Timothy Bradley Jr.
is ready for prime
time. The unbeaten
Palm Springs,
California junior
welterweight will
step into the
spotlight December
1st to face
Columbian veteran
Jaime Rangel in an
eight round bout to
be broadcast on
Shobox.
It’ll be the
national TV debut
for Bradley,
nicknamed “Desert
Storm” because of
his aggressive
style, and also his
first bout since
inking a promotional
deal with Gary Shaw.
An accomplished
amateur, Bradley has
compiled a record of
16-0 with 10 KOs
while campaigning
under the banner of
respected local
promoter Thompson
Boxing since turning
pro two years ago.
Photo: John Pinto of
Punch News
FNN
caught up with the 23 year
old Bradley over the
weekend. Speaking by phone
from his home in the Palm
Springs area, a relaxed
Bradley took the time to
discuss the bout with Rangel
and his recent signing with
Shaw.
FNN: How is camp
going?
TB: Camp is going
great. Been in shape, I'm
ready to go. We went up to
Riverside to spar with a
couple of southpaws out
there. Been working hard,
focusing on my countering
ability, my conditioning as
always. It should be great
Friday".
FNN: With Rangel,
he's a very experienced guy.
He's been in there with guys
like Emmanuel Augustus and
Kendall Holt. What are your
thoughts on the fight?
TB: I think it's
going to be a great exciting
fight. I know he comes to
fight. He's a southpaw, so
he's going to be a little
awkward. I faced probably 2
southpaws in my professional
career. I boxed a number of
southpaws in my amateur
career. I think it's going
to be a great, explosive
fight.
If he
tries to press forward, I might move
around and box a little bit. Mix it
up, kinda like box and punch him a
little bit. I know that he's game
and he's coming off some consecutive
losses. He's probably regrouped and
tried to refocus himself cause he
wants to become a contender. So he's
gonna come out trying to possibly
knock my head off. It's going to be
an explosive fight.
FNN: Recently, you signed a
four-year deal with Gary Shaw. He's
gonna co-promote you with your
longtime promoter Thompson Boxing.
Tell me a little about how that came
about.
TB: Gary was out here for the
Blue & Gold Tournament, and a couple
of people told him 'you need to
check out Timothy Bradley' cause
Gary tends to like aggressive
fighters with power and speed. I
believe his son seen me box or seen
a tape on me, and told him 'you need
to talk to Tim Bradley'. And then
there’s a guy named Lee Bates, he
went to Gary.
From there, we sat at the table.
They sent me a contract; we reviewed
it and ended up signing with Gary
Shaw. I know he's a big time
promoter. I know Thompson's brought
up my professional career, I want to
be loyal, give Thompson a chance to
stick with me and manage me and take
me to the top right along with Gary
Shaw. I think we're gonna be a great
team.
FNN: Going into this fight
like you mentioned, this is your
national debut. Is it more pressure
on you to look good in this fight?
Or do you go into this fight viewing
it as just another fight you have to
win?
TB: Of course, there's a lot
of pressure on me because I've been
wanting this for a long time. Plus
everybody's hearing about 'Desert
Storm'. There's a little pressure,
but I'm a definitely go into this
fight thinking 'this is not on TV.
This is another fight at the
Doubletree'. I know in the back of
my head it's not. I'm just gonna go
in there with a clear head and
focus, not get trapped into the big
crowd and the atmosphere. After the
fight, I'll smile and laugh and the
cameras and stuff. I'm constantly
thinking about the fight. I'm at
home watching TV, trying not to
think about it too much. It's my big
debut and I'm really excited, I
can't wait.
FNN: Who would you say has
been your toughest opponent so far?
TB: (Jorge) Padilla,
(Francisco) Rincon. Rincon was
tough; he was like 5'11-6'0- a giant
(Bradley is 5’6). There's a guy I
fought in LA, Rocha. He was tough in
the beginning rounds, another tall
lanky guy with great hand speed and
power. Padilla was a guy that came
forward non-stop, he'd just eat
shots and keep pressing. Never gives
up, he was a tough cookie.
FNN: One thing that stands
out about your style is your body
punching. Is that something you work
on a lot?
TB: Kinda sorta. I don't
really work on it in the gym. I
don't really work on a power ball
for body punching. The majority of
the time I'm the shorter man, and
the style that I picked up from Joel
(trainer Joel Diaz) is inside
fighting. I can move and box and
throw fast combinations, but the
style that Joel is trying to put me
is to be a boxer-puncher. Be able to
fight in the inside and weaken my
opponent. I watch a lot of videos on
Chavez, Castillo, a lot of Mexican
fighters who are aggressive and how
they break down their opponents. I
know if you break down the body, you
break down the mind.
FNN: What do you like most
about competing in the sport?
TB: The excitement. I love
the competitiveness of the sport.
It's just me and another man. In the
ring, you see what type of man you
are. I respect the game totally, I
don’t take anybody lightly. I train
every fight like it's my last fight.
I respect the game and love it-the
competitiveness, the crowd, the
entertainment, the whole business.
Me and that guy, we're in there
giving our heart. Basically, blood,
sweat, and tears.
FNN: Anything else you wanna
say?
TB: I just want to thank my
family. Thompson Boxing Promotions
and Gary Shaw for giving me the
chance in becoming what I've always
dreamed of becoming. I just want to
thank God for being by my side, and
keeping me healthy and keeping my
family healthy. And my friends, they
know who they are".
