Manny Pacquiao News: Pacman Not Taking Timothy Bradley Lightly as Freddie Roach Steps Up Training

Freddie Roach guarantees that Manny Pacquiao will be 100 percent ready in time for his rematch with Timothy Bradley on April 12 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

Roach said in an interview with The Philippines Star this week that Pacquiao has been intensifying his training regimen, adding that there is no room for complacency for the former pound-for-pound king.

The Hall of Fame trainer insisted that Pacquiao was robbed of a victory during their first showdown in June 2012, but Roach insisted that Bradley has improved a lot since that controversial victory.

After winning the WBO welterweight title against Pacquiao, Bradley beat Ruslan Provodnikov in a brutal showdown in March last year, which was followed by a split-decision win over Juan Manuel Marquez in October.

"Bradley's the champion, we respect that," Roach said. "All I can guarantee is Manny will be 100 percent for Bradley that means he'll have his power and speed. Manny's motivated. I predict a great fight."

Lydell Rhodes Says Pacman Punches Like a Super Middleweight

Pacquiao's sparring partner Lydell Rhodes said that the former pound-for-pound king has been working hard in training camp, and he revealed that he was shocked with Pacquiao's speed and punching power.

"It's been hell in there," Rhodes told Rappler of his first four sparring sessions with Pacquiao. "He's been bringing it every time. It's been a lot of speed, power and intensity. That's the hardest thing to get used to, his level of intensity. You don't find that every day, the level that he competes at."

Rhodes added that Pacquiao is out to prove that he still has the power to knock opponents out. When asked how it feels getting hit by the eight-division champion, the 26-year-old Oklahoma native said that Pacquiao punches like a super middleweight.

"It feels like I'm fighting a super middleweight," Rhodes said. "He cracks, so the best thing for me or anybody else is try not to be there. That's hard because he's fast too, so he's going to you regardless so you just got to brace yourself and be ready."

When pressed to give his prediction for the upcoming Pacquiao-Bradley rematch, Rhodes, who is undefeated in 19 bouts, said that it will be a close fight, but he believes Pacquiao will walk away with a close decision win.