No Regrets: Tim Bradley On His Relationship With Top Rank and The Provodnikov Fight

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    Timothy Bradley is 2-0 in his last two outings. In his last outing, he was involved in a fight of the year candidate with Ruslan Provodnikov. The year prior to that in 2012, he won a highly questionable decision over Manny Pacquiao. After the Pacquiao fight, Bradley wasn’t too high on the opinion of most fans to the point where Bradley received death threats because of the decision. Bradley returned this year and gave the fans an exciting fight with Provodnikov. 

    Now he takes on Mexican legend Juan Manuel Marquez in a highly anticipated showdown in Las Vegas, NV on October 12th. The issue of drug testing has been a hot topic for debate, where it seems like Tim Bradley is getting the short end of the stick. Most people looking on the outside in would say Bradley hasn’t been treated as he should by his promotion team at Top Rank. It has even caused his trainer, Joel Diaz to say that he feels his promotion wants Marquez to win their fight. Bradley was a recent guest of ThaBoxingVoice.com where he touched on plenty of topics, where he opened up to let us know how he felt about certain issues.

    On There Being Any Regret Signing With Top Rank:

    “You can feel a certain way about any company that you work with. We’re all trying to build a relationship. You’re never going to agree with everything. They’ve been good to me. I’ve made the most money of my life with Top Rank and Cameron Dunkin. I’m at a point where I’m looking for that break out moment.  I’m looking for honesty. I don’t know if my promoter has been truly honest. If they have been, then ok but I know I’m completely honest with my promoter all the time with what I want to do and who I want to fight. I’m just looking for more support. I love Top Rank to death. They’ve been riding by me. It just feels like sometimes I’m getting the short end of the stick and I’m always wondering why. If you can give me a reason why then we can understand one another, especially after this drug testing issue, like damn can I get a little respect. It’s like Pacquiao, he wanted VADA and if Rios didn’t agree to VADA, then there wasn’t going to be no fight or they were going to force Rios to do VADA. At the end of the day I realized this sport is about bread and money. One day maybe I’ll be at the level. I feel like I am now but they might not feel that way. It’s bitter sweet to me because I never want to talk bad about my promoters but sometimes you can’t sit back and just keep eating shit your whole life. You have to step up and step out about stuff believe in. If I pissed off anyone at Top Rank, my phone is always on, come talk to me.”

    Whether He would Stay or Leave Once He Completes His Contract with Top Rank:

    “We’ll have to cross that bridge when we get there. I’m tied into Top Rank for another year. I’m a man of my word and fulfill my contract. If it’s possible to sign with Top Rank, if they have options for me, then that’s what I’ll do. If not, then we look for better options. I’m not really worried about it now. I’m just going to take it one fight at a time and that’s all that I can do.”

     

    Regarding His Trainer Joel Diaz and his comments on Top Rank wanting Marquez to win:

    My trainer could say anything he wants. If that’s what he believes, then he can say it. He probably pissed off a lot of people. At the end of the day, money rules this sport. There’s another Tim Bradley coming up in the sport probably about 8 years old that’s training hard, getting older and coming up. At the end of the day, we got to realize we are just a piece of meat. All the young fighters don’t realize that. They’re going to get a rude awakening one day. I got to try and make the most of every fight I’m in and become a household name.

    On Becoming a Household Name like Mayweather:

    “It takes time to get Mayweather level. He’s been in the game 17 years. I’ve only been in the game 9 years. I found out that it takes about 10-12 years to make a name in the sport like Mayweather, Pacquiao, and Mosley. If I keep fighting the best and beating the best then there’s no denying me that. I’m a 4 time world champ right now; I fight nothing but the best. That’s my goal to fight the best and I’m about to add another hall of fame fighter on my resume.  After beating Marquez on Oct 12th you can’t deny I’m a top 3 pound for pound guy. Sooner or later, the critics will wake up and say damn, Tim Bradley is the truth. It’s just a matter of time.”

    What He Expects From Marquez in Their Fight:

    “It all depends on what Marquez’ game plan is. I can fight multiple styles. We don’t train for one style. Most guys train one way. Anything that Marquez camp comes up with, we will counter. He usually just fights one way. He’s a counter puncher; anytime you throw he’s expecting to counter back in every single fight. I’ve never really seen him over aggressive. With Juan Diaz, Diaz would landed 10 shots while he (Marquez) would land 2-3 hard shots, some to the body and the chin and he was doing damage. It looked like Diaz was winning the fight but he’s clever in breaking down opponents. I get better as the fight goes on, feeling a guy out, seeing his rhythm. Once I figure out his rhythm and he doesn’t change it then he’s in trouble.”

    On Bouncing Back From a Tough Fight and Fighting Marquez:

    “Most fights are won mentally. That’s what separates champions from most fighters. Mentally I wasn’t prepared for that fight (Provodnikov). I had a chip on my shoulder and plenty of emotions especially after the Pacquiao fight. I got to bounce back and prove to the world and that I could fight with anyone. That’s the reason why I stood toe to toe. I tried to win. Ruslan is a straight forward type of fighter, throws short tight punches. No one was expecting that. Your idea wasn’t what you thought it was going to be. It’s going to be another boring fight and he’s going to outbox him. The surprise element was there and no one expected it and it was a hell of a fight. I took a lot punishment and the fans enjoyed it. They’re looking forward to this Marquez fight. You know he’s a warrior, I’m a warrior and if I’m down in the rounds or getting beat, well then you know what, I’m a go for it, grab a hold of my balls and just go for it.”

     

    On Why The Provodnikov Fight Was Tougher Than It Should Have Been:

    “Honestly, when I fought Ruslan, I didn’t go Vegan in that fight. We were standing around for a fight, waiting for a fight. So they brought Ruslan Provodnikov, we were like who knows him, it might be too risky. So we end up taking the fight. It’s two months away from the fight and I’m 40 lbs overweight. I have to lose 20 lbs a month. Normally I diet for about 3 months. I’m on the vegan diet but it’s crazy amount of carbs (carbohydrates), it hard to lose weight in a crazy amount of time. It’s extremely hard, you lose weight slowly. So I had to shift over to protein to keep my body water based. I did that and 2 weeks before the fight it was 15 lbs over. No one knew but I wasn’t disciplined at all and I had to switch it. But this time around I’m back on my vegan diet for about a month and a half. I’m on my plan; I have chefs cooking for me all vegan meals. I’m at 160 right now and I got a month a half to go. I will make weight easy. I’m on the vegan power; it helps me outlast my opponent. It’s comfortable, you don’t feel bloated, and my reaction times are a lot faster. I feel like I have a connection with the world and my energy is high. Every time I stayed still and flat-footed, he landed on me. He’s got short punches some looping. I’m very aware of it and it’s very similar to Marquez.”

    Final Words:

    “I want to thank HBO PPV and the Tim Bradley fans, I’m serious don’t forget to watch and root on me. Huge shout out Top Rank, Todd, Bob, Lee, everybody over at Top Rank.”