Timothy Bradley vs Joel Casamayor
A clash of warriors going in different directions meet up just before the Pacquiao vs Marquez trilogy fight. Timothy Bradley is Top Rank’s newest signed fighter and is being looked upon as a future opponent for Manny Pacquiao, but he first has to get by a 40-year old former World Champion in Joel Casamayor.
I announced Casamayor’s last fight, a year ago last November in Las Vegas at the Planet Hollywood Casino.. Casamayor slugged out a split decision win over Manuel Leyva. Casamayor relied on his counter shots against Leyva who at the time sported an 18-1 record with 10 knockouts.Accredited online colleges offer sports management programs for people who love the sport and want to work in the sport behind-the-scenes.
Casamayor is now fighting for the money and his legacy. He was not given a chance when he fought Almazbek Raiymkulov at Madison Square Garden in 2005, yet he managed to get a draw against the unbeaten Raiymkulov.
After that fight Casamayor went on to upset the likes of Lamont Pearson, Diego Corrales, Jose Armando Santa Cruz and Michael Katsidiis. The string of wins by Casamayor was stopped by Juan Manuel Marquez as he battered Casamayor in the 11th and forced referee Tony Weeks to stop the fight.
Casamayor would get one more mega fight against a tough lefty known as The Ghost, Robert Guerrero. Casamayor got up off the canvas in the second and even managed to drop Guerrero in the 10th, but it wasn’t enough. Guerrero got a unanimous 10-round decision over Casamayor.
Still thinking he has it in him, Casamayor kept training until he got his shot with Leyva and now Bradley.
For Bradley this is his big opportunity on a mega stage at the MGM as the pre Pacquiao vs Marquez fight. After walking away from a million dollar plus offer to unify the title against Amir Khan, Bradley let his contract run out with Gary Shaw and Thompson Boxing to sign with Top Rank.
Bradley thought that as a three time world champion, his star did not have the glimmer it should have. So he signed with Top Rank in the hopes that they will make him the star he covets being. But does this mean he finally fights Amir Khan to unify the Junior Welterweight titles? Time will tell.
Timothy Bradley is a product of the California Desert, specifically North Palm Springs. He trains in the heat of the desert and stays rooted in the desert like a cactus plant.
Fighting Bradley is like fighting a cactus plant, a prickly proposition where anything goes. I describe Bradley as a smaller version of Evander Holyfield with the way he uses his third punch, his head. Like a cactus plant he does not pack a great punch but has so many prickly things to harm you with if you get close.
This is why I really wanted to see Amir Khan fight Bradley. As Khan has the speed, discipline and conditioning to box and stay outside on Bradley. When a fighter takes some time off and comes inside and thinks they are going to grab and hold, this is when they fall prey to Bradley’s tactics.
Bradley is a fighter, a relentless one at that who wins with will more than skill. He fights as if you are coming to take his children. You look at his knockout percentage of only 39 per cent and yet he is not seen as a great boxer either. But then there’s an 0 in his loss column.
Top Rank is definitely looking at Bradley as a possible Pacquiao opponent. Top Rank has the finest matchmaker in the world in Bruce Trampler and it is no accident that Bradley is fighting a southpaw in Casamayor. It’s a prelude and it is up to Bradley to shine in the biggest stage yet of his boxing career.
It will be a real treat to call this fight with Amir Khan as he can be in the moment and see the opportunities for what he could do with Bradley. How lucky can the viewers at Primetime be to get a chance to hear from Amir Khan and trust me to get it out of him. I can hardly wait.
This will be an ugly fight between Casamayor and Bradley, but in the end, Bradley wins it convincingly as he looks to fight Pacquiao. Bradley does not want any part of Khan. Bradley is 28 and Khan is 24, eventually Bradley is going to have to meet the man from Bolton in the ring.
This is why I love the way Amir Khan’s professional career is unfolding as he is more than willing to take on the best. He has called out Mayweather and has called out Bradley, everybody has their excuses to not fight him. Time is on Khan’s side. As you watch Bradley fight Casamayor, you will see that speed troubles him and fighting a 40 year old is a lot different than fighting a 24 year creating his legacy.
I’m picking Bradley by a head.
Pacquiao vs Marquez III sees the World’s best pound for pound fighters return to Primetime this November. Ranked number 1in the pound for pound lists, Manny Pacquiao will be looking to end the controversy by convincingly dispatching long time rival Juan Manuel Marquez. After a controversial points decision and a draw both fighters have a point to prove. The previous battles have delivered knockdowns galore and this fight promises to be no different.
Timothy Bradley steps back into the ring after ten months out and having been stripped of his WBC title as issues with his manager meant a fight with Amir Khan didn’t happen. Bradley will want to return to winning ways and prove he is still the number 1 in the Light Welterweight division. To do that he’ll need to defend his WBO title against former two division champion Joel Casamayor.
Breidis Prescott also makes a quick return to British TV screens. Following his points loss to Paul McCloskey the only man to knock Amir Khan out aims to get back to winning ways as he challenges for the IBF Latino Light Welterweight crown. An undefeated Mike Alvarado stands in his way, with 41 KO’s from 58 fights between them this has all the makings of a fight of the night candidate.
The card is completed by Luis Cruz vs Juan Burgos for the NABO Super Featherweight championship.
So it’s titles fights all the way on November 12th, another must see night exclusive to Primetime!
