By Gerardo Granados: There has been talk around the internet regarding Tim Bradley as a deserving option for the undisputed, undefeated WBC – WBA – WBO Welterweight Champion of the World Floyd Money Mayweather Jr. for his next fight on September 12th, but to be honest, Bradley, former WBC welterweight belt holder Andre Berto or little known Karim Mayfield deserve a shot at Money more than the undefeated young lion and current “regular” (that means he is not the true organization champion) WBA welterweight belt holder Keith One Time Thurman.
Andre Berto once was perceived as potentially as a welterweight boxer who could have done great things at the division but he slowly faded away after his epic battle against Victor Ortiz back in April 2011 which he lost, having a record of 3 loses one by knockout and 3 wins on his last six.
And after losing that great fight he stopped Jan Zaveck to pick the IBF welter strap in 2011, then lost to Robert Guerrero by UD12 in 2012, lost to Jesus Soto Karass by TKO12 in a close fight in 2013, defeated Steve Upsher Chambers by UD10 in 2014, and on his last outing this year to me Berto was saved by the referee when he prematurely stopped a fight in which Berto was clearly out boxed and was behind in the scoring cards when he fought Josesito Lopez.
So how come Berto is even considered by Mayweather as his next opponent? Yes He is a former belt holder with a name recognized by fans but he does not even have the tools to represent a legit threat to Floyd. If Guerrero was able to bust him up do the readers truly believe that Floyd would have a hard time against a flat footed Berto?
Karim Mayfield is a club fighter, his fight record is W12-L2-D1; with all due respect to Mayfield but I have no idea of why Mayweather would have mentioned him as his next opponent. Maybe casual fans will buy this one but I doubt that hard core fans or boxing purist will fall for it.
If Manny Pacquiao picked Chris Algieri that it is not a valid reason for Mayweather to pick either Berto or Mayfield, after all if Floyd claims to be the TBE then he should fight top opposition instead of hand pick.
Tim Bradley recently defeated WBA light welter belt holder Jessie Vargas but he did not beat a top 10 Welter Contender. In fact most of Desert Storm fights at the welter limit have been against fighters moving up from light welterweight.
Manny Pacquiao was robbed on their first bout and clearly won his second meeting. Bradley managed to survive against Ruslan Provodnikov who came up from light welter. To me his split draw versus Diego Gabriel Chavez was clearly a mistake by judges and his most significant win at the welter division in a close fight came against Juan Manuel Marquez who was no game for Floyd years ago.
So how come is it that Bradley is more deserving than a fighter who has campaigned at the weight limit and has waited more than just a year to get a chance to prove his worth?
Undefeated Keith Thurman (W25 (21)-L0-D0) is a young lion who has patiently waited on line for a shot at Floyd. On his last six bouts Thurman defeated Jan Zaveck by UD12, Diego Gabriel Chavez KO10, Jesus Soto Karass by TKO9, Julio Diaz RTD3, Leonardo Bundu by UD12 and Robert Guerrero by UD12.
Weeks ago Floyd twitted that Gennady GGG Golovkin was a nobody, but let me ask the readers who was Mayweather Jr before Genaro Chicanito Hernandez gave him his first shot at the title he held. By that time Hernandez was former WBA and current WBC super-feather Champion with a title fight record of W12 (4)-L1-D1, lost to Oscar De la Hoya when he tried to win the WBO lightweight strap and had a technical draw in one round versus Raul Jibaro Perez due head-butt resulting in cut for Jibaro; while Floyd´s total record was W17 (13)-L0-D0 and had not defeated a boxer worth to mention.
I´ll be honest to the reader because the way I see it the one to be picked will be the one who can bring the pay per view numbers in, and it has little to nothing to do with the quality of the opponent they choose. Maybe even Floyd could end fighting out of Vegas or the US for this one.
But, do the readers think that Bradley, Mayfield or Berto are more deserving than Thurman?
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