TIMOTHY BRADLEY ; More Than Just THE OTHER GUY!
October 10, 2013
By Kenneth Miller
Assistant Managing Editor
If Timothy Bradley walked into the grocery store, would you know who he is?
But, you would know who Floyd ‘Money’ Mayweather is!
Bradley is the other guy. The other prominent Black fighter who has won multiple world championships in the welterweight division.
The other undefeated champion that few people are talking about.
Bradley in essence has taken Mayweather’s seat with Top Rank as its signature fighter, and on Saturday Oct. 12, he will defend his WBO welterweight championship against Juan Manuel Marquez at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas.
Both Bradley and his opponent have done something that Mayweather will probably never do. They have both defeated Manny Pacquiao.
Bradley (30-0, 12 KOs) beat Pacquiao in a disputed split decision in June 2012 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
In a fight that brutally under delivered on its prominence, Bradley walked away from his greatest boxing achievement feeling rather shameful. Observers felt that he clearly lost the fight.
After talks of a rematch failed, Bradley went about his business in the manner in which he always has—with class and dignity.
Marquez knocked out Pacquiao cold six months later and has gained all of the fame that has eluded Bradley.
In March, Bradley retained his WBO title by winning a unanimous decision against Rusian Provodnikov at the Home Depot center is Carson.
Mayweather will probably scoff that even if Bradley beats Marquez, it’s not enough to put him on the same plateau.
However, Bradley also has a victory over a guy that Mayweather wouldn’t fight in Devon Alexander.
Bradley is six years younger than Mayweather at age 30, and their styles are contrasting both in and outside the ring.
Bradley is considered a brutal brawler, a fighter who will take way more risk than he should to land a punch. During his last fight, he was knocked down and nearly out before surviving and retaining his belt. His moniker is ‘Desert Storm.’
Born in Cathedral City, California and raised in Palm Springs, he came from very humble beginnings. He used to work as a waiter and dishwasher before he decided that he wanted to become a champion fighter.
While he loves cars, they are not like the ones that Mayweather owns, and instead of flaunting his wealth with fancy jewelry and gifts to sexy women, he is diplomatic, polite and reserved. He is also happily married to his high school friend, Monica Manzo.
“I have come a long way, and when I am in training, I am zoned out,” Bradley told the Sentinel during his final preparations last week.
When he finds himself in trouble he said that he will gain the inner strength from his family and the hard work that he puts into training before fights.
He listens to rap music of such artist as Jay-Z and Justin Timberlake while running 8-10 miles through the desert hillside.
A father of three, including his two adopted children through his marriage, the California native is willing to do what ever it takes to win a fight within the rules.
When he steps into the ring against Marquez in their HBO Pay-Per-View confrontation, he will be meeting a man who has more knockouts than he has fights. Marquez is 55-(40 Kos)-6-1.
He is also 40-years old.
They both have victories over “The Man.”
Marquez is ranked as the No. 3, pound-for-pound fighter in the world according to ESPN. Bradley is ranked 9th, way out on the fringe.
A victory Saturday night could change all of that, but chances are it will not change who Bradley is. He’s the Man!