Timothy Bradley
Timothy Ray "Tim" Bradley, Jr.
(born August 29, 1983) is an American professional boxer. He is a two-time
former WBO welterweight champion, a two-time former WBC light welterweight
champion, and a former WBO light welterweight champion. Bradley has defeated
twelve world champions over his career, including Manny Pacquiao, Juan Manuel
Márquez and Devon Alexander, and has ended four undefeated streaks. As of April
2016, The Ring magazine ranks Bradley as the world's fourth best
welterweight and ninth best boxer, pound for pound.
Light-welterweight
Bradley had his first professional bout on August 20, 2004, knocking out Francisco Martinez in the second round. In his rise through the ranks, he won the WBC youth world welterweight and super lightweight crowns. He also beat future IBF lightweight champion Miguel Vazquez by a unanimous ten round decision.Bradley vs. Witter
Bradley finally got his chance for a full world title when José Luis Castillo failed to make weight in a title eliminator for the WBC super lightweight belt. He then won the WBC super lightweight title by defeating British fighter Junior Witter in England.Bradley's bank account was down to $11 when he made the decision to go to England to fight Junior Witter. Bradley came into the fight a 6–1 underdog against Witter. During the fight, Bradley controlled most of the action, and dropped Witter in his corner during the 6th round. Though the fight was scored a close split decision for Bradley, most observers and analysts thought Bradley should have comfortably been given a unanimous decision verdict.Bradley vs. Holt
On April 4, 2009, Bradley fought Kendall Holt to unify his WBC and Holt's WBO titles. Bradley was dropped in the first round by a huge left hook and was badly hurt but regrouped and outboxed Holt for most of the fight, before being sent to the canvas again in the 12th round. Nonetheless, Bradley got up and finished the fight. He won the fight by unanimous decision and became the new WBO champion.Several days after his unification bout with Holt, Bradley was stripped of his WBC junior welterweight title, because of failure to fight Devon Alexander, his mandatory challenger.As a result, the title became vacant and Alexander stopped Witter at the end of eight rounds to win the belt.
The Alexander-Witter fight was on the undercard of Bradley's August 1 fight with Nate Campbell in Bradley's hometown of Palm Springs. Campbell, a former lightweight champion, was coming up in weight after he failed to make the lightweight limit in his last fight. Bradley's fight with Campbell only lasted three rounds after Campbell chose not to continue when a cut formed over and behind his left eye. Bradley was awarded the TKO victory, but the verdict was later changed.A replay showed that the cut was caused by an accidental clash of heads. The rules state that if a fight is stopped by a cut caused by an accidental headbutt before the end of round four, it should be called a no contest. The California State Athletic Commission therefore changed the result.
Bradley vs. Peterson
On December 12, Bradley took on mandatory challenger and future light-welterweight champion, Lamont Peterson. Bradley dominated the fight, knocking Peterson down in the third round and went on to win a lopsided unanimous decision.Welterweight
In his HBO Debut, Bradley was scheduled to face Luis Abregu in a nontitle bout at welterweight. However, Bradley's promoter told ESPN.com that he had made a deal with Golden Boy Promotions to fight Interim title holder and knockout artist: Marcos "El Chino" Maidana, at the Agua Caliente Casino in Rancho Mirage, California, only a few miles from Bradley's hometown of Palm Springs. The fight was scheduled to take place on June 19, 2010, but was postponed after Maidana had suffered a back injury during training for the fight. As a result, the initial plan to move up in weight was made and the fight with Abregu was back on, scheduled for the Agua Caliente Casino, along with a set fight date of July 17, 2010.Although clearly out-sized, Bradley proved too quick and too skilled for the hard-hitting Abregu winning by unanimous decision, with the judges' scorecards reading 119–111, 118–112 and 117–113. At the end of the fight, Bradley openly made a challenge to pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao, calling for him to "Come break down this wall." Bradley also called out Devon Alexander, Amir Khan and Marcos Maidana.Return to Light-welterweight
Bradley vs. Alexander
Main article: Timothy Bradley vs. Devon Alexander
On January 29, 2011, Timothy Bradley defended his WBO junior welterweight
title in a unification fight against fellow light welterweight title holder,
WBC champion Devon Alexander, at the Silverdome Arena in Pontiac, MI. Bradley
won via 10th round technical decision.As stipulated in the contract of the fight against Devon Alexander, Bradley would be given a $1.3 million payday regardless of whomever he selected as his opponent for his next fight. While the public wanted Bradley to fight the then WBA light-welterweight champion Amir Khan and unify the division,Bradley opted to not take the fight.
Stripped of WBC Title
Timothy Bradley was stripped of his title as he refused to fight then World Boxing Association light-welterweight champion Amir Khan. Many have speculated that Bradley was not satisfied with the $1.3 million to fight a boxer of Amir Khan's caliber, although this was Bradley highest pay day in his entire career so far. Also, he had admitted that it was too risky to fight Amir Khan, asking rhetorically on the American radio show Leave It In The Ring, "What if I lose then I am out the sweepstake to fight pound-for-pound-king Manny Pacquiao for 7.5 million dollars?"Bradley's refusal to take the fight led to a falling out between him and his promoter Gary Shaw. Subsequently he was stripped of the WBC title due to inactivity.Joins Top Rank
Timothy Bradley joined Top Rank and made his debut for them
on November 12, 2011, defending his WBO junior welterweight title against
former lightweight titlist Joel Casamayor, 40, on the undercard of Manny
Pacquiao vs. Juan Manuel Marquez III. Bradley won by TKO in the eighth round in
making his case for a shot at Pacquiao.
