By Robert Morales
WBO junior welterweight champion Timothy Bradley's dream is to fight the best in the world, meaning the likes of Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. But Bradley is not like a lot of fighters, who believe they deserve megafights before they've earned them.
"I do want Amir Khan, I do want Mayweather, and Pacquiao," said Bradley, the 27-year-old from Palm Springs. "In order to get to these guys (Mayweather and Pacquiao), I would have to fight Amir Khan first in order to be mentioned in the same breath with a Mayweather or a Pacquiao."
Before Bradley can entertain thoughts of fighting fellow champion Khan, he must get past another world champion - Devon Alexander - on Jan. 29 at the Silverdome in Pontiac, Mich. (on HBO).
"There is a lot of added pressure due to the fact this fight could put me on the brink of greatness," Bradley said. "I have worked very hard to get to this position and now it's time to put up or shut up. I want to show the world what I'm capable of doing."
All this gazing into the crystal ball won't mean a thing if Bradley doesn't get past Alexander. That won't be easy. Alexander, 23, is 21-0 with 13knockouts, 3-0 with two knockouts in world title fights. He could be Bradley's most stern test to date.
"This could possibly be my toughest fight, due to the fact that Devon Alexander, he is extremely talented," Bradley said. "And the fact that he is young and he's a hungry opponent. He has speed and youth and skill and he is a lefty. He has a lot of great traits."
