it's a huge gamble but this could make him a big name. One that will get the big fights. Taking this fight will get a lot of fight fans the love for bradley. it would push him to the PPV level he wants to be at. People have him P4P but no one is really dying to see him. He is not getting a Floyd or Pac anytime soon. Bradley needs an action opponent after the fight with Devon Alexander and inactivity. It is a big risky step for Rios with huge reward. If he is able to pull it off he can go right to the big fights. With his style he is better off getting there sooner rather than later suffering wear and tear from wars. Rios has his style down pat. He is in his peak and should call out the big boys now. What you think ?
How would it be a gamble? He's the superior fighter in almost every aspect except power. And even with that, who knows since Rios is fighting smaller fighers in a weight class below him. Timothy's resumer is way better, more skilled, by far the better defense, faster and bigger. What else do you need? Oh and he also has heart, just as much as Rios. Seriously, before the Margarito/Pac 24/7 who the hell heard of Rios?
No, he needs to sit on his ass, show up at BOTH Mayweather/Ortiz and Pac/JMM. Get in the ring, make a fuss. Do WHATEVER it takes to get their god damn attention.
The real question is WHY would Rios fight Bradley. He's got his thing going, and I doubt he'd want to dump that for probably a sub million dollar purse.
Seriously at this point I consider Rios a very good prospect with respectable skills, but has yet to prove he can fight at 140, let alone take the #1 (or#2) guy at 140lbs.
Ducking and waiting your promotional contract which you're unhappy with to run out isn't the same. Mayweather taking a vacation when the Pacquiao fight was on the table is ducking, Bradley having clear issues with his promoter (which are documented) isn't. I'm not saying he would beat Amir Khan, but he isn't afraid of him. He had just fought Alexander, who was undefeated and touted as a future great fighter and has taken every fighter put in front him. I doubt watching Khan get almost taken out by crude plodding limited Maidana put some fear in him.
How much did Bradley refuse by not fighting Khan? A million plus right? And that was a career-high payday. Rios made less than half a million in his last fight. If Bradley was fighting to get bigger he would have fought Khan because it makes sense but if it is for money Rios is not bringing much on the table yet.
HBO needs good fights. with all the shakeups they are going to have to try and make interesting fights or no longer do boxing.