By Lem Satterfield
Maybe they need to change Tim Bradley's nicknamed from "The Desert Storm," to, "The Focused Storm."
For during what has been a tumultous climb to the top of the very deep, and talent-laden, 140-pound weight class, the 26-year-old resident of Palm Springs, Calif., has remained as calm outside of the ring as he is slick, and, ferocious inside of it.
Bradley twice got up off of the canvas during an April, 2009 unanimous decision victory over Kendall Holt, and had his next bout, against former world champion, Nate Campbell, in August, overturned from a third-round knockout to a no-decison.
And following December's career-defining, lopsided unanimous decision over previously unbeaten, Lamont Peterson, whom he floored once for the first time in the latter's career, it seemed like Bradley would have to wait an eternity to score a big money fight.
Things began to look up for Bradley in March, however, when his promoter, Gary Shaw, broke off from Showtime and signed with HBO, the network which already boasted contracts with WBC and IBF junior welterweight titlist, Devon Alexander (20-0, 13 knockouts), WBA king, Amir Khan (23-1, 17 KOs), and, WBA interim champion, Marcos Rene Maidana (28-1, 27 KOs).
Since then, however, Bradley's fights has endured a replaced opponent, a postponement, a cancelation, and, finally, it seems, the opportunity to face the the rival he was originally supposed to meet in the first place.
Bradley will put his mark of 25-0, with 11 knockouts on the line against welterweight Luis Carlos Abregu, of Salta Salta, Argentina, in an HBO-televised, non-title, over the limit match up at a site to be determined.
Bradley was originally scheduled to face the 27-year-old Abregu (29-0, 23 KOs) on June 19 until Maidana (28-1, 27 KOs) was subbed in in February.
But after subsequent back injuries suffered by Maidana, their fight was first, moved to July 17, and then, canceled, altogether, on May 3.
Bradley, who was married last Saturday to Monica Smoot, believes that Abregu could be his toughest fight to date, given his opponent's advantage in size, and, height.
"I've never fought at 147 pounds. Carlos Abregu is a big-puncher, and a dangerous puncher. And you know I've been down before in a fight with Kendall Holt," said Bradley, who stands 5-foot-6, to Abregu's 5-10. "But that's a challenge for me to see if I'll be able to use my movement and my defense and beat a big puncher and get the victory on July 17."
Bradley and his manager, Cameron Dunkin, see the opportunity against Abregu as mixed blessing, potentially setting him up for bigger and better fights to come.
"Tim's going to have to be really careful. But I think that Tim will carry the weight really well and show that he's a deadly guy at 147 also," said Dunkin.
"My goal is to definitely conquer 140, and then, maybe, move up to 147. You never know how things play out in boxing. Certain guys change their mind every now and then," said Bradley.
"Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao won't face me right now at 147, but who knows, that may change after this fight," said Bradley. "Like I said, my goal is to be the best at 140, but the options at 147 pounds are still out there. And if I have an opportunity to fight a big name, you better believe that I'm going to take it."
Lem Satterfield is the boxing editor for AOL FanHouse and the news editor for BoxingScene.com
