He's had a helluva year. Here Timothy Bradley tells us exclusively he can beat Floyd Mayweather and how things :
"IT WAS HELL IN THERE," Tim Bradley says of the ring in which
darkness and hurt took hold of him and Ruslan Provodnikov nine months
ago. The fight of the year, in
Boxing News and almost every other
publication covering this most primal and compelling of sports, was in
Carson, California. But for 48 minutes, with just a brief break on a
small wooden stool between each of the 12 three-minute rounds, Bradley
and Provodnikov were in a very different place to Carson.
“Hell…,” Bradley says again, almost laughing as he repeats the one
word that describes everything he and Provodnikov endured on 16 March
2013. Now, after a tranquil winter morning of Californian sunshine and a
visit to his daughters’ school to deliver an inspirational speech to
wide-eyed children, Bradley is in the mood to reflect on a fight that
almost ruined him.
Video footage of their WBO welterweight title fight again reveals the
extent of punishment that both men absorbed on a night when all the
glory and brutality of boxing was stripped bare. It began early in the
opening round. A crunching right hand rocked Bradley and sent him
spiraling down to the canvas, from where he rose unsteadily and then
fell backwards again, as if he couldn’t believe that a knockdown had not
been ruled by referee Pat Russell. Provodnikov tore into him and a
desperate Bradley fired back.
“I came back to the corner and Joel Diaz [his trainer] slapped me
because I was dazed,” Bradley recalls. "Joel was yelling, telling me to
box and move. But I’d been hurt by that big right hand. I buckled and
staggered and I was trying to get out of that dark place, feeling drunk,
trying to regain my senses. But my balance was gone. I remember falling
in an awkward position.”
Provodnikov made a mistake in staying on top of Bradley when he
toppled to the canvas the first time – and so Russell called it a slip.
But Bradley was so badly hurt that, “I was fighting on auto pilot. I was
just throwing bombs as a way of trying to survive as much as win. His
lack of experience at the very top level definitely hurt him – while my
experience definitely helped me keep fighting.”
The pattern was set and the two men looked like a couple of
fist-throwing figures on a computer game as their heads were rocked back
and forth with sickening force. They kept up the relentless barrage in
round two with Provodnikov again causing most of the pain. At ringside
Bradley's wife Monica, and mother Kathy, left their seats. They could
not watch the distressing violence any longer.
“It was very hard for Monica,” Bradley says. “It was upsetting. I
told her before the fight that I was going in there to knock this guy
out. That was the only thing on my mind and she understood this left me
open to danger. She found it the worst ordeal.”
Bradley stresses that the controversy surrounding his defeat of Manny
Pacquiao in June 2012, when he appeared fortunate to win a
split-decision in Las Vegas, so upset him that he resorted to a “destroy
or be destroyed” strategy against Provodnikov. “I was in a very bad
position before the fight. I got the decision against Pacquiao but I had
so much criticism it really put a halt to my career as far as the fans
and media were concerned. I needed to do something to change their
outlook on me as a fighter and a world champion.
“I was looking to take him out. And, in the process, I got hit with
some big, big shots. He’s a real big puncher. But I withstood his
onslaught. I fought back and showed what kind of a warrior and a
champion I am. I showed guts. I showed determination and my will to win.
Everyone definitely warmed to me, and to Provodnikov. But it was a
Rocky fight. I hit you. You hit me. Over and over again.”
Provodnikov is called the ‘Siberian Rocky’ for a reason and, even
though Bradley had carved out a narrow lead going into the last round,
the carnage continued until the final seconds. It looked as if Bradley
would succumb as he shipped yet more punishment before a withering left
hook from the swollen-faced Provodnikov dropped him. There were just 11
seconds left as the referee began his count. Bradley waited until he
heard Russell say “eight” and then he rose unsteadily to his feet.
“Do you want to continue?” the referee asked, gesturing Bradley towards him.
The American nodded and stepped forward. He was ready to fight on
but, then, the bell rang. The war was over – even if it would be a long
time before Bradley would be entirely free of the hell he had somehow
survived.
Provodnikov sank to the canvas and buried his battered face in his
arms as if he could hardly fathom the depth of savagery he and Bradley
had just shared. Even when they both ended up in hospital together their
joint ordeal continued. “I was victorious,” Bradley said, “but I got
checked up in the hospital and they said I had a concussion. I still had
to do a drugs test and I was pissing blood. I’ve never pissed blood in
my life. But the Vada [the anti-doping agency] tester said Provodnikov
had also pissed blood. It was a real tough, brutal fight.”
Bradley draws breath and then he says: “I really would not want to have another fight like that again.”
His words resound just long enough for him to follow them with
another fierce statement of intent. “But if it happens again…you know
what? I’m going to do whatever it takes to survive and win. I’m a
fighter.”
Bradley admits that, in hospital, “I felt so tired. I just wanted to
close my eyes and go to sleep. At the same time my endorphins were
firing because I’d won. But my face was really swollen and I was badly
banged up.”
For a long time after the fight Bradley suffered from concussion,
headaches and the shakes. He does not deny that the concussion lasted
for weeks. “Absolutely. With concussion, depending on the severity of
it, it can last for six to nine months. So, absolutely, it was serious.
It probably took a month or two before I felt normal again. But I’m not
worried now. I’m 100%.”
How does Monica feel? “She was very emotional. She never wants to see
me hurt or damaged. Money is great but health is the most important
thing. Without health you can’t love, without health you can’t live.
Money can’t buy you health like it’s a video game. So my wife worries
about my health – like she should because this is a dangerous sport. It
definitely has consequences later in life. So Monica wants me to take
the least amount of punishment, invest my money right and get out of
this game before I really get hurt.”
It’s easy to imagine Monica’s reaction when she heard that, on his
first day back in the gym, Bradley was asked to spar against the
ferocious Argentinean puncher Lucas Matthysse – who was then in hard
training for his September bout against Danny Garcia. Surely even
Bradley must have winced when his trainer told him the news. “I didn’t
feel any fear,” he says. “We’re at the top level of boxing so you were
always have to be prepared. Matthysse was looking for good work and I
guess my trainer wanted to see if I was ready for a guy like him,
roaring out of the gate. It was important to see if I could take his
punches.
“I did four rounds on my first day of sparring. He landed some big
shots on me – especially his left hook – and I wasn’t rattled or dazed. I
took his punches really well. And from that point on I felt positive
and kept getting better and better each day. I always tell my father and
my trainer that as long as I’m in great shape I can beat any fighter
out there.”
Juan-Manuel Marquez disagreed bitterly but, to most people who saw
the fight live, and I was at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas
on 12 October, Bradley boxed superbly and smartly to outpoint the great
Mexican. It was a split decision but this time, in contrast to the
aftermath of the Pacquiao controversy, the only debate seemed to envelop
Glenn Feldman’s 115-113 score in favour of Marquez. Bradley looked on
in disbelief when Marquez insisted he had been robbed. “I was very
shocked,” he says now. “But when you want something so bad and it’s
taken out of your hands, I guess you’re either a poor sport or you deal
with it like a man. He chose to be a poor sport. It sucks but I’m not
worried about it. I already told Marquez he should have retired a long
time before facing me. Marquez was crying so he can say whatever he
wants – none of that could take the shine off my victory.”
Concerns about Bradley’s health were eased by the sight of him boxing
so intelligently. And now, relaxing at home on an ordinary Wednesday
afternoon, he emerges as an articulate and friendly man – as
quick-witted as he is thoughtful. But, especially as Bradley himself has
highlighted the long-term consequences, how much longer might he remain
a professional fighter?
“I’ve got a five year plan but if we continue having babies it might
take longer,” the 30 year-old chuckles because he and Monica have had
two small girls of their own to join her son and daughter from a
previous relationship. “But I’m not greedy. I don’t need to be
super-rich. I just want to take care of my bills, send my kids to
college, and be there when they get married. I’ve got three daughters
and they’re going to get married – so that’s expensive! But it’s all
about my health. As long as my health is good I’ll fight on.”
In the wake of his victory over Marquez it was mooted that Bradley
would be Floyd Mayweather’s most credible opponent. His perfect 31-0
record provides him with credentials as strong as Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez –
whom Mayweather outclassed in September. Bradley knows that a fight
against Mayweather would earn him many millions of dollars but he is
philosophical about the near-certainty that he will not get the chance
to test himself against a master boxer. Mayweather is linked to Golden
Boy Promotions while Bradley fights for Top Rank.
“Mayweather doesn’t do any business with Top Rank,” Bradley says.”So
I’m pretty sure that a fight between us will never happen. It’s a shame.
But there’s nothing you can do about it. It kills boxing in one way. At
the same time, I see boxing starting to climb up since this separation
between two promoters. I see the networks going at it, back and forth,
and it’s interesting. We’ve had some good, classy fights this year. It’s
been fantastic. There’ve been great fights on HBO and Showtime and I’ve
watched all of them.
“Of course it’s hard for me, personally, because I believe deep in my
heart that I’d beat Mayweather. They can say I’m crazy but I can match
fire with fire, speed with speed. Like I showed against Marquez I’m very
elusive and hard to hit when boxing right. I can come forward and
pressure as well. I can do it all. I am the only guy who can beat Floyd
Mayweather.”
Does it irk him that Amir Khan is being spoken of as Mayweather’s
possible next opponent? Khan has had the exact same number of fights as
Bradley but he has lost three times, and been stopped twice, in an
uneven career.
“Look,” Bradley says, “Amir Khan is a very good fighter. I don’t
knock anybody’s hustle. If Amir gets in the ring with Floyd it really
doesn’t bother me. I don’t need to run after anyone. I’m the WBO champ
of the world. But Amir is one of the fastest fighters in the game. I
think he’s tremendous and really talented. And he is super fast. I’ve
seen him fight and he’s faster than Mayweather. Absolutely! Do I think
he beats Mayweather? Definitely not. But I think he can put up a good
challenge due to his speed and reflexes. I don’t know if the fans want
that kind of fight but, personally, I wouldn’t mind watching it.”
Danny Garcia, who stopped Khan so shockingly last year, receives
Bradley’s most effusive praise. “Garcia’s a fantastic fighter. I don’t
think people gave him enough credit going into the Matthysse fight. But I
thought he could win it. He proved me right. Matthysse is one heck of
an opponent but Garcia is so versatile. He can fight coming forward and
going back. He’s very poised. He has impeccable timing. My God! He’s one
of the greats when it comes to timing. That’s what makes Garcia – his
timing and his ability to make adjustments on the fly. He has decent
speed with a good jab and a good right hand. He’s a good body puncher
with a solid defence and he can take a punch. You don’t often find the
complete package but Danny Garcia has it.”
As another Golden Boy-promoted fighter, Garcia will also stay out of
Bradley’s range. “He’s another guy I won’t get to fight,” Bradley
agrees. “But I want to fight the best in the world. I want to be the
number 1 pound-for-pound fighter in the game and I’m not going to stop
until I reach that goal. I feel in my heart and mind that I can beat all
these guys. I might not get the opportunity right now but you never
know how the cards will be laid out.”
Bradley dismisses speculation that a rematch with Pacquiao, Top
Rank’s richest fighter, is set for April. “I haven’t spoken to anyone at
Top Rank for a while. I’m looking to come back in March but I haven’t
discussed any opponents yet. So I haven’t heard any talk about a
Pacquiao rematch. I’ll wait until I talk to my people and then we’ll see
what’s best. We’ll do that shortly.”
It all seems a long way from May 2008 when, with his and Monica’s
bank account showing a mere $11, Bradley flew to England to fight Junior
Witter. He had given up his day-job in a last-ditch effort to make it
as a top-tier professional fighter. “I had started washing dishes at
15,” he remembers. “I did it for a couple of years and I moved up to
being a busboy and then a server [waiter]. When I went to England I was
in a very bad spot, man. I needed to do whatever it took to get out of
it.
“Once I quit my job I said it’s time to make something of my career. I
got tired of working at the restaurant. I was working super-hard for no
reason. I said: ‘What do I do best?’ I can fight. I can box. So I’m
going to go 110% and put all my marbles in one basket and go for it.’ I
trained like an animal and that’s why I beat Witter. And I so
appreciated the British fans. They really know boxing. They love the art
of it. It’s not just about blood and guts. Everybody likes those fights
but I prefer boxing where you see guys thinking. The Provodnikov fight
might suggest differently but I still believe in the Sweet Science.”
Bradley is now keen to wage another kind of war. He has become one of
the most outspoken advocates against doping in boxing. “The most
important thing is that fans need to realize that hard work, dedication
and self-belief is the only way to success. I want to show my fans I
don’t believe in drugs. I don’t believe in steroids. I am a clean
fighter. And that’s why I’m signed up voluntarily to Vada – the best
anti-drug agency in the world. That shows what kind of person I am. I
want all my opponents to do the same because there’s so much drug abuse
in all sport. It could be down to the pressure. If you don’t do well you
lose your job and that’s where the steroids come in. I’m different. My
success is down to hard work and God-given talent and putting in the
time and effort.”
Does Bradley believe that boxing has a serious doping problem – even
more than other professional sports? “Boxing is definitely the biggest
problem. In other sports there are national bodies to oversee testing.
They have it in baseball and in cycling they even have a biological
passport. That’s very important because, as sportsmen, we’re regarded as
elite role models by many kids. You should be clean. And most of these
guys are not. That’s a big problem for me.
“You know, I was so bothered by Lance Armstrong. I was a huge fan. I
loved his story – beating cancer, coming back, winning the Tour. I
thought this guy was super-human. ‘Oh my goodness,’ I said, ‘this is
unbelievable. It’s remarkable. It’s incredible.’ And then to find out
that he’s dirty. I wanted to throw my books away, and my bike. It was
terrible. I believed in Lance. I even used some of his training
techniques. He denied it and denied it. And I said, ‘man, this guy beat
cancer! Why is everyone making these allegations?’ I couldn’t believe
it. And then we learnt the truth about Lance Armstrong. That’s why I’m
so passionate in wanting to fight these cheats.”
Does he believe that there are leading fighters in boxing who, like
Armstrong, have doped their way to victory? “If you’re not taking the
tests I honestly do think that. We know these guys are doing it in their
off-time. People can accuse me too but they can come test me any time,
any day of the week. If you have that mindset towards random testing
you’re clean. You have to be. But if you’re denying it and you’re
running and you don’t have the same approach as me I’ll call you dirty.”
How many times has he been tested since joining Vada? “I’ve been
tested 12 times. And I joined them right before the Provodnikov fight in
March.”
Bradley might have been to hell and back, as the Vada testers
discovered when they saw his and Provodnikov’s blood-red urine, but at
the end of a memorable year he can almost relish the experience. “I’ve
watched the fight a lot, especially when preparing for Marquez, and I
see my mistakes. But we gave the fans a classic they can watch over and
over again. Lots of people say it was the best fight they’ve seen in
years. So I’m very happy that Ruslan Provodnikov and I put on an
unforgettable show. But I deserve at least five more fights where I can
box in a strategic way, like against Marquez. Me and Provodnikov fought a
classic. But I never want to go back there again.”
