By James Slater: First things first: it’s good news that talented, undefeated hard working 140-pound champion Timothy Bradley has ironed out his legal issues, is now signed with Top Rank and is set to make his ring return on November 12th. The 28-year-old with the 27-0(11) pro record will face former super-featherweight and lightweight ruler Joel Casmayor on the under-card of the huge Manny Pacquiao-Juan Manuel Marquez III card in Las Vegas.
Bradley, who will defend his WBO 140-pound belt, is excited to be back and the Palm Springs man says he is looking to land himself some bigger fights at 140, before a move up to welterweight and a hoped for shot at Pac-Man.
Now, how will the fans react to Bradley against Casamayor? The Cuban southpaw is 40-years-old and he has lost two of his last four fights. “El Cepillo’s” best days certainly came down at 130 and 135-pounds, and we have no idea how much he has to offer today, up at 140. Still, as a “comeback” fight for Bradley (who last fought in January of this year), is Casmayor such a bad opponent? Still quick, still ambitious and having all the experience in the word as he has, the Cuban might just be able to test Bradley in the 12-rounder.
It would be a reasonably big statement by Bradley if he were to halt Casamayor; who has been stopped just once in his long, 38-5-1(22) career. Bradley will then move on to bigger, more meaningful fights (he told Ringtv.com that 140-pound names such Marcos Maidana and Erik Morales interest him).
The critics have come out and attacked Bradley’s fight with the ageing, faded Casamayor, though. One such critic is WBA/IBF light-welterweight boss Amir Khan. As fans know, Khan has accused Bradley of avoiding him, due to a talked of fight between the two failing to come to fruition recently (when Bradley, by his own admission, fell “under the radar” due to his legal issues).
Now, via his Twitter page, Khan has torn into Bradley’s decision to face Casamayor.
“Wow, Tim Bradley Vs Joel Casamayor?? The guy is 40-years-old and ranked 30th. I’m sorry but he ain’t no Bernard Hopkins, I don’t know how Bradley gets away with fights like this, maybe because nobody cares about him lol. I guess the chicken crossed the road to fight Casamayor.”
A stinging attack by Khan, no doubt. But is Khan being too harsh on Bradley? Bradley has fought stiff competition his whole career, and this fight, taken after the longest layoff of his pro career, is one exception to the rule. And even if Casamayor is “no Bernard Hopkins,” he isn’t a shot, ruined fighter either. Yes, we’d all prefer to see Bradley fight Khan, but Bradley is at least aiming as high as a fight with Pacquiao.
On a ratings scale, Bradley-Casamayor probably deserves a C, but coming after consecutive fights with Junior Witter, Edner Cherry, Kendall Holt, Nate Campbell, Lamont Peterson (who Khan faces next), Luis Abregu and Devon Alexander – and with Bradley coming back after a long layoff – isn’t Bradley’s upcoming fight deserving of a break by the fans and the critics?