By John F. McKenna (McJack): Everyone likes a good rumor, especially when the rumor appears somewhat plausible and logical at the same time. One of the rumors currently circulating in the boxing world is that World Boxing Organization (WBO) champion Manny Pacquiao (53-3-2, 38 KO’s) will face Timothy Bradley (27-0, 11 KO’s) next if he gets past WBO/World Boxing Association (WBA) lightweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez (53-5-1, 39 KO’s) on November 12.
According to the rumor mongers Bradley will face Pacquiao in May 2012 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Fueling the rumor is the fact that Bradley was recently signed by Top Rank CEO Bob Arum. With Top Rank promoting both Bradley and Pacquiao the details of working out a Bradley – Pacquiao fight should be relatively simple.
Arum and Bradley manager Cameron Dunkin both insist that a potential Bradley -Pacquiao match was not part of the deal when Top Rank inked Bradley. Bradley has been relatively inactive over the past two years, having fought only once in 2010 when he defeated Luis Carlos Abregu and once so far in 2011.
In January Bradley won via 10th round technical decision over Devon Alexander (21-1, 13 KO’s). Devon after being accidentally head butted by Bradley was not able to see out of his left eye, after which the fight went to the scorecards. The fight was heavily promoted by HBO and was billed as “Somebody’s “O” has to go”. Unfortunately the fight was a dud and although Bradley won the fight it may have hurt him more than it helped him.
Further complicating things for Bradley was his decision to back out of a fight with WBA/International Boxing Federation (IBF) light welterweight champion Amir Khan this past July. Zab Judah wound up fighting Khan instead and was KO’d in the 5th round.
Bradley was promptly sued by his now former co-promoters Gary Shaw and Ken Thompson for backing out of the fight with Khan. The suit put Bradley’s career in limbo.
When told by his attorneys that he was free to sign a contract with Top Rank, Bradley jumped at the chance.
After signing Bradley, Top Rank arranged a fight for him against veteran Joel Casamayor (38-5-1, 22 KO’s) on the undercard of the Pacquiao – Marquez fight. It is hoped that Timothy’s performance against Casamayor surpasses his last outing against Alexander, thereby generating interest in a potential fight with Manny Pacquiao.
It is likely that the unbeaten Bradley will be Arum’s ace in the hole for a match with Pacquiao if a fight with Floyd Mayweather does not materialize.
Arum after signing Bradley said that he wanted to turn him into a superstar.
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