By Robert Morales
Cameron Dunkin, manager for Timothy Bradley, is smiling bright these days. On Friday, Bradley signed a contract to fight welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao on June 9 at MGM Grand in Las Vegas. The bout will be presented on pay-per-view.
Dunkin seemed to be breathing a sigh of relief as he spoke about what has been a difficult time for Bradley, who for the past several months has had to listen to Amir Khan and his camp say Bradley last May turned down an offer for a junior welterweight title unification bout because he was scared.
"I'm really excited because of all the stuff we went through," Dunkin said. "They were saying he was a coward, which is total bulls**t."
Dunkin said he would receive phone calls from Bradley after Bradley apparently read stories about him allegedly ducking Khan, who since has lost his two titles to Lamont Peterson.
"It was hard for him because he would call me and say, `Man, they are calling me a coward, that I'm running,"' Dunkin said. "And I would have to settle him down."
Dunkin said the money wasn't right, and that the $1.4 million Khan's team said it was offering was not the real amount. Bradley will reportedly earn at least $5 million dollars for the fight with Pacquiao.
As for Bradley being afraid of anyone, that doesn't figure based on his track record. He won the junior welterweight title by going to Junior Witter's backyard in England and taking a split decision. He successfully defended that belt against the likes of tough guys Kendall Holt, Lamont Peterson and Devon Alexander.
Also, Bradley (28-0, 12 KOs) has been saying for a couple of years now how badly he wants to get into the ring with Pacquiao (54-3-2, 38 KOs).
That doesn't sound like an intimidated fighter.
Robert Morales covers boxing for the LA Daily News and BoxingScene.com.
