Timothy Bradley: Could He Unify Against KO Artist Randall Bailey Next?

Timothy Bradley (29-0, 12 KO) is without an opponent following his controversial upset of Manny Pacquiao (54-4-2, 38 KO).

Bradley's promoter Bob Arum has already gone on record and said that there won't be a Pacquiao-Bradley rematch this year.

Pacquiao will instead pursue a fourth fight with Juan Manuel Marquez (54-6-1, 39 KO). Meanwhile, Randall Bailey (43-7, 37 KO) has questioned Bradley's desire.

According to Ring Magazine, Bailey believes Bradley wants no part of him. The open statement is obviously a slight challenge to woo Bradley into battle.

Bailey recently snatched the "0" from the record of Mike Jones (26-1, 19 KO) by knockout in Round 11. His mean right put Jones down twice with an uppercut sending him down for good the second time.

Bailey won a vacant IBF welterweight world tile from the event. Bradley holds the WBO welterweight title after receiving a split decision against Pacquiao. A unification doesn't sound too bad an idea.

Bailey's knockout was seen by quite a few fans on the undercard of Pacquiao-Bradley and without Pacquiao, Bradley doesn't have anybody else to fight under Bob Arum's Top Rank stable.

Golden Boy Promotions has Amir Khan (26-2, 18 KO), but Top Rank tries to avoid working with them as much as possible due to their rivalry.

Floyd Mayweather (43-0, 26 KO) will be out of jail in time to have a fight possibly in December, but the negotiations may prove too taxing for what wouldn't amount to enough money for the trouble.

Mayweather and Arum have already blamed each other for previous failed negotiations to stage a Mayweather-Pacquiao event.

Bailey fights under Lou DiBella, someone Arum doesn't mind doing business with. 

That makes Bailey that much more of an attractive option.

At 37 years of age, 28-year-old Bradley won't see him as threatening. He may even see an easy route to an additional welterweight title.

Considering what Bailey's power did to Jones this month, he'd be wrong to underestimate him.

Bailey's selling point to the fans will be his power and his arrogant, unapologetic claims of being the true WBO welterweight champ.

People hate that Bradley won't admit he should've lost and Bailey is the type of underdog that's hard not to root for. The two together could power a compelling pre-fight hype machine.