By Armando Paz: The whole tragedy surrounding the Edwin Valero now creates an interesting situation for Bob Arum and Top Rank. It was the plan for Bob Arum to put on another Top Rank Fighter vs. Top Rank Fighter production. They did it when Joshua Clottey fought Miguel Cotto; Miguel Cotto fought Manny Pacquiao, and recently when Pacquiao fought Clottey. It’s a good tool to make for easy negotiations and keeping the money within the same company.
Unfortunately, for Top Rank their planned Pacquaio vs. Valero fight won’t now take place in Texas later this year since Valero is now gone. It made sense for Top Rank since a fight with Mayweather is likely permanently derailed due to the drug testing issue. Valero was a Top Ranked fighter and he likely would have needed to fight in Texas so he could get medical clearance due to his head injury barring him in other states. This makes the winner of Bradley-Maidana a probable Plan B for Pacquaio unless Shane Mosley defeats Floyd Mayweather on May 1.
Timothy Bradley (25-0 11 KO’s) has already made it clear he is willing to fight either Manny Pacquaio (51-3-2 38 KO’s) or Floyd Mayweather Jr. (40-0 25 KO’s). He has stated “I can fight with either Olympic style drug testing or no additional drug testing.”
Bradley would be an intriguing match up for either Pacquiao or Mayweather. Bradley has won a grinding fight overseas against Junior Writter and beat Kendall Holt despite being knockdown twice. He has hand speed, foot work, and great inside fighting skills. But some wonder if Kendall Holt knocked him down twice than what would the harder hitting Manny Pacquaio do? I think Bradley would fight a more tactical fight and use inside fighting to take leverage off the power of Pacquiao’s punches. It also is important to consider if Pacquaio would fight Bradley at 140 or 147? It would be a new test for Bradley to come up in weight against someone with the power of Pacquaio.
Of course, it’s possible that Bradley may end up fighting Mayweather instead. It would be the battle of the undefeated of Mayweather wins against Mosley on May 1 and Bradley against Maidana on July 7. Mayweather always seems to make an issue of his adversaries’ losses but with a guy like Bradley it would be an unblemished record to criticize. Although Bradley critics will not hold back on their belief that Bradley has ducked Devon Alexander (20-0 13 KO’s) the other major undefeated fighter in the Junior Welterweight division. From a marketable point of view I think Bradley will possibly be the best alternate fight for Mayweather since Paul Williams seems to have his eye on the Middleweight division and Sergio Martinez.
Renee Carlos Maidana (28-1 27 KO’s) is now the biggest name in South American boxing after Valero’s death. In fact, many argue that like the fallen Valero he also should have an undefeated record.
The only blemish in Maidana’s record was a controversial split decision loss to Andriy Kotelnik in Germany. Maidana has never worried about the issue of hometown or gift since he usually allows his fists to be the judge with a knock out. Maidana in many ways is the classic stalker brawler but he himself has tasted the canvas. In his fight with Victor Oritz Maidana would touch the canvas three times in the first two rounds. But he got up each time and would score a massive blow that opened a nasty cut on Round 5. Maidana would continue the assault in Round 6 and ended in Ortiz calling it quits.
If Maidana beats Bradley he is a viable opponent for either Pacquiao or Mayweather. If he fights Pacquaio you have the classic war fight with both fighters trading punches. If he fights Mayweather it’s the Puncher vs.the Boxer angle. Although not technically gifted, I won’t question the heart and determination of Maidana. I expect a war with Bradley and not many punches being pulled.
The unexpected death of Valero has put more emphasis on the fight between Bradley-Maidana on July 7. The winner of the fight has a rightful mandate to get either Mayweather or Pacquaio this fall. But before that, we still need to get pass Bradley-Maidana, and that should be a special treat.
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