Tim Bradley returns next Saturday on HBO in the Home Depot Center in Carson, California when he defends his 147 lb WBO title against the rugged Ruslan Provodnikov. Bradley hasn’t been in the ring since his controversial decision victory over Manny Pacquiao this past June. Bradley isn’t looking back and is ready to move forward. During a media conference call, Bradley let the media know vivid and clear that he’s finished with reading the negativity they had to say and is ready to move on from what happened.
“I’ve stopped reading the garbage. I used to read it all of the time, but I don’t read it anymore. I didn’t get any credit for the Pacquiao fight whatsoever. People talked about me and my style, and they talked about me being a boring fighter. I can talk all day about things that people have said about me. But it doesn’t matter, because none of those people have ever stepped into the ring with me. If that happened, they would get a beat-down for sure,” Bradley said vehemently.
Bradley was unleashing frustrations built up amongst life after his Pacquiao victory where things got so escalated that he was receiving death threats after his win.
“I just know people were mad. I didn’t have to report it. I was in my household. No one can bother me when I’m in my household. That’s all. I didn’t really take them seriously at all. People are mad. That’s understandable to me, what am I going to do? I don’t think they’re going to come to my house and take me out. I didn’t think that would happen.”
After 8 months, Bradley is focused and ready to perform, so ready that his team is confident that Tim will end this fight with Provodnikov with a knockout.
“Tim has not had a bad day in sparring. He’s been looking really, really good. As far as getting ready for the fight, Tim could fight this weekend. That’s how ready he is. He always prepares 100 percent. He’s doesn’t take anybody lightly, regardless of who it is or what style they’ve got. Ruslan has his style, and I know that he’s training really hard because this is a great opportunity for him. You’re going to see a different Tim Bradley on March 16. Don’t be surprised. This fight’s not going to go the distance,” stated his trainer Joel Diaz.
Tim shared his trainer’s sentiments and stated, “My speed will still be there, as well as my power, but basically we’ve been working on a lot of technique, man. We’re in there relaxing, and I’m working on turning over my shots. We’ve been really working a lot on turning over my shots, and sitting down on my shots, and making them harder and more effective. A lot of my sparring partners are feeling my power, and they definitely notice the difference in my punches. Because a lot of them are saying, ‘What is he doing differently?’ Because I’m getting stronger and stronger, you know?”
The call revolved more around Bradley-Pacquiao than Bradley-Provodnikov but Bradley’s response to Manny Pacquiao being knocked out by Juan Manuel Marquez was certainly interesting.
“”You want the devil side of me or the good side in me. Everybody has their alter ego. So, the bad side of me said, ‘That’s what you get for not re-matching me.’ And then, the other side of me was saying, ‘Damn, that could happen to anyone. He fought a hell of a fight, and I can’t believe that this is happening.'”
