Timothy Bradley: “I wouldn’t mind a third match up with Manny Pacquiao. I know if I’m injury free it will be a better outcome”

The interim WBO welterweight world title fight between Timothy Bradley and Jessie Vargas will take place tonight, live on HBO, with the stakes being high for both fighters beyond the title. Bradley has not scored a win since his October 2013 encounter with the legendary Juan Manuel Marquez, and Vargas has been searching to prove he is worthy of facing the biggest names in boxing. Both men will have a chance to prove themselves on Saturday night, with only one walking away with bigger fights on the horizon.

In part 2 of my “On The Ropes” boxing radio interview with Timothy Bradley, I discuss with him the possibility of facing Manny Pacquiao for a third time. Bradley talks about his injuries in the first two fights and what he would do differently in the rematch. Bradley also discusses the rise in boxing on television and his own role as a commentator on TruTV. Additionally, Tim breaks down how the Vargas fight will play out and gives his official prediction. Here is what Timothy Bradley had to say.

Jenna J: Being that you fought twice with Manny Pacquiao, if you get another title belt, do you want to have a third fight with him?

Timothy Bradley: Oh absolutely, absolutely. Manny feels that he could have done better against Mayweather if he would have had his left hand, and I feel I would have done a lot better in the second fight if I would have had my right calf, to be able to move and do the things that I was planning on doing.

The second half of the fight I could have used my legs more if I had my legs underneath me and moved and made Manny Pacquiao miss more. But I didn’t have that ability, I didn’t have that mobility to be able to do that. Of course, I wouldn’t mind a third match up with Manny Pacquiao, let’s run it back. I know if I’m injury free during the course of the fight, I know it will be a better outcome.

Jenna J: What do you think of the talent rich welterweight division right now?

Timothy Bradley: There’s a lot of tough guys out there. I think they’re fighting amongst each other but not a lot of guys are coming up my way. I want to fight the best, it doesn’t really matter to me. I want to fight them all, I’m not afraid of anybody. I fought the best out there, the only guy I haven’t fought is Mayweather. I’ll fight any of those guys at the top.

Jenna J: There’s a lot of boxing on television right now. Top Rank brought boxing to TruTV, which you commentate on. What do you think about boxing being available to so many more fans?

Timothy Bradley: I honestly think boxing definitely belongs on regular cable. This is nothing new, years ago boxing was on regular cable, you could watch it every weekend. This is nothing new, but it’s new to this generation of people. I really enjoy it. All the companies that are getting involved in boxing, especially TruTV who I’m affiliated with, I respect it and I like it.

I think it’s great for TV and it’s great for the fighters as well. Not everybody has HBO, not everybody has Showtime but mostly everybody has cable in their house. The viewer ship is great for the fighters.

Jenna J: Do you see commentating as something that you can do after your career? Do you think you can transition to that?

Timothy Bradley: Yeah, I think as I do more and more shows, I’ll get a lot better being on the other side, outside of the ring. I feel that I can bring more knowledge to the boxing fans and to the general public. I think it’s great, it’s something I will definitely be looking forward to doing after my career.

Jenna J: Let’s go back to your fight on June 27th with Jessie Vargas. What type of fight do you think you need to fight in order to come away with the victory?

Timothy Bradley: The thing is, I don’t really have a gameplan. I don’t need a gameplan, I know my abilities in the ring and I can pretty much do whatever the heck I want to do in the ring. If boxing Jessie Vargas seems to be working, that’s what I’m gonna do. If taking it to Jessie Vargas is gonna work, then that’s what I’m gonna do. I don’t really need a gameplan, whatever he’s planning on doing, I’ll just alter my gameplan. That’s why I’m tough, that’s why I’m a tough fight for anybody because I can do it all.

Jenna J: You have mentioned that you want to leave the fight out of the hands of the judges. Does that mean you will be looking for the knockout more than you usually do?

Timothy Bradley: That just means that I’m gonna be trying to sit down more on my punches and I’m gonna be trying to land a knockout punch. That doesn’t mean that I’m gonna go out there and be reckless looking for a knockout. If the knockout comes, then great. I’m just saying that fundamentally, I’ve been working on throwing my punches correctly, putting weight behind my punches and sitting down more on my shots.

I’m working on my technique and it’s showing in the gym. It’s not like I’m just saying this and nothing’s happening. My sparring partners are definitely feeling my punches in there. Guys say, “Man I didn’t think you had any power but you do. You stung me with a shot, you got power.” That’s what I mean by trying to eliminate the judges in there. I’m just trying to sit down more on my shots.

If the knockout comes, great, but if it doesn’t, then it doesn’t. I’m not gonna go out there and be something that I’m not. I’m not gonna try to become Mike Tyson overnight, that’s not gonna happen. I’ll use my ring IQ, I’ll be able to make adjustments in the fight.

Whatever Jessie is planning on doing, I’ll be ready for that. I can fight well on the inside, I have shorter arms, so I don’t think he wants to be anywhere on the inside with me. It would be fun if he does, I’m gonna have a field day if he does. I think his best chance is to try to keep me on the outside.

Jenna J: What is your official prediction for June 27th?

Timothy Bradley: I honestly think that I’m gonna beat Jessie Vargas. I looked at the fight from every angle and if Jessie can’t hurt me, he won’t win the fight. I know he’s a high volume puncher, he likes to throw a lot of punches but that only means one thing, it means there’s gonna be a lot of openings. I think it’s gonna be a great exciting night for the fans because he’s a high volume puncher and so am I. It should be an entertaining night for boxing on HBO.