WBO welterweight champion, Timothy Bradley is a three time world champion and considered by most to be one of the top 10 pound for pound fighters in boxing today. With the retirement of Floyd Mayweather and 2016 being the last year of Manny Pacquiao’s career, Timothy Bradley could find himself climbing up that list, and heading towards the top in the pound for pound rankings.
In part 1 of my “On The Ropes” boxing radio interview with Timothy Bradley, I discuss with him his upcoming bout with Brandon Rios and get his thoughts on how he sees the fight going. Bradley also speaks in great detail about his decision to part ways from long time trainer Joel Diaz and also talks about his new trainer, Teddy Atlas. Additionally, Tim shares his views on a third fight with Manny Pacquiao. Here is Timothy Bradley has to say.
Jenna J: You have a very big fight coming up on November 7th, you will be taking on Brandon Rios. What do you think of the match up?
Timothy Bradley: It’s a really good match up, it’s a boxer vs. slugger type of match up, it kind of reminds me of a Chavez vs. Meldrick Taylor type of match. I’m excited, I continue to fight the best available guys out there. Brandon Rios has made a name for himself and has been in big fights, tough fights. Now it’s time for me and him to get it on. I’m excited about the opportunity, I’m excited about the challenge and I can’t wait for November 7th, it’s gonna be a very interesting night.
Jenna J: You and him have something in common, you both faced Manny Pacquiao. What do you think has changed in him since the Pacquiao fight?
Timothy Bradley: I think he’s in the gym more often now. He knows that this could be the end of the road. I heard one guy say that this is a crossroads fight for me and him — I don’t think it’s a crossroads fight for me, but however you want to put it. I think he’s kind of rededicated himself to his craft, he’s been in the gym staying busy since his last fight.
I know Rios is focused, I know he’s driven. Robert Garcia has been training him pretty well and pretty often for the last year, so he’s hungry and full fledged and wants to take me out. I know what I got to be, I always come prepared and I think everybody is going to be surprised on November 7th.
Jenna J: In the Ruslan Provodnikov fight when you decided to brawl it was tough and when you decided to box it was an easy fight. With Brandon Rios that same scenario presents itself to you, what are you gonna do in this fight?
Timothy Bradley: I think the easiest thing is to outbox him. I know his game plan and he knows my game plan. The easiest thing is to outbox him. My last fight with Jessie Vargas and him being the taller guy with the longer reach, there was no reason to box that guy, I needed to hunt him down. Styles make fights and I think I can make the adjustment in boxing Rios and stay boxing Rios for twelve rounds and I think I’ll be victorious after twelve rounds.
Jenna J: You recently made some changes, Joel Diaz will no longer be your trainer, even though he was with you for your entire career. Why did you decide to make that change?
Timothy Bradley: To be honest with you, I’m really moving past this whole change thing because I say things, he says things and we’re not really gonna come down to the truth of everything. I’m saying what went down, he’s saying his word, and I really don’t want to go back and forth in the media about the whole topic.
At the end of the day, I made a choice that I felt was best for me at this point in my life and at this point in my career and I have to stand by my choice. That’s the way I look at it. I know all the fans are wondering, but it’s my life, it’s my career, I can pretty much do what I want to do. I don’t tell anyone how to control their life or how they should control their life, I let everybody be. I stay in my own lane and I would just appreciate it if everybody just stays in their lane.
If you want to support me, that’s great, if you don’t want to support me now, that’s you. I haven’t done anything wrong to anybody, I was a professional about the whole situation and I felt that I didn’t do anything or anybody dirty, I honestly don’t. We both have done a lot of great things together, we both made a lot of money together and we both can say that we definitely were a great team at one point.
Now it’s different, now I have Teddy Atlas in my corner and let me tell you, training camp has been amazing. I’ve learned so much in three days than I have in ten years that I’ve been with Joel Diaz. Joel Diaz is a great trainer, no disrespect in any way but I’ve learned so much of the game and I’ve learned what my mistakes are, I learned why I’ve been getting him with certain shots. I’ve learned when I need to be in certain position, why I need to be on the inside when I’m fighting, where my head needs to be.
There’s so much that goes on into this that I didn’t know and Teddy being the historian that he is, and being a guy that has been trained by the best coach in the history of boxing, Cus D’Amato, he knows all of his teachings. Teddy knows everything about that great style and he’s gonna bring it to me. It works and it’s gonna work really well against Rios, and I can’t wait to display it. It’s only been three days, I haven’t mastered it yet, but I’m gonna add it to my arsenal and it’s gonna be dangerous for anybody.
Jenna J: Manny Pacquiao and you are one and one, do you think there’s a possibility of a third fight between you two in the future? If there is a third fight, do you think with Teddy Atlas in your corner that the result can be more positive?
Timothy Bradley: I don’t know if there will ever be a third fight. Would I like a third fight? Yes. I’m not sure about the business side of that and what that fight would bring or do, but yes from my standpoint I would love a rubber match with Manny Pacquiao. You just never really know in this boxing game if stuff will ever materialize or not.
Dream on Tim. You’ve already lost twice to Pacman in spite of your bicycle.