Timothy Bradley: Return Set for December, Opponent to Be Named

WBO welterweight champion Timothy "Desert Storm" Bradley, fresh off a highly controversial decision victory over Manny Pacquiao in June, is set to return to the ring in December.

According to reports from BoxingScene.com, Bradley promoter Bob Arum had hoped to host the event December 15th at The Theater at Madison Square Garden, but that option is no longer on the table.

“We tried to make the fight there initially, but it turns out it’s already booked for another show, so we’re looking at other places now,” Arum told BoxingScene.com.

No other venues have yet been discussed, but three possible opponents have been mentioned.

Leading the list is Russian junior welterweight Ruslan Provodnikov. Provodnikov (22-1 15 KO) is not very well known and could be a difficult sell to HBO, which will televise the fight.

Also mentioned, and subsequently rejected by HBO, was former world champion Zab Judah. 

Judah rebounded nicely after being dominated by Amir Khan in July of last year, defeating previously unbeaten Vernon Paris by ninth-round TKO in March of this year.

A third option, and perhaps the most attractive, is a rematch with junior welterweight champion Lamont Peterson.

Peterson (30-1-1 15 KO) has been shrouded in controversy after he tested positive for steroids and was subsequently suspended. He would need to work out any licensing issues before agreeing to a rematch with Bradley.

Bradley and Peterson met once before in 2009, with the former winning a dominant unanimous decision.