“I had a chip on my shoulder because I wanted to show everybody that I’m one of the best fucking fighters in the world. My strategy was to box, but my mind was telling me, ‘Kick the shit out of this guy. Whoop his ass. Get that respect.’ Freakin’ Pacquiao couldn’t knock me out; what the hell is this guy going to do? He’s not going to knock me out,” stated WBO welterweight champion Timothy Bradley, who recalled the mistake that he made, which resulted in a much more difficult than expected war with Ruslan Provodnikov, during the premiere episode of 24/7 Bradley/Marquez. As far as Bradley is concerned, it’s a mistake that he doesn’t plan on repeating when he steps into the ring on October 12 to face multi-division world champion Juan Manuel Marquez.
“I felt like I showed everybody what I’m made of. The only thing that I wasn’t happy with was the damage that I had received from doing that. Our bodies not meant to be taking punishment like that. You know, my speech was slurred a little bit, my balance was a little bit off,” Bradley explained as he reflected on the aftermath of his war with Provodnikov. “I should have listened to my corner. I shouldn’t have took matters into my own hands, but I’m back physically now, mentally now, and I feel normal again. I want to remain that way from here on out.”
“I’m telling you, ain’t no 40-year-old gonna whoop my ass, man. It’s not gonna happen,” Bradley added. “You can’t break my will, man. You can’t break me, man. You know, that’s why I’m the world champion…Whether you like it or not, I’m destined for greatness. I’m gonna beat Marquez, and when I do, people gonna be like [mouth open].”
