"I ain't no-one's puppet" - Timothy Bradley

A MERRY-go-round is currently circling the light-welterweight division. On board are Amir Khan, Zab Judah, Marcos Maidana with Erik Morales, Robert Guerrero and Victor Ortiz looking on from afar.
Ironically, the number one star at 140lbs, Timothy Bradley 27-0 is at present nowhere near the main attraction and finds himself shut out because of contractual problems and inactivity.
“I’m no-one’s puppet,” declared Bradley when the 27-year old Californian exclusively spoke to Undisputed. A man filled with frustration and annoyance, Bradley is growing tired of having to be a yes man to those that promote him. “All I do is obey, yes sir, no sir I’m sick of doing that. What I’m doing right now is basically waiting on my promoter (Gary Shaw) to do their job. I’m waiting on options. There’s never any options for me. It’s always a case of ‘do this or you don’t fight etc etc’.”

read more of my interview here

 

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A MERRY-go-round is currently circling the light-welterweight division. On board are Amir Khan, Zab Judah, Marcos Maidana with Erik Morales, Robert Guerrero and Victor Ortiz looking on from afar.


Ironically, the number one star at 140lbs, Timothy Bradley 27-0 is at present nowhere near the main attraction and finds himself shut out because of contractual problems and inactivity.


“I’m no-one’s puppet,” declared Bradley when the 27-year old Californian exclusively spoke to Undisputed. A man filled with frustration and annoyance, Bradley is growing tired of having to be a yes man to those that promote him. “All I do is obey, yes sir, no sir I’m sick of doing that. What I’m doing right now is basically waiting on my promoter (Gary Shaw) to do their job. I’m waiting on options. There’s never any options for me. It’s always a case of ‘do this or you don’t fight etc etc’.”


“I’ve travelled to England, Canada, Detroit, Mississippi – I’ve only fought in front of my home crowd three times. And then people sit back and say who am I?”


Having only fought once this year Bradley continues to wait and see who he is going to fight next. After his last victory against Devon Alexander it seemed as though ‘Desert Storm’ would be fighting Britain’s Amir Khan on July 23. Everything seemed to be in place for a unification fight and a fight that would decide the best in one of boxing’s leading divisions. “Right now everyone’s going on about me turning down the chance to fight Amir Khan,” said Bradley. “It was nothing to do with money. I’ve come off winning the biggest fight of my career. If Khan was waiting on me why did he take the (Paul) McCloskey fight? Why did he not wait on me? I’m not afraid of Amir Khan. The thing is right now at this point in my life the timing is not right. The fight is a little bit premature. It needs to marinate a bit more.”

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Khan v Bradley - the fight the fans want to see



That statement is one that may not sit too well with boxing fans who are

eager for the fight to happen. Virtually everyone is in agreement that the two champions are the best at their weight and are frustrated at the fight not being made. But as Bradley explains, his promoter hasn’t entirely done what has been expected of him. “Thing is my promoters have to get me a fight for June 30th. I gave them an extension on then initial contract till that date for another fight and they haven’t delivered. Look, everything was in Khan’s favour. Everything in the media was about me not taking the fight. I’m a two belt world champion and I’m being treated like a challenger. I know our styles match up very well and it would be a competitive fight but it’s too premature. It’s the same situation as the (Devon) Alexander fight. I was forced into it taking short money.”


Inactivity is hurting the WBC/WBO titlist. Having flourished in 2009 when he emerged victorious three times against challengers Kendall Holt, Nate Campbell and Lamont Peterson the unbeaten Bradley is going through a tough time as his gloves and kit gather dust waiting on an opponent. “I spoke to my manager (Cameron Dunkin) yesterday. Everyone’s upset right now. A lot of people are saying I’m stupid for not taking the money offered (for the Khan fight). At the end of the day boxing is no longer a sport it’s a business. I’m a little depressed about the whole situation.”


So as time drags on for Bradley it’s possible that no-one will see him back in the ring until the contract with Shaw comes to an end in June. With rumours of Top Rank looking to snap him up all that the American can do is look on as his rivals and former opponents negotiate over big money fights and reappearances on HBO. “Devon Alexander, a man I beat, is getting paid $1.25 million and he gets a fight in June?! And I have to wait till July till I fight, c’mon man. It’s not right.”


“Right now I can’t even negotiate anything. When I’m with Gary Shaw I don’t talk to anyone else. I play by the rules. I did them a favour by extending the contract. It was up by May 13th. I extended it to Jun 30. I had one option, Amir Khan, no other options were given to me.”

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Will this be the last time we see Bradley in 2011?



So in the meantime what is one of boxing’s leading lights doing to pass the time? “I always stay in shape. Some weeks I’m at the gym some weeks I’m not. I don’t sit around getting fat I like to be out there getting my lungs full. I’m sitting back studying fights, studying fighters and trying to get better all the time,” he explained.


And this summer Bradley might be studying future opponent Amir Khan even more as rumours of a fight with Zab Judah or Robert Guerrero continue to rumble on. “Khan would definitely step his game up if he fought Guerrero or Judah. I’ve watched his last three or four fights and he’s fought to the standard of his opposition. But they are both are good fights. Judah’s older but he’s crafty and brings a lot of power. Guerrero’s a good lefty. He’s a big lightweight and comes to fight.”


“I don’t care who I fight. I know Amir Khan is on the radar and I know at some point me and Amir are gonna have a fight eventually.”


For right now however, the light on Bradley v Khan is currently switched off.

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