Bradley’s Co-Promoter Speaks

July 21, 2010

Ken Thompson on “Desert Storm’s” next fight!

After Timothy Bradley’s welterweight victory over Luis Carlos Abregu last Saturday night at Agua Caliente Casino, Resort and Spa in Rancho Mirage, California, the one question being asked over and over is: WHO WILL BRADLEY FIGHT NEXT?

Stepping up to 147, the WBO Light Welterweight Champ wanted to make the most out of his HBO debut. After 12 rounds of action against the formerly unbeaten Abregu (now 29-1, 23 KOs), the local favorite Bradley, using his hand speed and tenacity, won over the crowd and the judges with a unanimous decision of 118-110, 117-111, and 116-112.

Right after the brawl against his foe nicknamed “El Potro,” Bradley told HBO “Boxing After Dark’s” Max Kellerman that “he’d fight all of them” and that he’s “a throwback fighter” ready to take on anyone and anybody, either in 147 or 140. He also called out the big guns of Manny Pacquiao in issuing a public challenge, saying “Manny, come break down this wall!”

He has also called out Floyd Mayweather, Devon Alexander, Marcos Maidana, Amir Khan, Victor Ortiz, Andre Berto and again, says he’ll fight anyone and everyone but of course, favors the top dogs, the big names of Pacquiao and Mayweather.

With bold statements such as these, the boxing buzz continues to rise as some critics/bloggers/haters say that the 26-year-old is not quite ready to share the spotlight with either Pacman or “Money” Mayweather just yet–if ever. But the undefeated boxer, known for his steadfast spirituality, is also steadfast and confident that he CAN take on anyone in the ring.

So just who will Bradley face next?

I caught up with his co-promoter three days after the big desert showdown to ask him about the latest news and headlines, especially since both the Khan Krew and Team Alexander have issued high-profile challenges of their own in calling out Bradley.

Co-promoters Ken Thompson and Gary Shaw have both echoed their fighter’s statements for all the promoters to “Tear down your walls!” as the far-from-shy Gary Shaw, repeated his fighter’s statements, imploring other promoters (like Bob Arum and Golden Boy) to just let their guys fight during the post-fight press conference in the Ballroom at Agua Caliente.

Thompson, a longtime fight promoter and businessman, agrees with Shaw’s vocal opinions. “The public wants to see the best fighters in the world; there’s no reason why they shouldn’t fight,” Ken replied. “For boxing fans around the world, this is what they want to see, the best fighters should get a shot at each other. The fans don’t want to see ‘has-beens or over-the-hill fighters’. They want to see the young, aggressive guys.

“So let’s keep the fans happy, for the boxing fans of the world, let’s give them what they want to see and keep boxing fans in the game. The fans are what keeps boxing alive!”

I ask the President of Thompson Boxing Promotions what he thought of Amir Khan and Devon Alexander’s calling out Bradley.

The entrepreneur and former World Boxing Hall of Fame President told me with a calm assuredness, “They only call out the ‘big guys’ who people recognize as the top fighters. To be the best, you have to beat the best! To reach the top, you have to fight the best.” So he welcomes any challenge of any fighter out there, maintaining his complete confidence in Bradley, the SoCal favorite.

Will we ever see Bradley vs. Pacquiao, as the Palm Springs fighter made this desire known?

“To be honest with you, it’s difficult to pick who he’ll fight next,” says his co-promoter. “But I think it could be Alexander and Timmy Bradley. I think it will be Alexander…and then after that, Timmy can fight Pacquiao or Mayweather!”

So as of this week, it appears that WBC and IBF Light Welterweight Champion Devon Alexander will be the next challenge for Timothy Bradley, who’s fought to a perfect record of 26 victories with 11 KOs. Alexander will first be in action on August 7, when he takes on Andriy Kotelnik. The buzz is that HBO would then love to pair the two together in a fistic showdown in the next few months. I asked Thompson his thoughts on this upcoming Alexander-Bradley clash.

“Oh, I think that it would really be ‘Fight of the Year’! he enthuses. “We’re ready for it.” And following his latest victory, Bradley did look directly into the lens of the camera while getting the message out to Alexander, telling the young southpaw from St. Louis, that it’s on.

But for now, Team Bradley is still celebrating his convincing win as a welterweight. “We predicted a major storm from this homegrown champion. He’s really a hometown hero; they’ve watched him since he was eight years old,” Thompson said of his fighter, who continues to perfect his skill set on the canvas. “Timmy gets better and better each and every fight he’s in,” his co-promoter further elaborated. “When you’re in the ring with a power puncher like Abregu, anything can happen! But Timmy was absolutely great.”

The co-promoter had a double celebration last Saturday, with his fighter Abraham Lopez (12-0, 10 KOs) opening the card at The Show with a victory against Willshaun Boxley, who stayed in his corner after the third round of a scheduled six. Besides Bradley, the busy Thompson has a full stable of talented champions and contenders including IBF Bantamweight Champ Yonnhy Perez, Julio Diaz, Mauricio Herrera, Jose Lopez, Juan Carlos Burgos and the newly-signed Efrain Esquivias. Later this month, Thompson and General Manager/Matchmaker Alex Camponovo, in toasting Thompson Boxing’s ten-year anniversary, will host a special Saturday fight night July 31 at the Doubletree Hotel in Ontario, California.

Almost six years ago while embarking as a new pro fighter, Bradley had several of his first battles at this very same Doubletree; and in August of 2004, Timmy made his professional debut at Thompson’s outdoor fight venue, Omega Products International in the city of Corona.

Since then, Team Bradley has traveled as far as Quebec, Canada and Nottingham, England, in a quest to achieving his perfect championship ledger–only to come full circle with Timmy showcasing his talents in his own backyard of Palm Springs.

This was Bradley’s first HBO outing, in his bout against the tough Abregu, a WBC titlist, who said in his post-fight comments that he hurt his right hand during the bout. Both sluggers suffered cuts in the brawl. And with the crowd chanting, “Bradley, Bradley, Bradley,” the Cathedral City boxer gave the crowd (including his family and friends who were wearing bright yellow T-shirts in a unity of support) exactly what they came for–an exciting win in the welterweight division.