INDIO ? While there?s a buzz on the internet over the prospect of Cathedral City?s Timothy Bradley fighting Gilroy?s Robert ?The Ghost? Guerrero, trainer Joel Diaz doesn?t share the fans? enthusiasm over a fight that would pit two of the top American fighters.
Bradley, a four-time world champion, has a fight date on HBO for Dec. 15 and his promoters, Top Rank, also have a venue, Marlins Park in Miami. It will be Bradley?s first fight since his shocking and controversial upset over superstar Manny Pacquiao on June 9 for the WBO welterweight title.
Guerrero is a popular fighter who has won six world titles in four different weight divisions.
No contracts have been signed yet, but Bradley?s manager Cameron Dunkin said the fight could be finalized this week. He was hoping to have a deal done, but the Yom Kippur holiday has slowed down things as Top Rank?s Bob Arum and Todd duBoef have been off.
Bradley won?t comment on a fight during negotiations.
?He said he just wants to fight,? Dunkin said in a telephone interview. ?But Tim?s accepted everyone we?ve put in front of him.?
Dunkin also said if negotiations fall through, they would consider two other opponents ? a rematch with Lamont Peterson or Ruslan Provodnikov.
Making negotiations trickier is the two promoters, Bradley?s promoter Top Rank and Guerrero?s Golden Boy Promotions, are bitter rivals who avoid making fights together.
But the fight is creating a buzz, as it would pit two of the top young American fighters. But Diaz believes fighting Guerrero is a step backward after Bradley fought on the sports? biggest stage, and scored a historic upset.
Pacquiao is a five-time Boxer of the Year who had his 15-fight winning streak snapped by Bradley. The last time Pacquiao lost was in 2005.
The Bradley camp felt the victory, despite being highly controversial, would elevate the Desert Storm, particularly Diaz. At the very least, they thought Pacquiao would want the rematch to redeem himself. Instead, Pacquiao elected to fight rival Juan Manuel Marquez for a fourth time Dec. 8. That didn?t leave Bradley with a lot of appealing options.
