After a Hall of Fame fighting career, Tim Bradley has kept a keen eye on the sport of boxing from the pundit’s chair.
The two-weight world champion hung up the gloves in 2016 and has since taken up roles with ESPN and Pro Box TV, amongst others.
Speaking on the latest instalment of the latter, he discussed Teofimo Lopez – current WBO Super-Lightweight Champion – and why his upcoming defence against Canada’s Steve Claggett may be underwhelming for fans.
“The Claggetts of the world. The reason why he’s facing Claggett is because he don’t have a dance partner. Nobody wants to face him.
[Subriel] Matias had an opportunity to sign with Top Rank and face him but he went the Eddie Hearn route. [Devin] Haney chose [Ryan] Garcia. Garcia can’t make 140. Who else is there for him to fight?”
It’s for that reason that Bradley welcomes Lopez calling out Terence Crawford, recently undisputed at welterweight but readying himself for a move up to 154 on August 3 to challenge for world honours in a fourth division.
“He’s saying let me go to 147, let me face the king there … He likes challenges man. He’s the type of fighter that fights to the level of his competition, so if he fights a guy like Crawford, he’s going to show up and he’s going to show out.
He wants to face Crawford, I don’t see anything wrong with it. I don’t think he beats Crawford, however I like the kid’s personality. I like the fact he wants to challenge the best out there, cause not everybody wants to fight guys like that.”
Lopez faces Claggett on June 19 at the James L. Knight Center, Miami Beach.
