THERE ARE a number of reasons why, having added Juan Manuel Marquez to his victim list, Timothy Bradley should face Floyd Mayweather ahead of Amir Khan next May. One criterion that favours the Brit – that he is promoted by Golden Boy, with whom “Money” Mayweather enjoys a close relationship and who have promoted or co-promoted Floyd’s last eight fights. Admittedly this is a huge factor but Bradley, promoted by Top Rank and who thus competes on HBO, could be considered a more intriguing opponent for Showtime centrepiece Mayweather. Let’s look at the evidence.
Speed
Even if you swallow whole the concept – proffered by both Golden Boy and Showtime Sports head Stephen Espinoza – that speed could prove Mayweather’s kryptonite (shockingly, I do not), Bradley has above average hand and foot speed. Khan’s hands may well be quicker but not to a hugely signficant extent and Bradley’s footwork was excellent against Marquez.
Durability
Another selling point for Khan getting the shot is that his much maligned jaw will be relatively safe against Mayweather, who rarely stops opponents these days. Putting aside the probability that Mayweather hits as hard as a light-welter Danny Garcia, who finished Khan, and that Floyd may prove more aggressive against a foe with a questionable chin, Khan is certainly less durable than Bradley. Tim has survived several rocky moments against big punchers like Manny Pacquiao, Ruslan Provodnikov and, less often, Marquez. He has been knocked down, rocked and nearly halted against opposition superior to that faced by Khan, and remains unbeaten. He is also proven at welterweight where the Bolton man is not.
Overall skill-set
For all his dazzling speed, Khan has been labelled a one-trick pony by some. He has good technical skills and respectable power but struggles on the back foot and the inside. Bradley is also quick and probably hits marginally less stiffly, but he can box and brawl, push forward and reverse, pot-shot and land rapid-fire combinations. He has made an asset of his short stature and can fight as rough as is necessary.
Recent form
Since back-to-back defeats against Lamont Peterson (albeit a controversial one) and Garcia, Khan has defeated two opponents he was expected to vanquish and struggled with the more recent victim, Julio Diaz, who was subsequently dealt with more comfortably by Shawn Porter. Bradley is an undefeated two-weight world champion who has beaten, among others, Devon Alexander – who Khan may or may not meet in December – Pacquiao, Provodnikov and Marquez. All other factors aside, the Californian flat-out deserves the shot at Mayweather.
Drawing power
Khan is thought to be a draw, but rarely sells out in the US and Mayweather will not come to the UK, ever, and especially not on a Mexican holiday weekend. Now, Bradley is not a big attraction either, but two Americans will surely generate at least the same kind if gate as Mayweather-Khan. This leaves the all-important area of pay per view proceeds. In theory, the opponent with whom the American public are more familiar and who is believed to pose the greater threat will be more likely to help produce a good buyrate. That man is Bradley.
