Timothy Bradley Jr. was more than happy to dole out some praise for Teofimo Lopez Jr.

Bradley, a former two-division titlist and current ESPN analyst, couldn’t help but be impressed by Lopez’s unanimous decision win over Josh Taylor last Saturday night at The Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City. After three subpar fights in a row, Lopez looked sharp and powerful against Taylor, silencing to some extent many of his critics who felt the 25-year-old Brooklyn native was not in shoddy mental shape.

One of the more vocal critics of Lopez has been Bradley, who has not held back his thoughts on Lopez’s development as a fighter in recent years, especially after Lopez’s controversial win over Sandor Martin last December. Bradley, moreover, initially predicted that Lopez would lose to Taylor. Lopez, in turn, has repeatedly questioned Bradley's abilities as a commentator, as well as his credentials as a fighter.

In a recent interview, Bradley, who formally entered the International Boxing Hall of Fame last weekend, made it clear he had no issues commending Lopez on his performance. 

“Teo was explosive,” Bradley told Mill City Boxing. “I think it had little to do with Taylor being laid off. He was a little flat. He started off good, and then he died out. It was a great performance. I thought he was back to the old Teo. The counterpunching was on point. I love the fact that he got aggressive. He started bringing it to Taylor. Taylor didn’t know how to respond to that. I love the fact that he had the fire in his eyes, walking forward.

“Even in the corner, you could see that he was focused and determined. Nothing was going to stop him last [Saturday]. With that kind of performance, I think he gives any of the 140-pound champions or any other guy out there. He’ll give them a run for their money. He looked fantastic. I give credit where credit is due. Teo impressed me last [Saturday] and I knew he had it in him. So if I got to continue to talk sh!t about the boy so that he can go out and play and do what he’s supposed to do, then I’m going to continue to do that.

“So Teo, it’s up to you. It seems like when you get all the praise in the world; you don’t perform. When people talk sh!t about you, you perform at your very best. So, you pick your poison. Which one do you want because I can do both? But yeah, I thought it was a fantastic performance.”

Sean Nam is the author of Murder on Federal Street: Tyrone Everett, the Black Mafia, and the Last Golden Age of Philadelphia Boxing.