Bradley’s 6-Pack Abs Intact

Fighting at 147 pounds on July 17

World Champion Timothy Bradley (25-0, 11 KOs) is ready for his close-up on July 17 when he makes his HBO debut in his battle against Luis Carlos Abregu (29-0, 23 KOs) at the Agua Caliente Casiino, Resort and Spa in Rancho Mirage, California.

Yesterday, at his media workout at the Fortune Gym in Hollywood, it was all lights, camera, action for the Palm Springs fighter nicknamed the “Desert Storm.” Bradley is moving back up to 147 to tackle the taller Abregu, an Argentinean top-rated WBC, IBF and WBO contender.

The last time the unbeaten Bradley stepped into the ring at this higher weight was over five years ago, so everyone was wondering how the well-conditioned boxer would fare at being a welterweight again.

As they say, the proof is in the pudding! As the crowd watched his every move and listened to each and every word he uttered, Bradley and his father, Timothy Bradley Sr. brought out the oil as the reigning WBO junior welterweight champ prepared to step into the ring. As he peeled off his T-shirt, the reaction was priceless.

I literally heard gasps of wonder, envy and disbelief over his washboard abs and “guns”. Team Bradley told me this is the common reaction when you have a fighter as disciplined as Timmy, who they say is at 148 right now. As his trainer, Joel Diaz, passed by to join Bradley in the corner, he said to me with a smile, “He’s always in good shape–you’ll never catch him out of shape!” Bradley then flexed his abs and biceps as the multitude of flashes went off.

As we watched the muscular pug–known for his never-ending stamina inside the ropes–go to work, he showed us his footwork and hand speed while throwing some combinations. “Just keepin’ it real…” Bradley told the assembled audience, which included the media, friends and family, including his wife, Monica and their two children.

I chatted with Sabas Rosas, a Team Bradley member, who explains, “During fights, Timmy goes strictly vegetarian.” Moving up from 140, the boxer, co-promoted by Gary Shaw Productions and Thompson Boxing Promotions, certainly seemed comfortable at his current fightin’ weight.

And while he may have given up meat for a while, he was actually “craving” some M&Ms: as in calling out Mayweather and Manny to a future fight with either of them! The M-word came up often, as Bradley challenged both “Money” Mayweather and Pacman. He said, “I’ll fight any guy!” while the names of Devon Alexander, Amir Khan, Marcos Maidana, Victor Ortiz and Andre Berto also popped up.

But for now, he says his focus is on the South American welterweight titlist, Abregu, his taller opponent with 23 knockouts. The power puncher from Argentina has fought as high as 153 and will be a good test for the shorter, younger man. “Abregu is a dangerous fighter,” Bradley himself acknowledged.

His camp says they’ve been sparring with Coachella-area fighters, as well as Mauricio Herrera, another local favorite in the area. And trainer Joel Diaz’s assistant, Sabas Rosas also gave me a few details about what a Diaz training camp is like at their Indio gym. “Joel does different things; we run, bike, hike, kayak during training camps,” Rosas tells me, giving props to the coach. “He deserves more credit; he’s above and beyond a great trainer who does so much.”

Only half joking, he then states, “You know that guy, Freddie Roach? Joel’s better than him. They don’t come in already made!”

As we go back to observing Timmy in the ring and on the double-end bag, he looks ready to make some fireworks on the canvas. Looking sharp, quick and strong comes as no surprise to his co-promoter Ken Thompson, who told me two weeks ago, “Timmy’s lookin’ GREAT–he’s ready to whip the world!” Alex Camponovo was in attendance at the workout, which also featured Alfredo Angulo, who will be sharing the card next Saturday.

The Bradley vs. Abregu desert showdown should be an exciting one for the fans, with a promising undercard including Angulo against Canadian Joachim Alcine, Antonio DeMarco vs. Daniel Attah, Gloria Salas vs. Katarina De La Cruz, Art Hovhannesyan vs. Jose Alfredo Lugo, Abraham Lopez vs. Willshaun Boxley, Eduardo Cruz vs. Ruffino Serrano, and Joel Diaz vs. Rene Torrez. The fights will be held at The Show at Agua Caliente.

The main event between Bradley and Abregu, an undefeated high-ranked contender, will be an entertaining bout as everyone wants to see how Bradley fares as a welter. This will be Timmy’s first time live on HBO’s “Boxing After Dark” series so you know he’ll want to make an impression in the scheduled 12 rounds of action.

And on Thursday, Bradley impressed those in the gym with his “abs of steel.” I continued to hear everyone around me commenting on those six-pack abs Bradley was sporting, even at the new, higher weight. “Those aren’t spray-painted abs!” Rosas from the Bradley camp whispers to me. “They may look airbrushed on, but those are REAL!”

To put it more succinctly and well, a bit more crass, as the large group remained in awe over the conditioning of Tim Bradley, I heard a media pal of mine say under his breath, “I’d give my right nut to look like that!”

No need for any drastic measures such as that for the “Desert Storm.” The current WBO champ earned that taut, ripped stomach by running miles and miles in the hot desert terrain, always training hard, sticking to a veggie diet and never losing that laser-like focus.

Check him out on July 17 as he works to add this welterweight victory to his win column.

For tickets: 1-888-585-3737

Photos by Michele Chong & Carlos Baeza