A well thought of amateur boxer from Palm Springs, California, Timothy Bradley had to earn his stripes at the pro ranks the hard way. Not signed by a major promoter from the beginning of professional career in 2004, Bradley had to earn each victory fighting tough opposition at club shows in Inland Empire of Southern California. Covering Bradley?s fight against Mexican veteran, Jaime Rangel at Chumash Casino in Southern California at the tail end of 2006, I wrote that young prospect from Palm Springs looks as comfortable in the ring as fish in water and is bound to become a champion in the near future.
Timothy ?The Desert Storm? Bradley proved me right within a year and a half when he went across the pond, against all odds and took the WBC light welterweight title from the hometown champion, Junior Witter. Few experts believed Bradley had a chance of winning the title in England. Even fewer believed that Timothy would be mentioned in a conversation among elite fighters in 2012. Yet on June 9th, in the biggest and most lucrative fight of his professional career, Bradley will challenge the pound for pound king of sweet science, Manny Pacquiao for the WBO welterweight title. HBO PPV will air the event live from MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. Advertisement
?I want to give special thanks to team Pacquiao, Freddie, Manny for giving usanopportunity to show what we’ve beenworking on for many many years,? said Bradley?s long time trainer and former professional boxer, Joel Diaz:?I know that a lot of people, a lot of fans don’t think that Tim should be in this position, but you have to really know Tim Bradley to judge him. He is a great person in and out of the ring. He is one of the hardest working fighters I’veever met and I know that June 9th it’s going to be a great fight.?
Bradley?s stock went up considerably in January of last year when he went to Detroit, Michigan and unified the titles by dominating then undefeated champion, Devon Alexander. With another big unification fight against Amir Khan and another big pay day on the table, Bradley decided to make a stand. Unhappy with his promotional contract, Timothy Bradley turned the fight down until he resolved his business issues. Even his long time trainer and confidant, Joel Diaz suggested he take a big fight with Amir Khan first and take care of business later. Bradley decided to take care of business first; he severed ties with his promotional team and signed with Top Rank. Looking back; it was the best business decision of his entire life.
?I respect every opponent, every team that we’ve faced. I give them the respect, but the thing I am going to tell you, that night we come to fight, not to make friends,? continued coach Diaz who trains Tim Bradley at Boys and Girls Club in Indio, California:?We are going to be there that night to defeat Manny Pacquiao. I train my fighter not to show up. We are not going to go to that event just to show up and look good and put up a performance. We are going to be there that night ready to win the fight. I am going to prepare Tim Bradley to go to war and take that throne from Manny Pacquiao. With all respect we are going to be victorious that night. ?
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