Roach: Bradley a 'dirty fighter'

MANILA, Philippines - While Manny Pacquiao is checking on his golf swing, his trainer, Freddie Roach, is waging a word war against Timothy Bradley.

Roach has called Bradley a “dirty fighter” and a “loud mouth.”

And the boxer from Cathedral City in California, scheduled to challenge Pacquiao on June 9 in Las Vegas, has no plans of backing off.

“There will definitely be a lot of animosity in the air that night. This fight is more personal for me than people realize,” Bradley told www.fightsaga.com .

Bradley said Roach must have felt so bad with all the things he said about Amir Khan, who’s also being trained by Roach.

“All these people were saying how great Khan was but, as far as I was concerned, he was nothing but a fraud,” said Bradley of the former junior welterweight champ.

Roach said Bradley didn’t take the fight against Khan when he had the chance.

“Personally I don’t think his (Khan) name should even be mentioned in the same breath as mine,” said Bradley who also told www.fightsaga.com Roach will use Pacquiao to “shut him up.”

Bradley expects Pacquiao to follow the orders of his trainer.

“I expect (Pacquiao) to come out fast and hard. With the (Floyd) Mayweather fight still looming for them they think they’re going to use me to make a statement,” he said.

Bradley assured everyone that won’t happen because he also has plans of his own, and on top of the list is to beat Pacquiao, whom he considered the best out there.

Pacquiao talked to The STAR last week, and echoed Roach’s statement that Bradley is a dirty fighter who loves to “use his head.”

But Pacquiao, during a round of golf with friends, said he expects Bradley “to run” inside the ring, and try to avoid getting hurt or being knocked out.

Bradley is undefeated in 28 fights, and is no pushover.

“They’ve made a big mistake in thinking they can use me as a stepping stone,” he said.

“Hey, we’re all human and so is Manny Pacquiao. He’s not invincible. He’s underestimating me. You can’t try to make a statement with a fighter of my caliber.

“Pacquiao has made a big mistake by even taking this fight. Freddy’s (Roach) plan is going to backfire on him. I’ll be the one making the statement,” said Bradley.

Bradley can talk the talk. But can he walk the walk? - By Abac Cordero (Philstar News Service, www.philstar.com)