The World of Tim “Desert Storm” Bradley |
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| Written by David A. Avila | |||
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Thursday, 22 March 2012 06:46
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Decades have passed with few unaware of the growth taking place in sand blown towns like Indio, Coachella, Desert Hot Springs, Cathedral City and further reaches like Blythe. That’s all going to end. A media blitz is taking place on the sweltering desert confine where Timothy “Desert Storm” Bradley (28-0, 12 KOs) trains on a daily basis. His fight with Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao (54-3-2, 38 KOs) on June 9 in Las Vegas has prompted world-wide interest. No longer will the area remain a secret. Bradley has been one of those who began fighting on the streets of Indio and later enticed to the fighting arts of amateur boxing. He quickly rose through the ranks in the area where hundreds of boys partake of boxing as readily as those joining Little League Baseball or Pop Warner Football. It’s a rite of passage in the desert. Since the 1980s fighters like Paul Banke, Ysaias Zamudio, Pancho Segura and Joel Diaz began exposing the world to their aggressive brand of prizefighting. Not coincidentally, Diaz is now a trainer and coaches the undefeated junior welterweight world champion Bradley. Diaz fought for the world title in the late 90s against South Africa’s Phillip Holiday for the lightweight world title. The elder brother of former world champions Antonio and Julio Diaz knows a thing or two about world class prizefighting. He’s passing it on to his current protégé Bradley. One thing concerns Diaz and it’s an aspect that very few prizefighters experience: the mega fight. “I worry about distractions,” said Joel Diaz, who trains Bradley in Indio. Pound for Pound match up Bradley, 28, is considered one of the best fighters pound for pound and will meet the boxer many consider among the top one or two in the world. “It’s too early to start training,” said Bradley who arrived in the Indio gym to be filmed and photographed for HBO’s publicity junkets. “Right now I’m just working on cutting my weight, eating the right foods.” Recently a small cadre of television cameramen, reporters and photographers arrived in the usually quiet boxing gym where not only Bradley trains, but other prizefighters like Vicente Escobedo, Omar Figueroa, Cub Swanson and several others can be seen going through their regular boxing drills. That distinctive sound of speed bags fluttering while boxers spar each other in the boxing ring are staples of the busy gym. Few media types ever set foot in the gym except for reporters from the two daily newspapers. Not anymore. HBO’s camera crew will be followed by promoter Top Rank’s own group and they will be followed by crews from all over the country and around the world. It’s of international notice whenever Pacquiao fights. Bradley is considered by many the undisputed junior welterweight world champion and though he no longer holds those belts he captured, such as the WBC and WBO, no one was able to hand him a defeat. So now he’s moving into the 147-pound welterweight limit and Diaz along with Bradley’s father and uncle are primed to assist in the new weight division. “The fight itself, I’m not worried about,” said Diaz who has guided Bradley to an undefeated record since the Palm Springs boxer became a professional. “I’m comfortable with Timothy’s abilities.” It’s the extraneous activities going around that worry the trainer Diaz who also fought in world title bouts when he was a boxer. Pacman Pacquiao has fought in numerous mega fights where the entire world was watching and is more than comfortable with the hoards of photographers flashing cameras at his every movement. It’s all second nature to the Filipino superstar who has been partaking in these momentous fights since 2004 when he fought Juan Manuel Marquez to a draw in Las Vegas. “It’s going to be a good fight because Timothy Bradley is a strong fighter and he likes to fight toe to toe,” said Pacquiao, 33, while at a recent Los Angeles press conference. Pacquiao is a prohibitive favorite. Though Bradley has never been defeated and has versatility that few other prizefighters possess, the fighter known as “Pacman” has experienced the busy schedules, constant requests and pressure of training for elite level championship fights before millions of viewers. One thing in Bradley’s favor is his youth and who knows when Pacquiao will slow down. “We learned a lot watching that fight,” said Diaz, adding that an HBO series featuring Freddie Roach also provided valuable insight. “Thank you Freddie Roach.” Bradley and his team are already in sync for the welterweight showdown though it’s still three months away. “He knows the game plan,” said Bradley about Pacquiao. “I’m going to come straight to him. This ain’t no game.” Not only will the world discover Bradley’s desert habitat, it will also become acquainted with the desert region and its many prizefighters. The desert has more to it than heat. Fights on television Fri. ESPN2, 6 p.m., Robert Garcia (30-3) vs. Antwone Smith (21-3-1). Fri. Showtime, 11 p.m., Diego Magdaleno (21-0) vs. Miguel Beltran Jr. (26-1). Sat. NBC Sports Network, 6 p.m., Zab Judah (41-7) vs. Vernon Paris (26-0). Sat. HBO, 7 p.m., Erik Morales (52-7) vs. Danny Garcia (22-0). deepwater says:
Bradleys big head is a big target. Hope Pacmans heart is still in it after g-d told him to retire. wish it was mayweather before he steps out of the game. amayseng says:
unlike floyd fighting a ruined, past primed, war torn cotto, this is a LEGIT fight... Radam G says:
Wow! Just like beauty is in the eyes of the beholder, I guess analysises about the "theatre of the unexpected" are too. Firstly! Miguel Cotto is more like a trogan horse. And Money May knows it. This is why he is training seriously. Secondly! I'm reminded of how many "ruined, past primed, war torn" pugilists got their trogan-horse butt kicking on. GOAT Ali against Big George Foreman. Roberto Duran against Davey Moore and Iran Barkley. Big George Foreman against the "Double M Man" Michael "Master of Mistery" Moorer. Doc Vitali K against Samuel "The [Nigerian Buffet Fatty -- I mean] Night" Peters. And of course, the oldest cat to ever win a main-stay world title belt, Bernard "B-Hop" Hopkins against Pascal, just to name a few. Radam G says:
Da Manny is not having any of that Gazoo billygoat magic. For Tim Bradley, trying to cranium coldcock Da Manny, is going to end in a firestorm tragic. For the bout not to end quick [sic]. The "Desert Storm" smallshot with the trick-of-the-trade BIG dome-to-the-mug weapon has to be one superfast running d**k. ali says:
Cotto is a much better fighter then Bradley....Pac should have no problem beating him if he does then he has slip more then I thought ....on the other hand Mayweather is moving up to fight a guy who 4yrs younger and has only lost to cheaters 1 who had bricks in his gloves and the other one had steroids in his body (possibly) and made him come way down to 145 to fight him...in my eyes he's still undefeated and somebody 0 has gots to go...this will be a much better fight watch then Pac vs Bradley. Radam G says:
The only fighter with steriods in his body is Money May. In Sin City, the corrupted boxing commission is allowing the types that Money May uses. This is why Money May only fights in Las Vegas. Just about all the other states and the whole world won't put up with his reality distortion and make-believe actuality syet. So just keep riding his nuts, SCLA Ali. You got your rodeo on Fam Mayweather nuts. Hehehe! Ride 'em, babbeeeeee, ride 'em! Holla! brownsugar says:
Bradly can make a good account of himself if he just obeys the 1st rule of "Manny Bustin", #1.) Keep that lateral movement going,... maintain distance,.... and leap on Manny like a cheap coat exterior primer when ever the legendary 8 time champions' back hits the ropes. ....Keep the chin tucked and that guard high... after a few rounds of that, OL' Bradly can let the hands fly. ...As Manny's head sits apon his shoulders like a big OL bullseye. amayseng says:
the mayweather against jmm was quite ridiculous brownsugar... ali says:
Amayseng u made some great points but I disagree with u on Cotto not being the same...like B-Sug said he's gotten better over time...his career reminds me alot a Marco Antonio he started off as a banger and evolved in to a very good boxer...now he can beat Mayweather like Barrera beat Naseem it would put him a certified HOF. Radam G says:
Neither Cotto nor Money May is the same man they were a while ago. Money May talks a mean game and has a whole lot of hoodlums, hoodboys, hoodscribes, haters and a few fanboys, flunkies and fanfaronades behind him. And, of course, his boys. I'm one. But I'm all about TELLING THE TRUTH and the WHOLE TRUTH. Cotto will give Money May a challenge. PERIOD! END of DISCUSSION. MisterLee says:
Bradley should win by UD, Pacquiao will win by robbery. Bradley has one of the best Ring IQ's between 140-154. Bradley will outsmart him, work the body, and eventually will pepper him with counters and combinations. I put some crow on the line! I will serve crow on June 10th! That's a promise! Radam G says:
There goes that RACIST-ARSE IQ BULLSYET again! You muthaknow nothing oughta quit and learn to use the correct language to be covert with your jive-time Pac-and-Pinoy hating. OKAY! WTF! Here goes school. Not that you will learn syet. Because a knuckleheaded, undercovered ____ _____ _____ have that biasness and latent bigotry in him until the day that he takes his last breath and relieve the whole of his stupid ______. OneTonMan says:
Bradley is a thinking fighter. He uses his head. Rather, Bradley is a stinking fighter. brownsugar says:
Yes,... we saw Floyd lose a few percentage points on the accuracy meter against Ortiz. but who has ever handled the man-child Ortiz with such ease?...and I saw Floyd getting popped with good shots and pretending it didn't hurt...........all this is after he dismantled Berto like he was a journeyman. if age brings out more violence and risk in Mayweathers game then I'm all for it... thanks for sharing Amaseng... you are truly a beast when it comes to critiquing the Money man. Shoulder Roll Defense says:
My boy Radam G predicted that Victor Ortiz would defeat Floyd Mayweather, so I don't think I'm too far out of line when I predict that Bradley will win a split decision or lose by split decision. However, I would bet the house on on Bradley if I was a gambling man because he has the skills and confidence to beat Manny. He showed me a lot when he got off the canvas to dominate Kendal Holt. amayseng says:
appreciate it brownsugar... Radam G says:
Wow! What is up with the fibbing, B-Sug? I never -- and I mean -- NEVER predicted that Vicious Victor Ortiz or anybody else but Da Manny was going to "defeat Floyd Mayweather." NOT YOU or anybody else will find such gabbage in any of my nearly 2,000 posts. OMFG! There much be some type of negative energy in cyberspace and/or the TSS Universe that make a lot of dudes and their groupie mates try to lie on all type of bullsh*t on Pinoys. Radam G says:
My bad, B-Sug! That last post was for Shoulder Roll Defense. He is one of your groupie mates who spits remarkably like you. If I didn't read the pseudonym, I would swear on a stage of ___ ____ ____ that he is you. I'm willing to bet that he and you were educated from the same type of schooling and are of very similar backgrounds. Holla! Radam G says:
Anyway, SRD, you are full of ____! Holla! Radam G says:
@SRD, you really need to quit calling out these lies on me. Wishy-washy readers like SCLA Ali, Money Jay, B and sometimes even very strong-minded B-Sug listen to bulljive without checking the fact and then jump all up in my grill with some of your imaginary bullsh*tology. It is no doubt that you have a leader personality -- though with disorders. Wow, man! C'mon, you fib not because it is in your interest but is in your nature and culture. I've seem your type tons of time. They always lie on da fly and try to become the apple of somebody's eye.
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One of the best kept secrets in prizefighting has been the army of desert fighters that practice their art of war in the dry landscape of the Palm Springs greater area.
The world of Tim Bradley is a distorted one. Da Manny is going to whup his butt. Joel Diaz is full of ____ ___ or maybe he is insane in da membrane. YUP! RIGHT! Dat muthasucka better be worried about this fight. Because Da Manny is going to kayo his protege with a left and/or right.
Forget about Bradley's big, ole head. In this bout, it will have no edge. Da Manny is going to hook dat desert sucka in the torso and then go upside his with the Pinoy-created famous punch known as the bolo. And down the "Desert Storm" will go. You KNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOW! It will be like slow-mo. Holla!