Timothy Bradley and longtime trainer Joel Diaz have parted ways after a lengthy partnership that dates all the way back to 2004, a move which Desert Storm says is for the best.
The sudden separation comes as a surprise considering that Bradley has flourished under the tutelage of Diaz. But it seems that somewhere along the way, the relationship soured, and as Bradley puts it to ESPN, "At the end of the day, I don't trust him. What's the point of being with him if you don't trust him? If there's no trust, then there's no relationship."
Before the breakup, the Bradley-Diaz partnership produced five world titles in two weight classes. One of those came at the expense of Manny Pacquiao, a controversial win that happened on June 9, 2012.
Bradley last fought Jessie Vargas in what turned out to be yet another controversial ruling. Bradley did win that one via unanimous decision, but the controversy stems from the fact that Vargas seemed to have gotten Desert Storm’s number and would have knocked him out if not for the intervention of referee Pat Russell.
While the WBO already ruled that the results will stay, Vargas has filed an appeal to the decision. To date, there is still no word on the WBO’s stand.
Diaz reportedly has not heard from Bradley since that time. That was until last week, when Bradley came to the gym and talked with Diaz.
Per Diaz, Bradley tried to make excuses, but his point was that Diaz was not part of his future plans. It was at this point that Diaz told Bradley something interesting: "I've known you for a long time, you're like my brother, but right now it's out of your control. Your wife took over your career."
Bradley, of course, had a different take on the story, claiming that it was his call, and that no one tells him to do anything. He went as far as pointing out the fact that Diaz wasn’t around when he was proclaimed the winner. The longtime trainer says that he got pissed off with something and just decided to leave the ring.
And it seems like that was the final straw. The last nail in the coffin was hammered.
So will the move benefit Bradley moving forward?
Seeing where Bradley is right now, it may be hard to predict how he could possibly reinvent himself. The important things that Bradley needs right now are more motivation and trust, the latter of which Bradley says is no longer there with Diaz.
So who could possibly fill Diaz's shoes? Well, there are two names being considered. One is Teddy Atlas and the other is Buddy McGirt. Could either of these two continue or improve on what Diaz has already set for the man called Desert Storm?
Whoever it may be, the new trainer could be named soon. It will also become clear whether he is better than Diaz, as Bradley is set to defend his title against Brandon Rios on Nov. 7 in Las Vegas, as reported by the Las Vegas Review-Journal.