by James Slater – WBO light-welterweight champion Timothy Bradley proved once again last night that he is one of the best fighters in the world. Comprehensively out-pointing the game and talented Lamont Peterson, the 26-year-old know as “Desert Storm” won for the 25th time as a pro (11 wins coming by stoppage). A dedicated worker with fine skills including speed, a good chin and excellent reflexes, Bradley deserves to be a bigger name than what he is.
Not a trash-talker by any stretch, Bradley, unfortunately for some fans, is no big puncher either.. It shouldn’t matter, but it does – people like to see knockouts. Still, the way he’s going, Bradley is going to increase his fan base – his attitude and his willingness to fight ANYONE will see to that. Many fans expected an ultra-close fight last night, but Bradley, who decked the unbeaten Peterson in the 3rd round of a good fight, won handily on the scorecards. Clearly getting better with each and every fight, the man who won his first world title by defeating the then avoided Junior Witter wants a big year in 2010.
As quoted by Ring TV, Bradley, who said the Peterson fight was by far the toughest yet in his pro career, said he wants, “to take the hard road to respect,” and that he will do so, “by fighting the best opponents in the world.”
Gary Shaw, Bradley’s promoter, has been quoted by Ring TV as saying it could well be WBA light-welterweight champion Amir Khan who is next for his man.
“The fight I’m looking to do is an Amir Khan fight,” Shaw said. “Right after tonight’s fight, I got a call from the head of the WBO. He told me that Frank Warren called him tonight and said he wanted to make a fight between Bradley and Khan. I have no problem taking Timothy to England to fight Khan in front of 40,000 screaling Brits. I don’t think that’s a hard fight for Timothy. I’m surprised Warren wants that fight.”
Indeed, judging by the form Bradley has been showing lately, Khan would be in some tough fight if he signed to face the WBO champ. But Khan wants to make it as a big name in America, and a win over Bradley sure would be a good way to start making that happen. Shaw said he’d have no problems taking Bradley to England for the bout, but Khan has said he wants to fight in the States next. Maybe the unification match-up could go ahead in California?
Khan, who has shown he is vulnerable against big punchers, would likely feel he has no need to worry on the score against the champion with just 11 KO’s to his name. But skill and speed-wise, Bradley would test Khan to the very limit. Right now, as good as the 23-year-old former Olympian looked in his 76-second blow out of Dmitriy Salita last week, I’d have to make Bradley a slight favourite to win this intriguing fight.
But if a Khan fight cannot be made, there are plenty of other big 140-pound names who want to face Bradley. Paulie Malignaggi, who gained revenge over Juan Diaz last night, would make a great opponent for Bradley, and it has been reported that Juan Urango, Devon Alexander and Victor Ortiz have also called out “Desert Storm.” All would be good fights, but there is something about a Bradley-Khan clash that really appeals.
“Khan’s been stretched before and I’m more than happy to have Timothy stretch him again,” Shaw said.
If Bradley were to flatten Khan, his craving for worldwide notoriety would more than likely be satisfied!