Dan Rafael reports that Top Rank is hoping to get Timothy Bradley under their promotional banner in time to schedule him for the November 12 Pacquiao vs Marquez undercard. Currently, Bradley is still tied up in legal matters with Gary Shaw Productions and Thompson Boxing.
If they reach an agreement -- which I expect, even though multiple sources involved have told me they are still quite a bit apart on the amount of money the promoters would receive to walk away -- Bradley is headed for Top Rank. Top Rank's plan is for Bradley to return Nov. 12 on the Manny Pacquiao-Juan Manuel Marquez HBO PPV undercard. Obviously, Top Rank would be prepping Bradley for a possible shot at Pacquiao if a fight between Pacquiao and Mayweather doesn't come off.
Bradley (27-0, 11 KO) hasn't fought since defeating Devon Alexander in January. He was set to fight Amir Khan on July 23, but pulled out of the fight with his promotional contract set to expire, not wanting to take such a big and difficult fight just before he was set to test the waters of free agency.
The 28-year-old Bradley could, indeed, be a 2012 opponent for Pacquiao, as Manny (like Floyd Mayweather Jr) is beginning to run low on potential opponents. Thus far, he's been only a TV attraction, and despite his success in the ring, has not picked up a fanbase, and even struggles to draw fans in his home region. Top Rank may have to invest a little time and money in getting him some more fans, and at this point, to rebuild his reputation. No matter how logical Bradley's decision to pass on the Khan fight may have been, he took hits in the media and with fans, and to be fair did himself few favors when he spoke on the subject.
Source: badlefthook.com
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