Cathedral City boxer Timothy Bradley has been flattered and amused with how his name has been thrown around as Manny Pacquiao’s next opponent in November.
WBA champion Amir Khan, who is negotiating with the Bradley camp for a July 23 fight, posted on his Facebook page that Bradley is signing with Pacquiao’s promoter Top Rank and Bob Arum for a fight in November.
Bradley was amused by this news, and joked about the speculation.
?I haven’t heard anything like that, but if it’s true, hey, hey, hey,? Bradley said laughing.
But Bradley continued to deny the post by Khan.
?Not at all, it’s not true, but I wish it was true,? said Bradley, who was in Las Vegas over the weekend for Pacquiao’s victory over Shane Mosley.
Bradley pointed out he’s still under contract with his promoter, Gary Shaw, until the end of June, so he can’t negotiate with any other promoter.
And there is the business of Bradley’s negotiation with the Khan camp for the fight in July.
Reports suggest the fight will not happen in July and that the Khan camp is looking for other opponents.
Bradley, who is expecting his first child in early August with his wife Monica, said negotiations are ongoing. He said he couldn’t comment, but did say one thing.
?I told my promoters what I wanted, and they have to deliver,? Bradley said. ?It has nothing to do with Khan.?
There has been a clamoring among boxing fans to see Bradley take on Khan, who is now recognized as the No. 2 fighter in the light welterweight division.
The buzz began last year, when Khan suggested a tournament in the weight division to pit him and Marcos Maidana and Bradley vs. Alexander. The winners would then meet.
Khan beat Maidana in what many thought was the fight of the year in 2010. Bradley’s fight against Alexander was a disappointment, and Alexander’s reputation took a hit because it appeared he quit and didn’t come to fight.
There are reports that Bradley is to make $1.3 million to fight Khan, which was part of a two-fight deal negotiated by HBO and Shaw.
Bradley has made it no secret he desires a megafight against a marquee opponent such as Pacquiao or Floyd Mayweather.
When Bradley defeated Carlos Abregu last year, he called out Pacquiao in front of the HBO-televised audience.
Arum was working on having Pacquiao fight against Juan Manuel Marquez, who had two bloody fights against each other.
Marquez reportedly turned down the $5 million offer, which has been the unofficial going rate to fight Pacquiao.
Bradley (27-0, 11 knockouts) is recognized as one of the top-10 pound-for-pound fighters in the world. Not only does Bradley hold two belts in the light welterweight division, his last three victories have been over undefeated boxers.
In January, Bradley dominated Devon Alexander, considered the No. 2 fighter in the 140-pound division at the time, before the fight was stopped in the 10th over an accidental headbutt. Bradley took the unanimous decision.
After watching Pacquiao live, Bradley wants the fight against the No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter in the world.
?I was sitting there wishing I was in the ring with him,? Bradley said. ?He’s wonderful and he’s no joke, but I can get in there and duke it out with him. I would go in there to win if I ever fought him.?
