By Michael Lieberman: Few people would ever consider putting WBO light welterweight champion Timothy Bradley (27-0, 11 KO’s) in with Manny Pacquiao after watching how poorly Bradley fought against WBC light welterweight champion Devon Alexander (21-1, 13 KO’s) last weekend. Bradley looked like nothing special, and that’s being kind about it.
Bradley did enough to win but didn’t impress with his weak punches, average hand speed and his tendency to lead with his head when looking to exchange shots with Alexander. Bob Arum, however, liked what he saw in Bradley and thinks he would be a good match-up for his number #1 cash cow fighter Manny Pacquiao. You have to wonder whether Arum likes Bradley because of how poor he looked or because he has a perfect record that will make Pacquiao look a little better when he destroys Bradley.
In Michael Marley’s interview of Bob Arum at examiner.com, Arum said “Bradley’s the kid of fighter we’d love to have. He just comes off nicely as a person and is the kind of opponent I think Manny would welcome, the kind of opponent who is good for the sport of boxing.”
It seems that Bradley’s contract with promoter Gary Shaw ends in May 2011, and Arum sounds as if he’s interested in trying to sign Bradley and add him to his growing Top Rank stable. Obviously, Arum wouldn’t match Pacquiao with Bradley until he’s part of his stable. That would be an in house fight between Pacquiao and Bradley.
I don’t see the point in Arum adding Bradley to his stable, especially if Bradley gets badly schooled by Amir Khan in September. In that case, Arum would have just another light welterweight non-champion on his hands. He already promotes Lamont Peterson, who I can’t see ever becoming a champion.
Bradley would be a good addition, but his time at the top might be dwindling. I think Khan is a much better fighter than him, and I think Marcos Maidana would beat Bradley as well. I can see Lucas Matthysse, Zab Judah and Kaizer Mabuza also beating him. Arum would be wise to wait and see what happens with Bradley and Khan before getting excited about putting Bradley in with Pacquiao.
If Arum is okay with matching Pacquiao up with Bradley with Bradley coming off a loss, then so be it. I think it would be stupid, but then again I also thought it was crazy for Arum to match Pacquiao up with Joshua Clottey, who was coming off a loss at the time he fought Pacquiao.
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