By Robert “Big Moe” Elmore: I know that this has been reported on another boxing sight that the newly signed Top Rank fighter WBO light welterweight champ Timothy Bradley is the front runner to fight Manny Pacquiao next, but I would like to take a look at this from a different angle.

The signing itself was no surprise seeing how Bradley passed up a fight with Amir Khan and $1.4 million dollar pay day. The surprise is how Bob Arum lined up his dominos and knocked them down at the right time.

The timing of the signing couldn’t be more perfect for Arum. Follow me. It came a week and some days after Floyd Mayweather’s fight with WBC welterweight champion Victor Ortiz. Top Rank spoke of interest in fighting Bradley a little while back. I believe Arum started wooing Bradley when a buzz about Mayweather’s returning to the ring began to circulate and who he would be fighting. In fact, boxing rec.com even had Ortiz as Money’s next opponent, but it was soon taken down. The idea was/is to counter Mayweather’s efforts. Ortiz, young, strong, vibrate, power, a background that makes the casual and non casual boxing fan be sympathetic towards him, and was champion. Bradley, young, strong, vibrate, champion, undefeated and looking for the big pay day and fight. Keep in mind also that Bradley contract with Gary Shaw expired on June 30th of this year. Top Rank could’ve signed him immediately, but opted to wait.

There is also motivation as well. One, to sooth the public demands that Manny Pacquiao fight somebody that is young and who actually has a chance to win and not just collect a paycheck. In fact, so much so that Top Rank wasted no time in putting Bradley on Pac’s undercard, facing 40-year-old Joel Casamayor. Two, to show the public that Manny can do it better than Mayweather both in skill and pay per view numbers. And at the same time, the fight is kept in house and another pocket stuffer for the 79-year-old promoter. So it’s a win-win for Arum. So don’t get your hopes up to Mayweather/Pacquiao in 2012. Pacquiao said he wants to retire in 2013, so that might happen then.

Don’t be fooled by Arum’s tactics. The Bradley/Pac is all but a two signatures away from being made. Remember, seven days before Pac stepped in the ring with Mosley, the Marquez fight was signed sealed and delivered and this will be no different. Arum has a few name to toss out to the public like Kermit Citron, a possible rematch with Miguel Cotto, and Mike Jones to keep them guessing.