Nothing on Tim Bradley’s resume says his March 16 fight against Ruslan Provodnikov in Carson, Calif., should be called a comeback. He’s unbeaten. He’s got a title. He’s a good citizen. He never retired. Comebacks are for fighters coming off a loss, or rehab, or bankruptcy, or a jail sentence
But here he is, a good guy transformed into a villain in a comeback as bizarre as the scorecards that gave him a victory over Manny Pacquiao in June yet somehow turned him into something he isn’t.
“I don’t get any credit after the Pacquiao fight, whatsoever,’’ Bradley (29-0, 12 KOs) said Tuesday in a conference call. “People talk about me, my style, that I’m boring. Some people talk about my wife, my kids. People sent me death threats after the fight because I won undeservingly. I should have given the belt back.
“A lot of different things went on. I can talk all day about things that people said about me. But it doesn’t matter. None of these people are going to get in the ring with me. People can say whatever they want. It is a free country. So, I am going to say whatever I want, when I want to say it and how I want to say it.
“Those people don’t know me at all. If you get to know me, if you know what I go through, how I train and you still talk crap about me, then you have the problem. No one knows what I go through to prepare for my fights. People need to sell papers I guess.
“I am the nicest guy you will ever meet on the street. Ever.’’
The judges’ scoring in his split-decision over Pacquiao in a welterweight bout has been called the worst. Ever.
But that gives boxing too much credit. Let’s face it, the undisputed title for the worst decision ever is a dead heat in a very crowded field.
The way the public and much of the business treated Bradley, however, was the worst. Ever.
Internet vigilantes, all armed with anonymity, smeared Bradley with impunity and without giving his performance a second look. Did Bradley lose? Yeah, I think so. He suffered foot and ankle injuries. But can anybody remember another bout when the winner showed up at the post-fight news conference in a wheel chair? Didn’t think so. That’s how bizarre the entire night was.
But don’t blame Bradley. He didn’t score the fight. He fought and fought well. Review the tapes and you’ll see how he made Pacquiao look like a fighter in decline. Bradley exposed Pacquiao’s eroding hand speed and provided a preview of what would follow: Juan Manuel Marquez’ knockout of the Filipino in December. For that, Bradley deserves credit, if not a rematch. Instead, he gets death threats from people who aren’t fans. They’re gangsters. Sadly, there are a lot of them
“The result of the Pacquiao-Bradley fight was a very tough result for everybody in the sport and very tough for a lot of people,’’ said Top Rank President Todd DuBoef, who says Bob Arum’s promotional company has made peace with Bradley and his wife, Monica. “Fortunately Tim, Monica and myself have been able to communicate. There was no handbook for what the result of the fight was. No one knew how to handle it.
“We had death threats, Tim had death threats. It was a very spirited blogosphere campaign that we all got sucked into. Fortunately we have a healthy relationship moving forward. We are looking to keep him active and making the biggest fights we can for him.’’
Here’s hoping he wins them in a way that makes him Comeback Fighter of the Year.
Olympic Debut
American Olympic heavyweight Michael Hunter is scheduled to make his pro debut Saturday night on an Iron Boy Promotions card at Celebrity Theatre in Phoenix. Chad Davis (4-10), a Phoenix cruiserweight and heavyweight, is Hunter’s scheduled opponent.
Hunter lost in the opening round at the 2012 London Games to a Russian, Artur Beterbiyev, the 2009 World Amateur champion. Hunter led, 8-7, going into the final round. The Olympic preliminary ended, 10-10, but the decision went to Beterbiyev on a tie-breaking vote from the judges.
The Hunter-Davis bout, a four rounder, is one of 14 fights – 10 pro and four amateur – on a card scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. (MST).
Photo by Chris Farina / Top Rank
