Timothy Bradley and Juan Manuel Marquez finally met in the squared circle on Saturday night, with Bradley emerging victorious with a split decision that was much less controversial than his win over Manny Pacquiao.
Now that he's dispatched Marquez, Bradley believes his name has been restored to the upper echelon of boxing. "That win was my ticket to the boxing Hall of Fame," Bradley said. "I beat a great champion."
Having beaten Marquez and Pacquiao in his career, while still carrying a zero in the loss column, Bradley also believes he's in the conversation with Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Andre Ward as one of the finest fighters in the world. "There is Floyd Mayweather, there is Andre Ward, and there is Timothy Bradley," he said immediately following the win.
He reiterated that sentiment when questioned about what was next for him going forward. "I'm going to sit down and talk with my team and we're going to set up a plan," Bradley said. "I want to fight nothing but the best. I have to be considered top three in the world now."
Some will still take offense to his boasts, while claiming he never actually defeated Manny Pacquiao. Bradley turned down a Pacman rematch to face off with Marquez, but is now saying he's open to a second go-round. "Anything is possible. I'd love that challenge. I'll have to sit down with my management and see what makes sense from here."
First Pacquiao would have to defeat Brandon Rios in November when the two face off in Macau, China. Pacquiao and his trainer Freddie Roach have repeatedly called out Floyd Mayweather, and believe an quick, impressive knockout win would get "Money" Mayweather's attention. If not, a Bradley rematch seems likely.
"Desert Storm" and his team are confident, though, that whoever is next will not be able to overcome him. Bradley's trainer Joel Diaz summed up the camp's attitude: "I told you no one can beat Tim if he boxes the way he should, and he didn't have a mark on his face. Marquez never touched him. No one can outbox Tim Bradley. I told him, 'Don't get reckless.'"
© Copyright 2024 Sports World News, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.