By Keith Idec

Maybe it’s wishful thinking on Timothy Bradley’s behalf.

He does, after all, want to fight Manny Pacquiao.

Regardless, the unbeaten Bradley just can’t see Juan Manuel Marquez beating Pacquiao in their third fight Nov. 12 in Las Vegas. In fact, Bradley believes Pacquiao (53-3-2, 38 KOs) will knock out Marquez (53-5-1, 39 KOs) this time around.

“I think Manny Pacquiao’s going to stop him,” Bradley said, “probably in the late rounds. Probably like eight or nine he’s going to get him out.”

When asked if thought Marquez would knock down Pacquiao at some point in their 12-round fight for Pacquiao’s WBO welterweight title, Bradley said, “No. No. He won’t put Manny down.”

Bradley (27-0, 11 KOs, 1 NC) will make his debut under the promotional banner of Top Rank Inc., which also promotes Pacquiao, on the Pacquiao-Marquez undercard. The WBO junior welterweight champion will defend his title against 40-year-old Cuban southpaw Joel Casamayor (38-5-1, 22 KOs) in the 12-round, co-featured fight, part of a four-bout HBO Pay-Per-View broadcast.

The 28-year-old Bradley called fighting on a Pacquiao undercard “an honor,” yet acknowledged his desire to fight Pacquiao, too.

“Everybody already knows I want to fight the pound-for-pound best, either Manny Pacquiao or Floyd Mayweather,” Bradley said. “Those are the cream of the crop. Those are the guys I want to be in the ring with.

“Will I get my chance? Maybe, maybe not. I’m just looking to fight the best fighters out there in the world and that’s pretty much it. … I’ve got to destroy [Casamayor], get this guy out of here, before I even think about any other opponent.”

Keith Idec covers boxing for the Record and Herald News, of Woodland Park, N.J., and BoxingScene.com.