By Michael Lieberman: The small 5’6″ WBO light welterweight champion Timothy Bradley (27-0, 11 KO’s) failed to make a case for himself that he deserves to be considered the number #1 fighter in the light welterweight division after beating WBC light welterweight champion Devon Alexander (21-1, 13 KO’s) by a 10 round technical decision. Although Bradley clearly won the fight, he looked small, slow, and not particularly powerful compared to WBA light welterweight champion Amir Khan.

We recently saw Khan fight Marcos Maidana (29-2, 27 KO’s) and beat him by an exciting 12 round decision last month in December in one of the most exciting fights of the entire year. Both Maidana and Khan looked much more powerful than Bradley and it’s hard to see Bradley being able to hang with either of those fighters at this point. I think you can make a case that Bradley shouldn’t be considered the number #1 fighter in the division. Khan looks a lot better and even Maidana looks better.

Maidana would have given Bradley massive problems on Saturday with his huge power and his ability to fight on the inside. Bradley, who likes to fight in close, would be tailor made for Maidana. I wouldn’t favor Bradley in that match-up because he wouldn’t have the power or the size to compete with the much bigger Maidana. And Khan, at 5’10”, would be far too tall, fast and powerful compared to the much smaller Bradley. I think boxing experts need to see Khan’s fight against Bradley as a case of Bradley, the #3 fighter, taking a huge step up against the number #1 guy in the division in Khan. Right now I wouldn’t give Bradley any chance against Khan and very little chance against the much bigger and stronger Maidana.