Timothy Bradley, Jr. put an end to Jesse Vargas' undefeated streak after hacking out a seemingly controversial unanimous decision victory over at the StubHub Center in Carson, California to win the Interim WBO welterweight title.
Bradley is no stranger to controversial endings, having had one with Filipino boxer Manny Pacquiao back in June 9, 2012. This time around, the controversy came up in the dying seconds of the fight after the American boxer received a massive right from Vargas with about 15 seconds left in the match.
Bradley looked ready to drop and was holding on for dear life until referee Pat Russell made a controversial waive which he later claimed was a mistake as he thought that the 10 second warning was actually the final bell.
Prior to that, Bradley dominated Vargas all throughout and apparently the only way to win it was via a knockout at that stage. When the judges turned in their scorecards, Bradley was the obvious and unanimous choice.
The scorecards showed it 117-111, 116-112 and 115-112, all in Bradley’s favour.
Jesse Vargas (26-1), who suffered the first defeat of his boxing career is looking for a rematch though it seems Bradley has set his sights on someone else – Gennady Golovkin.
Golovkin is another boxer who holds a clean slate but someone that Bradley could have problems with. But as far as Bradley is concerned, his next opponent will be decided upon by his camp and not his alone. If all goes accordingly, the fight could take place this coming September.
“Everyone thinks I’m crazy for calling out Golovkin,” Bradley said at the post-fight press conference. “If my team wants it, I’ll do it. I don’t make the ultimate decision. I’m crazy,” he added.
Bradley will be an underdog against Golovkin. This is not solely because Golovkin is undefeated and more popular but the fact that is bigger.
Currently toting a 33-0 record, 30 of Golovkin’s fights were won via knockout. He last fought Willie Monroe Jr. on May 15, 2016, coming out with a TKO win in the sixth round.
If plans do push through, Bradley will have to move up two weight divisions to fight at middleweight. Though he has the speed to frustrate and fend off the punching power of Golovkin, there is that possibility that he could suffer a very serious injury.
Bradley is looking to face the top fighters in the 147 and 154 weight category but facing Golovkin seems to be something a bit out of his reach.
Before looking ahead, he may want to reconsider a rematch with Vargas first. Though he claims he was aware of what was happening, that cloud of doubt is once again up in the air.
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