Manny Pacquiao to fight Timothy Bradley for a third time on April 9
8-division world champion Manny Pacquiao (57-6-2, 38 KOs) is set to fight WBO welterweight champion Timothy Bradley (33-1-1, 13 KOs) for a third time on April 9 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
Pacquiao, 37, and Bradley, 32, are tied at 1-1 and a deal has been made between both fighters for a rubber match according to Top Rank promoter Bob Arum.
American Bradley claimed a split-decision win in June 2012, although most observers felt Pacquiao was the clear winner. In the rematch the Filipino fighter won a unanimous decision in April 2014.
"It's a done deal and it's going to be a third fight against Timothy Bradley," said Arum.
"We took a lot of consideration knowing Bradley has improved a lot as a fighter since the last time they met in 2014.
"Bradley is happy about it of course and that's really a competitive fight for Manny."
Pacquiao will be fighting for the first time since losing a unanimous decision to Floyd Mayweather in their welterweight title unification fight in May, which was billed as "Fight of the Century".
Pacquiao had surgery to repair a torn right rotator cuff following the bout.
Although Pacquiao has indicated that this fight would be his last in order to concentrate on a political career in the Philippines, if he beats Bradley, many believe he will continue fighting.
"It may very well be his last fight, but I won't put myself in the position of selling it as his last fight because anything could still happen," said Arum.
"I don't think it is Manny's last fight."
Bradley, who was selected as Pacquiao's opponent over WBO light welterweight champion Terence Crawford and British welterweight Amir Khan, recently fired career-long trainer Joel Diaz and hired Teddy Atlas to take over his training. In their first fight together, Bradley knocked out Brandon Rios in November.