With WBA/IBF champion Amir Khan’s dominant win over Zab Judah last weekend, many were quick to elevate him above WBO/WBC champion Tim Bradley in the light welterweight rankings, who has held the number one ranking for a little over two years.
Interestingly and perhaps unusually, in this case a direct comparison of their resumes is possible.
Since winning the WBC youth title in 2007, Bradley has fought six times at 140lbs and once at 147lbs. Amir Khan, since moving up from 135lbs in 2009 has also fought six times at 140lbs.
Amir Khan’s resume:
Paulie Malignaggi, Marcos Maidana, Zab Judah, Paul McCloskey, Dmitriy Salita, Andriy Kotelnyk
Tim Bradley’s resume:
Devon Alexander, Nate Campbell, Lamont Peterson, Kendall Holt, Edner Cherry, Junior Witter
Both seem fairly equal in that all opponents faced were all arguably top ten at the time with Judah, Maidana, Kotelnik, Alexander and Witter probably ranked top five or better.
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At the very least then, Khan’s win over Judah puts him level with Bradley, even if it perhaps wasn’t quite enough to lift him to number one.
Clearly the only way to settle the matter permanently would be for the pair to square off, although increasingly that doesn’t look like ever happening.
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Rather than a fight between the pair deciding the top spot however, Bradley’s current inactivity could eventually give Khan the edge.
Bradley is currently being sued by both of his former promoters Gary Shaw and Thompson promotions. Until these cases are concluded it seems unlikely that Bradley will be able to fight anyone.
Khan, according to Golden Boy CEO Richard Schaefer at the post fight press conference after his victory over Judah, may fight either Erik Morales or the winner of the upcoming bout between Marcos Maidana and Robert Guerrero later this year.
Even if Bradley does manage to assuage his legal issues and become active again, over the last few years at least Khan has been more active, fighting twice each year. Bradley fought just once in 2010 and has only fought once this year.
In the end which of the two is currently the best might soon be irrelevant anyway with both almost certainly heading to the greener pastures of 147lbs before the end of the year.
Comments from Khan over the past few weeks have indicated that he intends to take one more fight at light welterweight before moving up.
Bradley is currently embroiled in a legal battle with his former promoters, but is heavily rumored to be signing with Top Rank after the matter is settled, likely with a fight with Manny Pacquiao as part of the deal.
With the current top two gone, (three if you include Devon Alexander who is currently in talks with Paulie Malignaggi for his welterweight debut), the division, along with all four major titles, will soon be up for grabs.
And there aren’t any shortage of contenders to pick up where Khan and Bradley left off.
Argentine hard hitters Marcos Maidana and Lucas Matthysse, along with recent Khan victim Zab Judah and a resurgent Erik Morales are among names likely to receive vacant title bouts. The likes of Lamont Peterson, Mike Alvarado and Jessie Vargas are close behind.
Eric Stone, Pitt: “Khan will move to number 1 when he fights again, Bradley will be sidelined for months trying to change promoters”
