Timothy Bradley trying to move past Pacman saga
Timothy Bradley probably learned more about life in the three weeks following his June 9 victory over Manny Pacquiao than he had in the previous 28 years combined.
Every day, it seemed, something new, something bizarre occurred. It culminated, sadly, with a series of death threats, via the mail and the telephone. Tim Bradley trains before a fight. That series of events turned what should have been an epic win and a celebratory summer into a nine-month nightmare. The Bradley prior to June 9 was the epitome of what a father would want his daughter marrying: bright, loyal, patient, friendly, understanding and successful. "I am the nicest guy you will ever meet on the street, ever," said Bradley, who ran a youth football league in his hometown. Bradley did everything correctly in the days and weeks leading up to the heavily hyped bout with Pacquiao at the MGM Grand Garden in Las Vegas. Pacquiao was the star going into that fight and, despite the outcome, he was the star when it ended. Now, nine months after that split decision victory, Bradley fights for the first time. Rather than fighting Pacquiao, he'll fight Pacquiao's sparring partner, the virtually unknown Ruslan Provodnikov, on Saturday at the Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif., for the WBO welterweight title in a bout televised by HBO.
He's been in virtual seclusion since beating Pacquiao, no longer so eager to engage with media that has beaten him up because two people he does not know thought he'd won. Bradley declined all manner of interview requests following what should have been the biggest win of his life. He wanted nothing to do, it seemed, with boxing. Upon reflection, it's hard to blame him. First, Bob Arum, his promoter, went apoplectic following the announcement of the decision. Arum wasn't alone. The overwhelming majority of those who saw the fight felt Pacquiao had won it, and handily. The public claimed the outcome was rigged, though there were no unusual betting patterns and a Bradley win benefited few other than Bradley.Ruslan Provodnikov works out with trainer Freddie Roach. It was no secret to anyone who follows boxing that Arum would have preferred a Pacquiao win. Pacquiao was the cash cow, after all, and a Pacquiao win would have been far better for Arum's business.