savage knockout in this cruiserweight match with Maccarinelli, a faded but still heavy-handed former cruiserweight titlist. Jones, 46, looked out of shape, and he paid the price. He got dropped by a right uppercut with 90 seconds left in the fourth round and never recovered. Moments later, Maccarinelli landed several hard punches before finishing Jones with a clean right hand to the head that sent Jones crashing to the mat face first. Jones didn't move, and his legs twitched. Referee Ingo Barrabas immediately stopped it at 1:59 as medical personnel rushed to Jones, who was down for a few minutes before being put on his stool and given oxygen. This was about as bad as it gets and should signal the end of Jones' career.

Tied 5. Yenifel Vicente KO3 Juan Dominguez (Dec. 8 at Trenton, N.J.)


Yenifel Vicente ruined junior featherweight prospect Juan Dominguez's perfect record with one right hand to the head that he never saw coming. Lucas Noonan/Premier Boxing Champions
Dominguez, a junior featherweight, came into the fight as an undefeated prospect and left on a stretcher after Vicente obliterated him 20 seconds into the third round with a heavy right hand to the head that he never saw. Dominguez pitched forward, spun around and slammed into the canvas. He was out cold on his back in the center of the ring as referee Earl Brown waved off the fight and summoned medical attention. Dominguez was given oxygen, put in a neck brace and taken to the hospital as a precaution.

Tied 5. Gabriel Bracero KO1 Danny O'Connor (Oct. 10 at Lowell, Mass.)


Welterweight Gabriel Bracero needed just 41 seconds to score a chilling knockout of Danny O'Connor in their October rematch. Ed Diller/DiBella Entertaiment
Bracero came into the fight with 23 wins and only four knockouts. A puncher he is not, but don't tell that to O'Connor, whom he shockingly starched in just 41 seconds. In a welterweight rematch of a 2011 fight Bracero won by decision, Bracero stunningly ended the sequel with a single right hand to the jaw over O'Connor's lazy left. O'Connor was out cold even before his head viciously hit the mat, prompting referee Arthur Mercante Jr. to stop the fight without a count.

More monster shots: Middleweight Peter Quillin KO5 Michael Zerafa; junior middleweight Acelino "Popo" Freitas KO3 Mateo Veron; junior welterweight Amir Imam KO4 Fernando Angulo; heavyweight Joseph Parker KO1 Bowie Tupou; heavyweight Izuagbe Ugonoh KO2 Will Quarrie; heavyweight Donovan Dennis KO2 Razvan Cojanu; featherweight Claudio Marrero KO2 Rico Ramos.
 
[emoji]128514[/emoji][emoji]128514[/emoji][emoji]128514[/emoji] we knew it was going to be that fight all along.
 
Didnt think pac would go out like that........then again pac has a higher risk in gettin KO'ed by bud then bradley........lemme guess, ppv?
 
Manny vs Tim 3 is the smart move for all three of them (manny Bob and bradley). Tim wins a close fight now he's carrying the top rank flag as their top welterweight, they'll probably promote him that way, and Manny goes out losing a decision to a top 2 or 3 guy at welterweight. Manny wins a close fight and it doesn't really matter, Tim has been beat before, and Manny goes out with a good win. I don't see a knockout either way.

Bud vs Manny, I can see a knockout going either way. And honestly I'm a fan of Bud but he gets hit alot man, I think Manny at 147 was riskier for him than it was for Manny, unless Manny just fell all the way off by now. I don't think he was all the way ready for that yet

Let tim and manny finish the trilogy and if tim wins, then maybe tim vs bud down the line can be a big fight.
 
:lol:

Yeah I'm not super hype for it but I'm not necessarily mad either. Their 2nd fight was pretty good I thought. And I do kinda wanna see if Teddy is making as much of a difference as it looked like he did in the Bam Bam fight. I became kind of a Bradley fan during his provo, marquez, manny 2 run
 
Dissapointed that Bud didnt get the fight

However like in the first 2 fights Bradley has a legit shot to beat Manny. As long as he dont start tryna swing for the fences he should be good


now am i going to pay for it, that is another question. I think I'll just wait for it to come in the next week
 
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 Lance Pugmire ‏@latimespugmire  6h6 hours ago
"I'm not going to advertise it as his last fight. He could change his mind, then everyone says I'm a huckster," Arum says.

Lance Pugmire ‏@latimespugmire  5h5 hours ago
Ramirez-Abraham possible for Pacquiao-Bradley undercard, Arum said.

Lance Pugmire ‏@latimespugmire  5h5 hours ago
Arum mentioned "November" as a possible next Pacquiao date, with Crawford a candidate, while Pac would obviously pursue @FloydMayweather.

Lance Pugmire ‏@latimespugmire  5h5 hours ago
One more tidbit: Arum said he'll try to get heavyweight bout Ike Ibeabuchi vs. Andy Ruiz on Pacquiao-Bradley card.
Click to expand...
 Lance Pugmire ‏@latimespugmire  5h5 hours ago
Told by @BobArum @budcrawford402 pointed to February @HBOboxing fight against Mauricio Herrera @TheGarden with Felix Verdejo on card.
Click to expand...
 
Chavez is kinda buns, he's an opponent and he fights dirty as ****. But I wouldn't mind seeing him vs Provo if neither one is tied up.
 
Honestly, we'll be watching Pacquiao beat Bradley for a 3rd time smh. Definitely would have rather seen Khan or Crawford. It's somewhat intriguing because Bradley did just knock a guy out (funny I know) that was seemingly impossible to KO before that fight. Other than that..
 
BlackCease said:
Manny vs Tim 3 is the smart move for all three of them (manny Bob and bradley). Tim wins a close fight now he's carrying the top rank flag as their top welterweight, they'll probably promote him that way, and Manny goes out losing a decision to a top 2 or 3 guy at welterweight. Manny wins a close fight and it doesn't really matter, Tim has been beat before, and Manny goes out with a good win. I don't see a knockout either way.

Bud vs Manny, I can see a knockout going either way. And honestly I'm a fan of Bud but he gets hit alot man, I think Manny at 147 was riskier for him than it was for Manny, unless Manny just fell all the way off by now. I don't think he was all the way ready for that yet

Let tim and manny finish the trilogy and if tim wins, then maybe tim vs bud down the line can be a big fight.
Click to expand...

Yea i agree w/ this too. I think we all wanted Crawford, but TR had too much to lose w/ that fight. If Crawford loses, it might not be the best look having your next star lose to a 37 year old coming off major shoulder surgery. If Pacquiao loses, and gets beaten down, how bad does it look for them feeding a guy at the end of his career coming of an injury layoff to the wolves after he made them all that money. Who's going to stay or sign with a promotion company that does that.

But still, I don't think anyone, outside of maybe Bradley fans, really wants to see the fight. Idk if there is enough $ to make it worthwhile, but IMO they should've just given him a soft touch contender on a non-ppv fight. You don't risk danger or make ur fighter look bad, but you also don't insult fans with a fight no one wants to pay for after someone already won 20+ of 24 rounds. You also get to see if Manny really is done after getting up there in age and w/ his injury, or if he doesn't have his heart in it anymore after he got paid last year and is trying to be a senator more than a prize fighter. My guess is that Paq's side thought it was a safe opponent given how the first 2 fights went, and financially the only way to get Manny in the ring is via ppv and TR felt Bradley would be a good-enough opponent.
 
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Pac talkin about not retiring and trying to get a mayweather rematch after the bradley fight smh.
 
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Degenerate423 said:
Not watching Pacquiao Vs. Bradley 3. Arum is s bum
mean.gif
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If Bob would had it his way, Manny would probably be fighting Crawford. 

Pac deserves the blunt of the blame for this. 
 
People treat Pac like he's some nieve little kid when he isn't. It's always someone else's fault. Bob is a scumbag but he's been thrilled ever since getting all that Mayweather money.
 
I blame Manny too, but he and Bradley draws more than he and Crawford and you know that's what Arum is looking at.
 
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