Tim Bradley Still Fighting to Be Boxing's Best Despite Critics and Controversy

Timothy Bradley Jr. isn’t the type of fighter who needs any extra motivation.

The Cathedral City, California, native wakes up every day and heads to his gym in Indio with a clear mind that’s focused like a laser on the task at hand. Being the best is the goal, and that’s all he needs.

“Motivation for me is the Hall of Fame,” Bradley told Bleacher Report. “That’s the motivation for me. I’ve captured four world championships, and this is my fifth opportunity.

“People are going to say whatever. Critics will be critics. I learned a long time ago that I can’t be worrying about what everybody thinks of me.

"I know what I’ve done. Five-time world champion [with a win Saturday night]. If that doesn’t say Hall of Fame, I don’t know what will.”

Bradley faces undefeated Jessie Vargas on Saturday night at the StubHub Center in Carson for the vacant WBO Welterweight Championship at 9:45 p.m. ET on HBO.

Vargas may not be as well-known as some of Desert Storm’s most recent opponents, but he’s a young, hungry former junior welterweight champion known for his relentless, high-volume attack.

The 26-year-old’s situation isn’t all that different from where Bradley found himself a few years ago. He’s staring opportunity in the face against a high-profile foe who holds the spot he wants.

“He hasn’t fought the big names I’ve faced, but he’s still a tough challenger and a tough young guy looking to make a name for himself,” Bradley said. “So this is no easy task whatsoever.

“Jessie Vargas is a great young fighter, but I know that if I’m at my best, he can’t beat me. There’s no way he can beat me.”

Bradley’s last contest was a hotly disputed draw against Argentine slugger Diego Chaves.

In this case, "hotly disputed" is code for "absolutely bogus."

Julie Lederman never finds her way into any sort of judging controversy but somehow scored the bout for the Argentine, while Craig Metcalfe’s draw was almost equally off the mark.

How a fighter responds to such a setback, particularly an undeserved one, helps define everything that comes next. You need to do better and find ways to leave no doubt.

“I’ve learned over the years that you can only control the things you do. You can never control the things other people do. I did my job that night. I feel I won the fight,” Bradley said.

“If I get in there and just start knocking these guys out, getting rid of them, guess what? It takes the judges out of the game. That’s been my focus. Going back to my roots. Going back to how I got to the top and trying to find ways to generate more power.”

Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images

Bradley looked chiseled at his open media workout last week in California.

He looked sharp, in shape and ready to roll after ending 2014 without a win. It was the first time in his career that he'd gone a calendar year without having his hand raised.

The emphasis on increasing the explosive output of his punches was evident when Bradley and trainer Joel Diaz broke out a large workout tire and 16-pound sledgehammer for the fighter to beat up on while the media and fans watched.

Diaz also coached Bradley on ways to utilize his body while throwing punches to generate more power behind the shots. The closeness of their relationship and the mutual respect between fighter and coach were evident.

“That’s the difference between having a real trainer and a real coach. A real coach will call you out and tell you what you’re doing wrong,” Bradley said.

Diaz is most certainly not one to sugarcoat things. He’s a passionate advocate for all his fighters, and he has their backs 100 percent.

Bradley describes the relationship between the two as like having a big brother in your corner who isn’t afraid to call you out when you’re screwing up.

“When I get out of line, he’s on me, and I appreciate that. I don’t want a guy lying to me. I don’t want a coach telling me I’m winning the fight when I’m not. I don’t need a brown-noser.

“I need somebody that’s going to tell me what I’m doing wrong and give me good advice in the corner. Joel has been that guy from Day 1.”

You have to have a certain authority and will to train a fighter like Bradley—who, until his rematch loss to Manny Pacquiao and draw with Chaves, was considered a consensus top-five fighter in the sport on most pound-for-pound lists.

Bradley can be stubborn, and that’s buoyed by an eagerness to prove he can beat any guy with any style, which has sometimes been to his detriment in the ring.

Diaz was highly critical of Bradley’s 2013 Fight of the Year win over Siberian slugger Ruslan Provodnikov.

His fighter got the job done and won a few new fans, yes, but he put himself at what the trainer felt was unnecessary risk by fighting so far out of his comfort zone to make a point.

Bradley admits he was also “reckless” in his rematch with Pacquiao, going for an early knockout and not leaving himself enough in the tank down the stretch.

So what are the chances that the aggressive, devil-may-care Bradley shows up again in Carson, the site of his war with Provodnikov?

You’ll just have to wait and see.

“I think there’s a time for that particular style in the fight. When I train for fights, I prepare for everything. I’m versatile in my attack. I think that I can mix it up at times. I don’t want to get outhustled,” Bradley said.

“There’s no way he’s going to outwork me. I think that I have a higher boxing IQ and more experience than he does. I think I’m quicker and stronger than he is. I’m just a better all-around fighter.”

Kevin McRae is a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America. You can follow him on Twitter @McRaeBoxing. All quotes were obtained from a one-on-one interview.