Jessie Vargas (26-0, 9 KO’s) is out to prove he belongs. Timothy ‘Desert Storm’ Bradley (31-1-1, 12 KO’s) is trying to prove he still belongs. The two will clash in a welterweight showdown Jun 27th in The Stub Hub Center in Carson, California.
Timothy Bradley has fought all the names you could think of in the sport of boxing. At 140 lbs., his resume is as strong as they come. With wins over the likes of Miguel Vasquez, Kendall Holt, Devon Alexander, and Nate Campbell, he took on all comers.
He even went to England to dethrone Junior Witter, winning his first world title. The only name at 140 left off his resume was Amir Khan at the time.
Bradley chose not to fight Khan for other opportunities at 147 mainly Manny Pacquiao. Bradley won a controversial decision over Pacquiao in June of 2012.
The backlash was so deep that Bradley received death threats. The once fight all comers type fighter was not the good graces of fight fans.
It all changed because of his fight with Ruslan Provodnikov at the very same venue he will fight Vargas. Bradley, a heavy favorite was thought to have an easy fight against the come forward brawler if he boxed. But he didn’t and went toe to toe with Provodnikov.
In a bout where Bradley pulled off the victory and was concussed, even taking a knee in the 12th round.
The fight was named the 2013 BWAA Fight of The Year.
Bradley then silenced more critics that same year when he defeated Mexican Legend and Manny Pacquiao conqueror Juan Manuel Marquez. Marquez was coming off a one punch knockout of the Filipino icon but Bradley out-boxed Marquez and won a decision victory.
Bradley, out to redeem what he had lost in the 1st Manny Pacquiao fight, took on Pacquiao in April of 2014. Bradley came to knock Manny Pacquiao out. He tried and even rocked Pacquiao big in the fifth round of their fight.
But it seemed like Bradley spent much of his energy early on trying to knock out Pacquiao Manny took over the second half of the fight handing Bradley the first loss of his career.
Bradley ended the year with a draw against the rugged Diego Chaves where most pundits had him winning.
The 31-year-old Bradley now goes head to head with a younger, fresher, Jessie Vargas.
Vargas was once the prize prospect of Mayweather Promotions. Showcased on many of Floyd Mayweather undercards, he won but never fully had that signature win that would propel him to the next level.
He has had fights where he was not the clear winner as in his class in 2011 with Josesito Lopez and in 2013 against Wale Omotoso on the same night Bradley fought Provodnikov.
Vargas continued the run with credible wins over Antonio Demarcoand Khabib Allakhverdiev, but this is his shot to finally have a big name on his resume.
The 26-year-old has a shot to parlay a victory over Bradley to a fight with Sadam Ali to end the year, and then become a viable option for Manny Pacquiao when he makes his return from shoulder surgery.
However, Pacquiao has hinted at retiring rather than stepping back into the ring.
Bradley has been more of a brawler than a boxer lately, and his fights with Provodnikov, Pacquiao, and even Diego Chaves may have taken miles off the career of the proud champion.
I think Vargas is getting Bradley at the right time, which mileage wise in a boxing ring is on the wrong side of 31.
“Desert Storm” has fought everyone and on paper if he still has ‘it,’ he should box Jessie Vargas and win a decision running away. But I think he has shown signs of decline that the younger fighter will be quicker to the punch and win the battle if it becomes a war.
I see a split decision victory for Jessie Vargas, but Bradley has proved us wrong before, so we’ll see who belongs.
