By Jim Dower: After learning that undefeated lightweight Edwin Valero (27-0, 27 KO’s) was interested in fighting him, World Boxing Organization light welterweight champion Timothy Bradley answered in the affirmative, saying “Let’s get it on! Let’s make the fight happen.” Bradley (25-0, 11 KO’s) is considered to be the best fighter in the light welterweight division after beating Junior Witter, Edner Cherry, Kendall Holt and Lamont Peterson in the past two years.

Bradley also was in the process of dominating former lightweight champion Nate Campbell last year in a fight that was stopped after three rounds due to a cut above the right eye of Campbell. Valero, 28, has knocked out all 27 of his opponents and looked really impressive in stopping WBC lightweight interim champion Antonio DeMarco last Saturday night by a 9th round stoppage in Monterrey, Mexico.

Valero wants to get his feet wet at light welterweight in hopes of getting a big money fight against Manny Pacquiao in the near future. Valero’s job is made easier by the fact that he shares the same promoter as Pacquiao. The only thing that Valero is missing is more publicity with American audiences.

For Valero to become more well known by U.S. audiences he will have to take on good fighters. This is where the 26-year-old Bradley comes in. He’s easily the best fighter in the light welterweight division and if Valero can beat him, it will go a long way towards proving he’s for real and making a star out of himself in the process.

Bradley was hoping to get a fight against World Boxing Association light welterweight champion Amir Khan. However, after Khan changed promoters from Frank Warren to Golden Boy Promotions, the Bradley-Khan fight went out the window along with it.

Valero, if he does fight Bradley, he’ll be taking a huge risk. Bradley is a polished fighter with excellent hand speed, great defense and possesses a certain sense of toughness that enables him to bully some of the powerful punchers he’s faced. Bradley was dropped twice in his 12 round decision victory over Kendall Holt in 2009. Bradley likes to fight in close where he’s excellent at using his quickness to control the action.

It will be interesting to see if Bradley will be able to rough the powerful Valero up on the inside. Valero will have a slight height advantage and probably have a significant power advantage. Bradley will be the quicker fighter and could cause problems for Valero if he can work on the inside.