Is the Bradley – Pacquiao fight talk a ruse?
October 7th, 2011
By John F. McKenna (McJack): When Top Rank Promotions signed Timothy Bradley (27-0, 11 KO’s) a couple of days ago, right away it set the rumor mills in motion. The reasoning, according to the rumors is that if the long anticipated fight between WBO welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao and WBC welterweight champion Floyd Mayweather Jr. does not materialize Top Rank will have a fall back position.
Of course that would all be contingent on “Pacman” defeating his November 12 opponent WBO lightweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez (53-5-1, 39 KO’s). To be quite honest, Bradley although he is undefeated is not an exciting fighter and more importantly he is not a household name. Top Rank CEO Bob Arum promises to change all that. But even in his hometown Bradley has not been able to bring in the crowds.
Bradley’s last fight in January against Devon Alexander was heavily hyped by HBO and still it did not draw the viewership or live gate attendance one would expect. To make matters worse the fight came nowhere close to living up to it’s pre fight hype.
Timothy’s style of fighting in his fight with Alexander led to frequent unintentional head butts. The fight was difficult to watch and after all the the HBO hype I found myself asking what am I missing here? It was one of the more boring fights I’ve seen in the last several years. Inevitably the head butting by Bradley resulted in Alexander being cut. The fight was finally stopped after Alexander was not able to see due to the blood flow into his eyes. Bradley was awarded a technical decision because he was ahead on points when the fight was stopped.
In short Bradley’s style of fighting is not going to make people want to pay to see him fight, even if it’s free and on TV. What then would make Top Rank want to pit him against its cash cow, Manny Pacquiao?
It was reported in the Baguio Sun Star that Pacquiao conditioning coach, Alex Ariza had this to say about a potential future match between Bradley and Pacquiao:
“He’s too small. They should try to pick someone his own size. And what has he done lately?”
Bradley fought only once in 2010 and his last fight was against Alexander in January.
He declined a fight with Amir Khan in July. Top Rank lined up Timothy to fight on the undercard of the Pacquiao – Marquez fight on November 12 against 40 year old veteran Joel Casamayor in an effort to raise his exposure to boxing fans.
It is unlikely that if as expected the “Dream Fight” between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather does not take place boxing fans would come out in droves to watch Pacquiao fight Bradley instead. Is it possible that Top Rank is using Bradley as a ruse to lure Mayweather into a fight with Pacquiao, knowing that Manny will be retiring in 2013?
The sands of time are running out for a Pacquiao – Mayweather fight happening. Frankly this writer does not believe it will ever happen. The gulf between Pacquiao and Mayweather at this point is ever widening.
Tags: 30 Responses to “Is the Bradley – Pacquiao fight talk a ruse?”
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@ GI
Who started the rumour? Who continualy brings the rumour up? Who said they would fight Pacquiao on or off PEDs? Who said infront of hundreds of people ” Your next Pacquiao ” hhhmm Only one answer ” FRAUD “DIVA ” MAYNEVER.
For Pacquiao to take the test you want, Fraud has to sign up for the fight first.
You seriously think if Marquez thought Pacquiao was on PEDs he would be fighting him? or Mosley or Cotto or Hatton. It is all an act from Maynever to not fight Pacquiao, if you can not see it then you need your head removing from up Frauds A rse
@ John
thats funny cos Duran beat Sugar Ray lmao
“SLICK ELITE BOXER BEATS SLICK ELITE POWER PUNCHER E-V-E-R-Y TIME” ……………HEARNS,DURAN, HAGLER V.S. SUGER RAY !! SEE
Nope. Top Rank is just collecting all boxers who have potential to be successful for replacing Pacquiao later on once he enters retirement. They need to prepare once their no.#1 cash cow will not be there anymore. Boxing is business, always remember that.
@ Anonymous: If you believe what you post why don’t you post it anonymously. Must not have any conviction in what you say.
Bradley is on the the payroll just to be another of Arum’s stooges to take a dive for Pacquiao like Cotto, Clotty, and Margarita all did.
It is unlikely for Floyd-Pacquiao fight to happen..They actually don’t need each other…Floyd made it clear that he won’t be fighting Manny.
Who’s idea was it to come up with the lie that Pac said he’ll take the test?! Last I heard, he was trying to negotiate on days and only to a certain test! It shouldn’t matter what test it is if your for real! Bob, Pac, Roach, and the entire Top Rank sound like a bunch of dirt bags to me just taking out money and fooling fake boxing fans about Pac!
Um gone tell y’all again, Bob arum is the problem, FLOYD AIN’T SCARED HE WANTS
TO FIGHT PAC-MAN, PAC-MAN IS WILLING
TO TAKE THE TEST, HE WANTS TO FIGHT FLOYD, BOB ARUM CAN’T NEGOTIATE WITH
FLOYD an he has to Floyd is his own promoter
So Floyd is probably asking for 50 percent of
All earnings AN HE SHOULD GET PAID RIGHT
TAKE HALF, an now its gone get more complicated cause the Split is coming as soon
as Bob use Marquez who will win in November, to make it hard for pac-man v. Floyd to happen, Bob is the real problem
@ Patrick . Yes, from a financial perspective Manny and Money would obviously be able to milk a lucrative rematch. Floyd’s marketablility after his 0 goes would fade just a touch but not enough for him to catch another 40 mill for a rematch…unless whoever loses gets completely destroyed and convincingly answers all of fans questions over who’s better. I have Floyd beating the Pacman if they fought tomorrow.
Funny, Bradley ain’t talking jack about Floyd ?
McJack,
Top Rank is doing Tim Bradley and boxing a service on this one.
Tim Bradley never had any business headlining fights and now he won’t have to – get it? Its just simple marketing, don’t be such a simpleton.
Now we get to see Pacquiao – Marquez AND Bradley on the same night. And this, my friend, is how you promote a fighter.
They are not going to put Manny in with a young lion. It’s easier to say Manny can beat Bradley anyway than actually fighting him Bradley. You here that a lot, guys Manny has never fought before, “Pac can beat this guy or Pac can beat that guy” Prove it and take the chance.
@ Archie What? Restate that please.
@ John V. Both sides I’m sure would have a rematch clause. So, if Floyd were to lose, he could simply exercise that option and get a second huge fight. He wouldn’t be out anything. And neither would Pac. Both, in defeat, could simply say I lost to another all-time great. There’s no shame in that, right?
I think there is tremendous amount of pressure being applied by both sides to get what each want in negotiations, so both sides at this point are playing very hard to get. Basically, they’re showing the other cards they can play if the other side doesn’t give in. Floyd courting Khan and Pac now courting Bradley. But if the fans don’t support these fights, it may cause both sides to come to an agreement. Fingers are crossed!
Arum pulls the strings, not Manny. With that said, it is silly to think that Top Rank doesn’t want the Mayweather fight to happen. Arum has nothing to lose no matter what the outcome of the fight. Manny is done is a few years and Floyd is in the twilight of his career.
Arum WILL try to make this fight happen. The person who stands the most to lose is Floyd. If he happens to lose, his persona, his career would be done.
So I think if this doesn’t happen, the onus is on Mayweather.
I bet pac won’t fight berto or Floyd
@Sean I agree
Floyd will beat pac easily!
Even the needy realize when they are fed spoiled food! What is up with PAC fans? Just ask or put pressure on Manny to make the fight with Floyd. The avoidance of Mayweather has become clear and apparent
Clottey fight was fixed for a fact
Pac is a Fraud
Floyd is scared of Pacquiao and really scared of Khan. Won’t go out at night for for of meeting Manny.
Garbage…no one cares…He’s far from Elite…period
fight between bradley and manny was set up a long time ago. Arum likes making people think he wants a floyd manny fight but wants no part of that. Ariza already came out and said they are not doing any tests. Martinez basically came out and said he is facing floyd in march or may so probably will hear an announcment for that soon.
Manny beat in the very opening round.
bradley will beat manny pacquiao
Is Lashawn Merritt related to Tim Bradley ? The resemblance is uncanny
Bradley would be slow and with no punch at welter….He could always use his head…this fight won’t sell. Bradley is not a ticket seller.