Bradley says James’ account of Spence’s training camp disputes long-standing criticism over sparring, pad work and preparation before the Terence Crawford fight
Tim Bradley believes Derrick James has finally told his side of the split with Errol Spence Jr., and says the trainer’s explanation contradicts several of Spence’s public claims. Bradley now wants Spence to answer James’ version of events.
Reacting to Derrick’s interview with Brian Custer, Bradley said he had been waiting to hear the trainer answer Spence’s side of the story.
“I knew it was another side to the story with Errol Spence,” Bradley said on YouTube. “Derrick James telling it all. It wasn’t him. It wasn’t him that told you, ‘Don’t spar.’ No, it was Errol Spence’s dad. That’s who it was.”
Bradley said James’ explanation shifted the picture, especially after Spence had previously criticized his former trainer for the way camp was handled before his loss to Terence Crawford.
“Tell the truth, Errol,” Bradley said. “There’s three sides: the truth, the other side and then the other side.”
James said Spence was dealing with a rib injury and that he wanted him to do light sparring with an unnamed fighter, but the idea was rejected because of concern the injury would become public. Bradley said James also disputed Spence’s criticism of the mitt work.
“He said you also said no too,” Bradley said. “And he said you said that he ain’t throw no punches at you during the pad work. He said that’s fugazi. He said go look at the film.”
Bradley added that James defended the southpaw preparation, saying Spence worked with switch-hitting sparring partners early in camp.
“He said the first two sparring partners that you sparred, they were switch-hitters,” Bradley said.
Bradley closed by saying the issue still needs a response from Spence.
“Somebody lying,” Bradley said. “Now we got to hear your response.”
