By William Mackay: WBC/WBO light welterweight champion Timothy Bradley officially declined to take the July 23 fight with WBA light welterweight champ Amir Khan, and thus leaving Khan to make a hard decision about who he will face next in place of Bradley. Khan and his promotional company made a last ditch effort to try and lure Bradley into accepting the fight in July by bumping up his money a little to $1.4 million plus 1/2 of Khan’s UK PPV money.

Bradley wasn’t at all interested. Speaking with mydesert.com, Bradley said “Right now I’m not fighting Amir Khan. Unfortunately, we couldn’t come to terms. I’m ready and willing to go and available for other opportunities.”

Bradley isn’t say who he plans on looking to fight next, but it’s likely going to be someone decent with a name. He can’t take a complete nobody because that wouldn’t help him for building up his name for a fight next year against Manny Pacquiao. The general thought is Bradley is waiting for his contract with his current promoter to run out next month and will then sign with Top Rank, the same promotional company as Pacquiao.

Bradley would then fight Pacquiao in an in house fight. Bradley would stand to make a heck of a lot more money facing Pacquiao then he would fighting a risky bout against Khan. You don’t know what you’re going to get in a Khan bout, other than less money. Khan could somehow dance around the ring all night long throwing the same kind of judge pleasing flurries that he did against Marcos Maidana and win a decision.

Even if most of Khan’s punches hit nothing but air, judges love those flurries and seem to give rounds to fighters like Khan regardless of whether his punches are actually landing or not. Bradley might end up losing a decision where he lands the better shots but Khan throws the judge pleasing flurries. Bradley would have problems because Khan would likely grab him on the inside and hold like he did Maidana. Without a referee taking points away from Khan for constant holding, he’d effectively smother Bradley’s offense in close and throw the flurries that impress judges once on the outside.

I don’t blame Bradley for not wanting to fight Khan. Let him fight Maidana or Breidis Prescott again, which I can’t see Khan ever doing again. Khan is too risky for Bradley right now, and Maidana and Prescott are too risky for Khan. Khan will probably take on a soft opponent like Erik Morales next. Roberto Guerrero’s name has been mentioned, as well as Zab Judah. Those are good fighters. I can’t see Khan facing either of them. I see Morales getting the fight or someone else that hasn’t been mentioned yet.