Following his fight with Devon Alexander, Timothy Bradley was quick to roll out his wish list. Not surprisingly the names at the top were Manny Pacquiao and Amir Khan.
Manny Pacquiao can be scratched quickly off that list unless Bradley is willing to play ball in Bob Arum?s house.
Becoming a promotional free agent was the only way Shane Mosley could be in the running for a fight against the Pacman. Coupled with Mosley?s age (39) and record of late (1-1-1) and Mosley was a good, safe signing for Pacquiao?s next fight.
For Bradley to be considered in the running for the next Pacquiao lottery he would first have to drop Gary Shaw as a promoter. Bradley would next almost certainly have to sign with Top Rank.
Manny Pacquiao is now a brand. A brand that Bob Arum will not endanger unless there is incentive. Timothy Bradley fighting and beating Pacquiao under Gary Shaw?s promotional banner is poor business.
Too much risk, not enough reward.
Bob Arum for all his curmudgeonly charm will be no Uncle Bob or Bobfather to Bradley until Bradley jumps through a few hoops.
Why take a risky fight against top light-welterweight Timothy Bradley when Arum could retread the tires on an old Miguel Cotto or Antonio Margarito and make just as much money. Arum has already intimated that these options are on the table.
If Bradley chooses not to entertain the court of Pacquiao, there are plenty of other entertaining options on the table.
Bradley standing in the middle of the road to block the Zab Judah comeback trail is one. Judah has always been an electric fighter and has looked good in his last two outings.
Marcos Maidana is a fight some might like to see more than a fight against Khan.
What Maidana lacks in polished skill he makes up for in hard fists and an undying fire in the ring.
Add Victor Ortiz and a rematch with Alexander as possibilities and Bradley has a full table of good fights without having to deal with ?in-house? Bob.
Amir Khan is only icing on this cake.
A fight and a victory against someone of Khan?s stature in the division would rocket Bradley to the top of the division.
Either way, with or without Pacquiao, Bradley seems to be a fighter willing to take on any challenge.
Maidana, Khan or Ortiz. All different styles, all interesting fights.
Pacquiao used to fight all comers and at that stage Bradley would have been a good option, now his fights are like his suits, tailor-made.
