What’s Next For Tim Bradley?

Team “Desert Storm” says full steam ahead!

“No one was more proud to wear that illustrious green belt than I,” said Timothy Bradley in a letter to World Boxing Council (WBC) President Jose Sulaiman. As he relinquished his WBC super lightweight title, the unbeaten 25-year-old said he is grateful for all their support.

Bradley, coming off of an April 4 Montreal victory against Kendall Holt, was apparently given a deadline to agree to a bout against mandatory challenger Devon Alexander (18-0, 11 KOs). When that agreement was not reached, reports are that Alexander will now be facing Junior Witter (whom Bradley had previously beaten for the belt) for this newly-vacant title.

Bradley (24-0, 11 KOs) is co-promoted by Gary Shaw and Ken Thompson. A couple of weeks ago, after the undefeated boxer had stated in an ESPN interview that he wanted to fight the winner of the Ricky Hatton-Manny Pacquiao fight, his co-promoter Thompson, wholeheartedly agreed with his young charge. “Tim is the ‘most together’ fighter in the business today–mentally or physically. Fear does not enter the game!” Thompson said to me. During this chat, I asked the promoter who he’d prefer as Bradley’s next foe? “Either Hatton or Pacquiao–he can beat either of them!” he said with confidence.

Now, as news travels fast about Bradley (aka “Desert Storm”) being stripped of his title, Alex Camponovo, matchmaker for Thompson Boxing Promotions says, “He’s vacated a title, but Tim’s still undefeated. And he’s the only champion in his division to have held two belts.”

In an exclusive conversation with Camponovo, he says it was not easy for Bradley to give up that green belt–but it was also not in the plans for Bradley to fight Devon Alexander. Camponovo, also General Manager of Thompson Enterprises, is quick to say that the sky’s the limit in regards to Bradley’s future.

So what’s next for him? Bradley still holds a WBO 140 title and his camp says they’re busy planning their next move. But what everyone really wants to know is: WHO is next for Tim Bradley?

Juan Manuel Marquez, Amir Khan, Juan Urango, Andriy Kotelnik are just a few of the names Camponovo listed as possible future opponents for their young champ. “He’s got a ton of options–we’re not holding onto any one name. There’s the winner of the fight this Saturday (Pacquiao-Hatton) who may go on to fight Mayweather…But there’s also Marquez (after his own Mayweather fight) Khan, Urango and Kotelnick.”

And you may be hearing these same names mentioned often as the boxing calendar fills up fast with their exciting matchups: Juan Urango will be fighting Andre Berto on May 30, Amir Khan will be squaring off against Andriy Kotelnik on June 27, and Marquez and Mayweather will (reportedly) go head to head on July 18.

Whether or not Bradley is to battle any of these particular names in the future is yet to be seen. For now, we can only anticipate what would be a solid round robin of action between any of the aforementioned combatants and great bouts for any fan.

I ask Camponovo if Bradley’s training right now and when the Palm Springs resident’s next battle might be. “He’s taking it easy right now, just running a little bit,” says the always-professional matchmaker. “Tim will be fighting late summer or early in the fall. We’ve opened up the conversations and we’ll know more soon.”

Stay tuned to this column as we all watch “Desert Storm” surge ahead!