Timothy Bradley: Top Rank Boxing, Manny Pacquiao & Superstardom
Exclusive Interview by Marc Anthony
“There are fighters that only capture one world championship with two losses in their record and they get a shot at the pound for pound king and it’s disappointing to me.” – Timothy Bradley
The former WBC Light Welterweight World Champion Timothy Bradley, 27-0, 11 KO’s, has been making a lot of waves as of late. He last fought against formerly undefeated Devon Alexander on January 29th on HBO which generated 1.345 million live viewers according to Nielsen Media. Anything over a million viewers is amazing which shows people want to see him fight. Yet he felt superstar status has eluded him. So now newly signed with Top Rank promotions, according to his manager Cameron Dunkin, Timothy will get paid about 1 million per fight and a promise from Arum to make him the superstar that he justly deserves.
The Media and fans alike have questioned Timothy for refusing to take on a call out by Amir Khan, which leads me to this quote from Theodore Roosevelt: “It is not the critic who counts: not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly… who spends himself for a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat.”
Never shy with his thoughts the current WBO World Champion Timothy shares some with RSR…
MA: Newly signed with Top Rank with big plans…how has this move defined you?
How has it defined me? I am looking to become a superstar in boxing. I captured three championships and I am still not known and I wonder why? I am taking care of business in the ring and everyone likes a winner. What’s holding me up? I really thought about it , I looked at my career and I have fought in England, fought in Canada, I fought in Mississippi , I fought in my hometown three times, fought in Detroit and I am like where is the LA fight? Where is the New York fight? Where are the big major attraction city fights? I have never fought in those big attraction cities in front of a different audience. Like maybe fighting at the Madison Square Garden. That would be great and a great promotion to build my fan base in the east coast. I just felt that I needed to be with a promoter that builds superstars.
Top Rank has been around for years. They had Hagler, Hearns, Sugar Ray; the list goes on man… Mayweather…they built Mayweather even built Golden Boy De La Hoya and I said that’s definitely where I need to be at. For me to actually grow up in this game and get the credit that I deserve. I did this because I am in my prime years right now. I am only getting older I got to make the best of these years
MA: Are you ready for a Desert Storm HBO 24/7?
I am ready. I am ready for whatever comes with it. I am ready for it. I just don’t want to be a typical fighter in the game. I want to be world known. I want to fight the best fighters out there and I want a shot to fight the best pound for pound fighters in the world. Be it Mayweather be it Manny Pacquiao. I feel like I more than paid my dues. I have been in this game close to seven years now. I captured three world championships. I was the number one fighter at 140lbs.
I should be known and I am not but I feel that I definitely deserve a shot at the throne, I paid my dues. There are fighters that only capture one world championship with two losses on their record and they get a shot at the pound for pound king and it’s disappointing to me. I feel more than worthy to face one of these guys. Granted, if they say I am biting more than I can chew? Bradley is going get whipped or knocked out. That doesn’t bother me at all man what people think. Everyone can get touched in the ring man and there is always somebody out there that has your number. I just want my opportunity to show the boxing world that I am a force to be reckoned with. That this kid can fight.
MA: Do you think your critics are just confused fans?
I love haters and I love fans. I am going tell you this. I love my fans more than I love my haters but you know what? My haters are the ones who motivate me. As long as I am happy and my family is happy, that’s what counts. In this business, people like to jump wagon real quick in this game. I am a Cowboy’s fan. Do they suck? Yeah they do suck but I still ride by them because I am a fan. I stood by the Lakers, even though they didn’t win the championship last year. I still love the Lakers.
But in this boxing game (laughter) they jump ship like immediately, as soon as you lose. People start saying he was sorry, he was whack; I told you he was overrated… I sit back and I smile at that. You have all these fans that jump ship all the time. But you do have your true boxing fans also. I run into them every now and then. The tell me, Bradley we respect you, Bradley we respect what you are doing keep it going be tough. And I feel appreciated, definitely when I see a true boxing fan that is fan of Bradley and always a fan of Bradley no matter what is going on with this business and that’s the type of fans that I love man. True boxing fans.
MA: Is it important for you to be a positive role model?
Being a positive role model is important to me. I came from humble beginnings man. I have had a great father, great childhood, and great mother. Very strict on me and disciplined me a lot to get me on that straight path. Young kids to young adults do need role models. I definitely want to keep that image. I want to be a role model. I want to help kids and help people that want to do something in life that have a goal and have a vision… aid them. That’s why I am hugely involved with the youth. You hear it all the time, the youth are the future and it’s true… they are the future and if I can help at least one person I have given back. Giving is better than receiving I figured out that much and I feel good doing it.
MA: Having your daughter make you that much more dangerous and focused?
You know what, it does. She was at training camp today. Mom was there she was watching me spar today and I definitely had to show out for her and definitely take care of business in there and shine. Yeah, my step-kids are my kids; they don’t have to be biological I have already had motivation through them. My wife but having little Jada, I got to hold it down for another 18-20 years. It gets you thinking, it’s like another 18-20 years. We start over.
My son he is 11 he is going be 12 in January so he is almost out the door. And my daughter she is 7 so another 11-13 years she is out the door but I got another baby now and she is only 2 months so another 18-20 years to take care of my little young lady. I got to be on my A game and get this money and put away for their future. 18 years from now I can’t be boxing (laughter). I know some guys that are doing it like Bernard Hopkins.
I am not trying to leave this game broke, not trying to leave this game with brain damage. I have to try to find a happy balance and invest everything I make and its going be alright man. Ultimate decision just boils down to my family, that’s what I think about.
First are my family and then my career. It works hand in hand bro.
MA: Is it hard to be on the road?
No it’s not tough because I am the type of fighter… I stay home. I don’t leave home for 3 months. I stay focused right here. People in the Valley where I live at in my city they support me, they embrace me and they encourage me. They give me inspiration every day. So I like to see them on a daily basis. I like to be out in my hometown and my home city and just walk around and there is no distractions because if you leave your door open for people to distract you , it’s going keep on happening but with my demeanor and how I do my thing. I am really close to home daily and people normally get it. If they try to call me three four times and I don’t answer it’s because I don’t want to be bothered. I am busy with my family I will give you a call when I get chance but I just don’t jump at anybody’s beckon call. I take care of my business and that’s it. That’s all I do man.
MA: Speaking of taking care of business, you have an upcoming fight on November 12th against Casamayor who out of 44 professional fights only lost 5 times, not an easy fight, what challenges will he bring to the table?
He is a veteran, he knows a lot of tricks of the trade and he is the type of fighter who likes to get up for the big fights. He needs something to motivate him because he is a veteran of the game. This is his opportunity to win another world championship. He is definitely tying to derail my plans. He is going be a tough guy. Still has his power and still has his boxing ability. His has smarts and ring generalship makes it a tough fight for me in there. He is no slouch. I respect that guy. I have watched him when I was in the amateurs and he is a great fighter, much respect to Casamayor. It’s going be a good challenging fight for me. I feel it’s a winnable fight. I just have to fight a smart game plan and look to my corner and I should be victorious at the end of the night.
MA: Plan on having your daughter at ringside?
Absolutely, I want them to know what daddy does. I want to show them what I do for them. Why I fight. Absolutely, she is probably going be at the fight. She probably won’t know what is going on but she is going be watching. There will be action so she will definitely be watching. I want her there at ringside, because if I need a ‘boost” all I have to do is look at her and I see her and I am going go to work. And all my kids are going be there if they are able to
MA: Thanks very much Tim. Anything in closing?
Hey man I appreciate it. Thanks man.
Timothy Bradley
Nickname: “Desert Storm”
Division: Light Welterweight
Professional Record: 27-0-0, 11 KO’s
2011
1-29— Devon Alexander, Pontiac, Michigan W TD 10
2010
07-17 — Luis Carlos Abregu, Rancho Mirage, CA, W 12
2009
12-12 — Lamont Peterson, Rancho Mirage, CA, W 12
(Retained WBO light welterweight title)
08-01 — Nate Campbell, Rancho Mirage, CA, NC 3
(Retained WBO light welterweight title)
04-04 — Kendall Holt, Montreal, Canada, W 12
(Retained WBC light welterweight title)
(Won WBO light welterweight title)
2008
09-13 — Edner Cherry, Biloxi, MS, W 12
(Retained WBC light welterweight title)
05-10 — Junior Witter, Nottingham, United Kingdom, W 12
(Won WBC light welterweight title)
2007
07-27 — Miguel Vazquez, Corona, CA, W 10
06-01 — Donald Camarena, Santa Ynez, CA, W 10
04-13 — Nasser Athumani, Ontario, CA, TKO 5
02-02 — Manuel Garnica, Santa Ynez, CA, W 8
2006
12-01 — Jaime Rangel, Santa Ynez, CA, W Tech Dec 8
10-16 — Alfonso Sanchez, Ontario, CA, KO 1
08-18 — Martin Ramirez, Corona, CA, TKO 5
06-23 — Arturo Urena, Ontario, CA, TKO 3
05-13 — Jesus Santiago, Lancaster, CA, KO 6
03-31 — Eli Addison, Ontario, CA, W 8
02-17 — Rafael Ortiz, Ontario, CA, TKO 2
2005
11-21 — Jorge Padilla, Ontario, CA, W Tech Dec 9
09-23 — Francisco Rincon, Corona, CA, W 10
08-26 — Juan Cervantes, Corona, CA, W 6
07-21 — Marcos Costa, Los Angeles, CA, TKO 5
06-03 — Justo Almazan, Ontario, CA, W 6
04-25 — Ramon Ortiz, Ontario, CA, KO 3
03-28 — Carlos Parra, Ontario, CA, KO 1
2004
11-22 — Luis Medina, Ontario, CA, TKO 1
10-29 — Raul Nunez, Ontario, CA, W 4
08-20 — Francisco Martinez, Corona, CA, TKO 2
