By Jake Donovan (photo by Chris Farina/Top Rank)

It’s a tough argument to swallow when the division in which you reside boasts a lineal champion who is also recognized as pound-for-pound the best fighter in the world today.

But for any fighter from 136 to 140 lb interested in making a name for himself, beware of this:

Timothy Bradley is, without a doubt, the best active super lightweight in the world.

The man also known as “Desert Storm” sent an emphatic reminder at the Agua Caliente Resort and Casino in Rancho Mirage, Calif., where he scored a unanimous decision over Lamont Peterson in a battle of unbeaten friendly rivals in their Showtime televised main event.

Bradley was well within the super lightweight limit at a chiseled 138 lb; Peterson was slightly heavier at an equally sculpted 139 lb.

The opening moments of the fight played out exactly as suggested; the larger Peterson relying on his boxing skills to get him through the day. The D.C. native controlled the distance with his jab, but Bradley would soon find an equalizer; a straight right hand had Peterson hurt midway through the round, only for Bradley to slip on a canvas logo at center ring before having a chance to follow up.

Bradley, fighting 20 minutes away from his hometown in Palm Springs, would have chances to make up for the lost opportunity, scoring big in the second and especially the third, when an overhand right forced Peterson to a knee.

Peterson complained to referee Pat Russell of being struck by a blow to the back of his head, with replays confirming his gripe. His appeal fell on deaf ears, though he did everything in his power to bring the round back to a 10-9 scoring margin. He fell short on that front, but landed enough left hooks to create considerable concern in Bradley’s corner in between rounds.

The gutty effort exuded by Peterson proved to be a pivotal point in the fight. Both fighters had their moments in round four, each enjoying success with their jabs, but it was Peterson who forced the fight in the fifth round. Bradley was never a threat to go down, but momentarily shook by a right hand along the ropes late in the round.

By the middle rounds, it was Bradley fighting in reverse while Peterson remained on the hunt. The strategy proved to be effective for Bradley, who was able to play defense for the first time in the fight and counter with right hands and left hooks.

It was more of the same for Bradley in the seventh, with the added bonus of a right hand that drew blood from Peterson’s nose late in the round. The trend was none too pleasing to head trainer Barry Hunter, who kept it real with his fighter in between rounds.

“You gonna’ feel pain you never felt before if you let this man walk out of the ring with this title,” explained Hunter, who has served as the surrogate father to Lamont and younger brother and current lightweight contender Anthony Peterson since they were teens.

Peterson began the eighth as if he took heed to the advice, flying off of his stool to land a straight left. The glory was short-lived; Bradley regained control soon thereafter, punching in bunches and slipping all of the incoming as he forced Peterson back into the role of boxer.

A rare moment of intervention was required by Russell when the fighters clashed heads early in the ninth. The sequence proved inconsequential, although would remind Peterson that he was beginning to run out of rounds. He went on the hunt, but Bradley proved to be just as effective fighting in reverse as he was at initiating the exchanges.

Bradley’s ability to slip punches and immediately jump into punching range proved to be the difference down the stretch. Peterson landed a solid left hook on the inside late in the tenth, but was unable to capture lightning in a bottle as he was very wide and very short with similar attempts in the championship rounds. Bradley easily avoided most of the incoming and came back to trade with his friendly rival to close the show.

While the final outcome was never in doubt, the final tallies were indicative of the judging issues that continue to plague the sport, more so in recent times. Ringside scores of 118-110, 119-108 and 120-107 didn’t quite tell the entire story, but were rightfully in favor of Tim Bradley, who continues to put distance between himself and the rest of the division.

Ever the humble warrior, at no point did Bradley attempt to bang his chest over what was ultimately a dominant performance against a top contender, instead appreciative of the challenge he was presented.

“It was a tough battle,” said Bradley, who improves to 25-0 (11KO) with the win. “He’s a beast. He made me fight like nobody else had made me in any point in my career. I have all of the respect in the world for him. He’s the toughest fighter I have faced to date.”

“My conditioning is superior. They came in with a game plan to break me down and slow me down in the later rounds. I felt a little gassed in there, but caught my second wind in the eighth and ninth round. I tried to pick it up, but he kept stepping it up. I knew I just had to keep moving, using my jab and listening to my corner.”

Peterson did his best to heed the advice of his corner throughout the fight. However, a game changer forced the 25-year old to go to Plan B much earlier than expected.

“My plan was to win the early rounds and put pressure on him so I can box in the end,” said Peterson, who falls to 27-1 (13KO) in losing for the first time as a pro. “When the knockdown happened and I lost a few rounds, it put me in a situation where I had to pressure him.”

It proved to be too little too late as the fight went on, as Peterson was simply unable to come from under the early deficit.

“I wanted to fight him more but he was smart, using the ring and doing his job. Regardless of whether he stood orthodox or southpaw, he proved to never be an easy target to hit.”

With each fight, Bradley proves to be the toughest out in the division as he continues to establish himself as a regional draw. After traveling to England to defeat Junior Witter for his first title, then unifying two belts with a points win over Kendall Holt earlier this year in Canada, Bradley has kept it home for his last two fights.

His previous appearance in this very arena was just as dominant for as long as it lasted, even though his aborted three-round shutout of Nate Campbell would wind up a no-contest. A review by the California State Athletic Commission showed that a cut that led to Bradley initially being declared a TKO winner was caused by a butt.

There were two separate headbutts in this fight, including one that opened a cut under Peterson’s left eye late in the fight. But neither would have an impact on the final outcome, which was Bradley winning at home for the first time since before he became a titlist.

Where he goes from here is immediately unknown. Home most likely won’t be the first option if he’s to secure the best fights out there, although wherever the ring is set up is of little concern to Bradley.

“Whoever they line up, it don’t matter. I’m a road warrior. I’ll go anywhere. Show me the money and I’ll be there.”

Even with the winter holidays approaching, the plan is to stay ready in case the right opportunity comes along, rather than having to get ready once he receives that phone call.

“I have a great team behind me… and a lot of faith in myself. I never take a few months off. I’m always running, always working out in the gym. I’m just focused and hungry for the top.”

As long as the one man with lineal claims keeps his attention affixed elsewhere, at the top is exactly where Timothy Bradley currently resides among all active super lightweights.

DARCHINYAN RETURNS TO 115 WITH A VENGEANCE

In the televised co-feature, Vic Darchinyan returned to the win column, as well as the super flyweight division over which he presides, with a vicious second round knockout over mandatory challenger Tomas Rojas.

Straight lefts figured to be the weapon of choice for power punching southpaws. Such was the case early, with Rojas taking the fight to the champion from the opening bell, only for Darchinyan to come on towards the end of the first round with a pair of left hands upstairs.

The early moments of the second round would mark the last time ebb and flow of any kind would be featured in the fight. Darchinyan soon took over, going left hand crazy to force Rojas on the defensive.

Three left hands towards the end of the round would lead to the end of the fight; two shots to the temple had Rojas trapped on the ropes; a final straight left to the chin would put the Mexican down for the full ten count.

The official time was 2:54 of round two.

Darchinyan’s pure punching power proved ineffective in his failed bantamweight title bid against Joseph Agbeko earlier this summer. The transplanted Armenian appeared to be back in his comfort zone at 115, although he believes a different type of strength was what led to Saturday’s knockout win.

“I don’t think it’s a difference about being stronger at a different weight. It’s about being mentally stronger,” claimed Darchinyan, who improves to 33-2-1 (27KO). “He was punching me, but I knew my time would come. I wanted to work on my boxing skills. I landed a three-punch combination to end the fight.”

Rojas dips to 32-12-1 (22KO) with the loss, snapping a seven-fight unbeaten streak.

The win was the second successful defense of the lineal super flyweight crown for Darchinyan, who turns 34 next month. What’s next is immediately unclear, though he can think of at least two options for 2010 – Agbeko and Nonito Donaire, the only two fighters to hand him a loss.

“Every night when I go to sleep, I think about how I’m going to fight these guys (again). Gary Shaw knows what I want to do.”

A rematch with Donaire had been problematic in the past, given that the Filipino bolted from Shaw’s stable, defecting to Top Rank last year. But with marching orders now in tow, Shaw claims to be fully committed to appeasing his fighter’s wishes.

“We’ve contacted the WBA to order a purse bid. Top Rank isn’t calling us; nobody’s calling us anymore, but that’s the fight my guy wants.”

The televised doubleheader was presented by Gary Shaw Productions and Thompson Boxing Promotions, in association with Top Rank.

Jake Donovan is the Managing Editor of Boxingscene.com and an award-winning member of the Boxing Writers Association of America. Contact Jake at JakeNDaBox@gmail.com.