Only one man fought Vargas and Pacquiao: How Timothy Bradley sees it

LAS VEGAS - Only one man has been in the ring with both Manny Pacquiao and Jessie Vargas when it counted, and that man says both fighters have plenty going for them.

Still, Timothy Bradley believes Pacquiao, a 7-1 favorite, has the edge in speed, power and experience and will win back the WBO welterweight belt he first captured in 2009.

Bradley held that belt himself, defeating Pacquiao in their first fight in 2012, one that ended with one of the sport's most controversial decisions of all time. He lost it to Pacquaio in their second fight.

Bradley and Pacquiao fought three times, with Pacquiao winning the next two. Their last fight in April was billed as Pacquiao's finale before he retired to seek a seat in the Philippine Senate. He easily won that Senate seat but missed the sport which had earned him a half billion dollars over his career.

Bradley, who will be a ringside analyst for Saturday's Top Rank pay-per-view card (9 p.m. ET), said Friday that Vargas is the champion and must be respected.

"And no one is really respecting him because we've seen Manny Pacquiao and we know what he can do. But you got to give this kid a shot because honestly I think he earned this spot. He knocked out (former U.S. Olympian) Sadam Ali, who can fight."

Bradley says Vargas (27-1, 10 KOs), who lost a unanimous decision to Bradley despite having Bradley hurt in the 12th round, has a trick up his sleeve for Pacquiao.

"That overhand right, I don't know how he landed it, but he landed it on Ali, and he landed it on me," Bradley said. "If he can land that on Manny Pacquaio . . . and he's sneaky. It just comes out of nowhere; I think that's his punch. If he can land that shot he can do some damage."

Besides the overhand right, Bradley said Vargas' jab is respectable, too. "He has a stiff, hard, crisp jab that's like electrifying. It electrocutes you a little bit," Bradley said with a laugh.

Bradley also lauds Vargas' chin, saying he can take a punch.

"Can he take Pacquiao's punch? I think he can take some," Bradley said. "Jessie has never been down from a punch. That boy has a beard on him. I was hitting him with overhand rights, I was hitting him with body shots, everything, but the kid is tough, he's durable."

Bradley said Vargas, coming off that knockout win against Sadam Ali, feels like he's on top of the world, "and I truly believe he's fighting at his best right now. This is going to be the best Jessie Vargas we have seen. But I think the only shot this guy has is if he connects with that overhand (right)."

So who does Bradley pick?

"Come on man, the pick is Pacquiao," he said. "When Pacquiao hits you, you stand still for awhile. Or you start backpedaling."

(Photo of Bradley, landing a left hand on Vargas' jaw, by Chris Farina)