

By Ryan Burton
Timothy Bradley and Jessie Vargas faced each other last June at the StubHub Center in Carson, Calif. for the WBO welterweight title in an HBO televised main event. Bradley controlled the action for most of the fight before Vargas landed a huge shot at the end of the 12th and final round. Bradley was badly hurt and appeared to be out on his feet although he did attempt to hold on to Vargas in an attempt to try to run the clock out.
Veteran referee Pat Russell inadvertently stopped the fight when the 10 second mark sounded leaving all to wonder if Bradley would have been able to survive or if Vargas would have been able to finish him off.
Bradley has maintained that he would have taken a knee if need be while Vargas has said that he is sure he would have stopped him.
Fast forward 9 months and Vargas will face unbeaten challenger Sadam Ali for that same WBO belt that Bradley vacated when he opted to face Manny Pacquiao for a third time on April 9th.
Ali said he saw the fight and sided with Bradley, who was obligated to fight Ali before vacating the title, believing that the former two-division champion would have been able to hold on until the final bell.
"The only way he could have won that fight was by knockout. Before the ref pulled him off, Bradley was holding him. I didn't see that he would be knocking Bradley out. I really didn't. He didn't have the other 10 more seconds and I understand why he is mad about that but Bradley definitely won that fight," opined Ali.
Another fight that Ali is interested in is the May 7th showdown between WBC middleweight champion and former unified junior welterweight champion Amir Khan. Many feel that Canelo's weight advantage will be too much for Khan while others feel the Bolton, UK native's speed will cause Alvarez serious problems.
"I really like both fighters. Khan is moving up which is a little different and Canelo is stronger of course and Khan is the faster fighter. Who knows what to expect in that fight?"
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