Timothy Bradley Returns With Renewed Motivation

By Thomas Gerbasi

Boxing is often a matter of perspective. Many would say the worst night of Timothy Bradley’s professional career wasn’t when he lost to Manny Pacquiao in their 2014 rematch, fought to a controversial draw with Diego Chaves last December, or nearly got stopped in the closing seconds of his June win over Jessie Vargas.

They would point to his 2013 fight with Ruslan Provodnikov, a decision win that saw him dropped and nearly knocked out en route to victory, and that resulted in a concussion that stuck with him long after the bout.

It’s a valid opinion, but the most important person in this equation, Bradley, would likely disagree. If pressed, he might even call it his greatest night in the ring. It was a night in which an oft-criticized and frankly misunderstood boxer became a hero to everyone who loves the sport.

The previous 29 wins he scored didn’t matter, neither did his controversial nod over Pacquiao or the world title he retained that night. For 36 minutes he was the warrior every fan wants their fighters to be. He rebounded from a horrific first round and got back in the fight, all the while standing and trading with the rock-fisted Russian. And just when he had things in control in the final round, he hit the deck and had to rise and dig deep to make it to the final round.

It was an epic performance by both men, one given the 2013 Muhammad Ali-Joe Frazier award for Fight of the Year from the Boxing Writers Association of America. I spoke to Bradley for a story in the awards dinner program, and asked him why he went against everything that got him to the dance, and made what many believed to be an easy fight a knockdown, drag ‘em out war.

“My game plan was to box, but my temperament was to slug,” he said. “Buster Douglas was inspired against Mike Tyson by his mother passing. I was inspired by the Pacquiao controversy and I set out to prove that I was a true champion and a warrior and that I can trade with the best fighters in the world. I was coming in to take this guy out.”

No one who saw the Provodnikov fight would ever doubt Bradley’s warrior spirit, but they shouldn’t have doubted it before. Before beating Pacquiao, his victims’ list included Devon Alexander, Lamont Peterson, Joel Casamayor, Kendall Holt and Junior Witter. He got up off the floor to beat Holt, he went to England to take the title from Witter, and he put the first losses on the records of Alexander and Peterson. As far as resumes go, Bradley’s never should have been doubted.

But it was as if Bradley never connected with the fans until Provodnikov. The first Pacquiao fight only alienated those who blamed the Californian for a verdict he didn’t render, and despite being one of the game’s good guys, lesser fighters got more ink and more praise.

Following the Provodnikov win, Bradley was brilliant in beating Juan Manuel Marquez, he clearly lost to Pacquiao in their rematch, and the Chaves and Vargas bouts made few waves, despite the disputed draw and near late-fight disaster, respectively.

Everything post-Marquez hasn’t necessarily pointed to a 32-year-old fighter on the decline, but one who hasn’t had the chip on his shoulder and spark he had on March 16, 2013. So when a fighter doesn’t show that spark, changes usually result. And for Bradley, the change was in his corner, with Joel Diaz out as trainer and Teddy Atlas in.

From the outside, the east coast-west coast alliance may seem like an odd one, but it’s actually perfect considering the intensity and opinionated nature both bring to their day job. But as Atlas tries to revamp Bradley’s style and remind him that defense can often be the best offense, it leaves “Desert Storm” in a peculiar place heading into Saturday’s bout with Brandon Rios.

If he goes back to boxing, outpoints Rios and earns his 33rd pro victory, it’s a good win but one that doesn’t move the needle. He retains his WBO welterweight title, keeps himself in the race for another big fight, and pockets a paycheck. In short, it remains business as usual for a fighter who needs to shake things up – not just for his future, but for his ego.

Bradley would probably never admit it, but he liked the respect and adulation he got when he beat Ruslan Provodnikov. He liked having a starring role in his own personal Rocky movie, even if it could have cost him both physically and careerwise. It was a stark reminder that boxing fans don’t necessarily appreciate boxers, but they do love fighters.

So Saturday night, it’s the devil’s bargain. Use your talent and skill to win easy over a game, but limited Brandon Rios, or bite down on your mouthpiece, tuck your chin, and try to repeat a night that will probably never be repeated.

Is change good? Is it necessary? Or was it simply change for change’s sake for a fighter who is just fine the way he is?