By Lem Satterfield
Despite having one fight remaining in their official contract, and reports of a "free agent" tug of war, promoter Gary Shaw expects to continue his working relationship with WBO/WBC junior welterweight champion Timothy Bradley (27-0, 11KOs). The 27-year-old Bradley earned $1.1 million for dethroning Devon Alexander (21-1, 13 KOs) in Saturday night's HBO televised bout at the Pontiac Silverdome. It was his 12th fight under Shaw. Bradley signed with Shaw in 2006.
"I like Timmy, I like his wife, Monica, I like his dad, and I like his family. I think that we have a very good relationship," said Shaw, who co-promotes Bradley with Alex Campanovo of Thompson Boxing Promotions. "I know that [Bradley's manager] Cameron Dunkin is trying to poison the relationship. But, hopefully, Tim will see past that and see what [Thompson Boxing Promotions'] Alex Campanovo and I did for him."
Bradley hired Dunkin shortly before earning what was then a career-high, $345,000 for his Showtime televised, December, 2009 unanimous decision over previously unbeaten Lamont Peterson (28-1-1, 14 KOs).
After making the jump to HBO in early 2010, Bradley made what what then a career-high $700,000 for July's unanimous decision over previously undefeated welterweight (147 pounds) Luis Carlos Abregu (29-1, 23 KOs).
Golden Boy Promotions CEO, Richard Schaefer, and, Top Rank Promotions CEO, Bob Arum, have expressed their interest in signing Bradley to a promotional deal - once he officially becomes a free agent.
"Bradley's under contract with Gary Shaw, and it's up to Gary to come through with another fight for him before his contract runs out. We've made no bones about it that we would love to have Tim Bradley become a part of Top Rank," said Arum.
"But that's only when it's legally able to be done. So we haven't talked to him, and we haven't proposed anything to him. But I don't play games. We haven't done anything. But if you asked me if we would want Tim Bradley to become a Top Rank fighter, the answer, certainly, is yes."
Lem Satterfield is the boxing editor at AOL FanHouse and the news editor at BoxingScene.com. To read more from Lem Satterfield, go to AOL FanHouse by Clicking Here .
