By Sean McDaniel: The hugely popular light welterweight contender Marcos Maidana (29-2, 27 KO’s) could find himself in a big money fight in the near future against WBC/WBO light welterweight champion Timothy Bradley if Bradley can get by WBA Super World light welterweight champion Amir Khan in July. There is an excellent chance Bradley will win that fight, setting up a possible big money bout between Bradley and Maidana. Of course, Maidana still has to beat 34-year-old Erik Morales (51-6, 35 KO’s) next month on April 9th at the MGM Grand, in Las Vegas, Nevada. Morales, who is out of his class in terms of size and youth, isn’t expected beat Maidana.

Morales may give Maidana some problems for a few rounds but he’s likely to get quickly ground up into hamburger by the hard hitting Maidana before long and then taken out. Morales doesn’t have the same kinds of survival skills as Khan did in his 12 round decision win last December of Maidana. Morales doesn’t like to hold onto his opponents and he never runs. Morales has spent the better part of his career as a slugger and the stronger fighter in most of his fights. He still fights as if he’s got knockout power, but he’s lost strength in moving up in weight to the light welterweight division.

The worse thing that could happen for Maidana is for Khan to beat Bradley in July. That would be really bad news for Maidana because Khan has no intention in fighting Maidana again, even though their fight was one of the most exciting bouts of 2010. Khan instead will likely move up to the welterweight division and seek out a fight against Floyd Mayweather Jr. and/or Shane Mosley. Maidana won’t be in Khan’s plans. This is why it’s in Maidana’s best interest that Bradley beat Khan, because Bradley will take a fight against Maidana in a heart beat. It would be the biggest fight out there for Bradley unless he signs with Top Rank and is set up with a fight against Manny Pacquiao.