Pacquiao vs. Bradley: Why Desert Storm Will Be Boxing's Next Star

Timothy Bradley's WBO welterweight crown may be discredited by much of the boxing world because of the controversial decision, but regardless, he's a budding star in the boxing world and will be one of the premier fighters for a long time.

Despite the public dismay over Manny Pacquiao's defeat, Bradley is still a great boxer and held his own very well with one of boxing's top two pound-for-pound fighters. 

For many of us, it was the first time seeing Bradley's style. He hasn't been in the most marquee of fights in his career, but that's about to change after this.

He dazzled in the ring Saturday night and into Sunday morning with the style that made it very clear why his nickname is the Desert Storm. He used his youth, sheer will and physical frame of mind to "storm" Pacquiao early on.

Don't get me wrong: Pacquiao clearly won the fight and he made it clear that the whispers of his retirement are completely without merit. In fact, Manny looked like he could handle a fight with rival Floyd Mayweather—if it will even happen. 

Pacquiao took over early and weathered a few of Bradley's storms, and it was looking like we could have had a knockout on our hands with Bradley's unbeaten streak snapped. But he never lost his concentration on the moment and made sure that he stayed alive in the scorecards.

Bradley's ability to change every fight that he's in will be the driving force that keeps his unbeaten streak going. He was able to turn the page in this one before you could blink and got the fight going at his pace.

He was able to get a wild and boisterous Pacquiao quiet by asserting his technique and slowing him down. By staying in front of Pacquiao and not letting his pace decide the tempo, he gave himself a chance to win.

It seemed like nothing but a beaten fighter trying to avoid a knockout during some portions of the fight, but that was hardly the story in this one. 

Bradley kept his composure and amplified Pacquiao's weakness while quieting his own weaknesses. He can't pack nearly the same punch as Pacquiao in terms of power, but he believed he was the best at boxing itself.

He turned the tide in this fight, and he'll be able to do so in many more down the road. 

While it's unclear if a rematch will happen, odds are one will.

Maybe Pacquiao brings a little more decisiveness to the judges and wows them with his frenetic style. Then again, it'd be hard to count out the reigning champion.

Whether or not Bradley's unbeaten streak survives past his next bout, he will be a force in boxing for some time.