Friday, November 11, 2011

Tim Bradley returns to action, looks forward to facing Manny Pacquiao

Should Manny Pacquiao defeat Juan Manuel Marquez and Floyd Mayweather Jr. not emerge as the Filipino superstar’s next foe, Coachella Valley’s Tim Bradley will.

The unbeaten Bradley (27-0, 11 KOs) reappears from promotional problems Saturday when he defends his World Boxing Organization junior-welterweight title against veteran Joel Casamayor (38-5-1, 22 KOs) on the Pacquiao-Marquez III pay-per-view.

“I’m a lot stronger mentally after everything that’s happened –- the promoters, the criticism,” Bradley said.

Bradley burned with anger after being deprived of a substantial portion of site money given to his promoters Gary Shaw and Ken Thompson by the Silverdome in Detroit in January. Bradley beat then-unbeaten Devon Alexander then.

Rather than accept a summer date against another 140-pound world champion Amir Khan, Bradley balked, opting to deprive the promoters of more cash. He was criticized for ducking Khan.

“It’s a sport, but it’s a business,” Bradley said. “I always wanted to fight Amir Khan. I still do. He’s one of the top guys on my list to fight, behind Pacquiao and Mayweather.”

By striking a nine-fight, three-year promotional deal with Pacquiao’s promoter, Top Rank, he’s well-positioned to ultimately get Pacquiao.

“I just have to take care of business Saturday,” Bradley said. “Line ‘em all up.”

-- Lance Pugmire

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