Timothy Bradley: Leading a division head first

By Boxing News - 02/05/2011 - Comments

By Hernan Cortez: A few weeks ago, I wrote an article proclaiming that the Alexander/Bradley bout would be good as long as an ill-fated head-butt did not stop the fight. Well, as many had feared, the fight ended with this worst-case scenario playing out.

An all too familiar series of events unfolded around Timothy Bradley’s victory. Bradley was arguably winning a close and messy fight when an unintentional head-butt halted the bout. In this case, the unfortunate blow ended the bout in the tenth round, and the night ended in Bradley’s favor. The result has allowed Bradley to call out everyone from Amir Kahn to Manny Pacquiao, and claim to be the best of a talented division. But leading head first in tough fights has raised criticism about Bradley’s performances. Although Bradley is a talented pugilist who works hard in his bouts, his unintentional head-butts have become a central theme of his legacy.

The consensus among critics seems to be that Bradley is not-great-at-anything, just-good-at-everything. He is not so much an immediate interest as a looming fixture. So it appears that is how he is regarded as a potential opponent for an array of top contenders. Part of the hesitant embrace from the whole of the boxing community is due to his habit of coming in headfirst. Alexander is the fifth recent opponent of Bradley’s to have an issue after a head-butt or two. Bradley has never been reprimanded for an intentional head-butt, but he did have his win against Nate Campbell successfully contested. Are these head-butts a byproduct of Bradley’s short stature and aggressive offense, or are his head-butts a tactical feature of his effective style? Will a ref eventfully decide one accident is too many, and deduct or disqualify Bradley? Bradley is skilled, and seems to have the ability to challenge top competitors. However, if his bouts continue to have a result that was influenced by a head-butt, there will always be that hesitation to consider him the clear champion of the division.



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