Equipped with speed, athleticism and a dominant will, Tim ?Desert Storm? Bradley has journeyed through every pothole that prizefighting can offer with his natural talent. But now he resorts to science for the final laps.
?I study all about head trauma and rehabilitation,? said Bradley, adding that his fight with Ruslan Provodnikov at StubHub Center two years ago left him dazed and suffering memory loss.
Bradley (31-1-1, 12 KOs) returns to StubHub Center on Saturday to face Jessie Vargas (26-0, 9 KOs) for the vacant WBO welterweight world title. HBO will televise. Bradley?s memories of his last fight at the venue remain faint.
Two years have passed since Bradley exchanged brutal blows with Russia?s human tank, Provodnikov. Their battle was chosen the fight of the year by boxing writers, but Bradley, who won by decision, suffered dizzy spells, headaches and other effects for months after.
?I started talking to specialists and reading books about it,? said Bradley. He also invested in a hyperbaric chamber to help his body recuperate from the physical effects of training and sparring.
The 31-year-old uses a variety of apparatuses of different bright colors to enhance his already incredible agility. One is a fluorescent orange plastic ladder strewn over the floor that the former welterweight and junior welterweight champion uses to practice his footwork.
During the past few years, Bradley has also maintained a vegetarian diet. But after fighting to a surprise draw against Argentina?s Diego Chaves last year, Bradley has dispensed with eating salads and brought back the steaks.
?I?m going back to old-school training for stamina,? Bradley said.
So is Vargas.
The 26-year-old fighter out of Las Vegas has taken his training camp to the Nevada mountains where he trains on a daily basis at 8,000-foot elevation. It?s at a youth facility that he helped sponsor that serves as a school and recreational facility. It opened its doors in March.
?Never did I think I would be training up there. I set it up for them as a gym that could train professional fighters,? said Vargas, who wanted the youths to experience the same training regimen as a dedicated pro boxer.
Vargas knows Bradley?s exploits and conquests. He also knows why the smaller Bradley wins.
?I?ve bumped into him a few times. He?s a really nice guy, a great guy,? said Vargas of Bradley. ?He?s tough. He?s got the heart of the lion and he?s coming to fight just as I am. He?s no joke.?
Vargas said he knows he?s not favored to emerge the victor when they meet in the boxing ring.
?I?m always the underdog. I?ve been brought up the hard way, so the only way I know is tough fights,? Vargas said. ?They key is to be on top of my game. Outsmart him and be more intelligent. I got to be ready to go to war if I have to.
