Bradley Looks Sharp Against J. Vargas
Like in most Bradley fights, there were a fewsleeper rounds but for the most part this was a very entertaining fight.
On Saturday, June 27th, Timothy “Desert Storm” Bradley (32-1-1) faced up-and-coming Jessie Vargas (26-1) in what was a high-skill bout between top two junior welterweights.
Everyone knows Bradley is a great boxer but even greater champion. When the tough gets going Bradley always steps up and this fight was no different. It is likely his best trait as a fighter.
This fight Bradley shied away from his cautious “counter-punching” fighting style. Apparently, Bradley didn't respect Vargas punching power as he did his last few opponents. Bradley has adopted the counter-punching style ever since his war with Ruslan Provodnikov back in 2013, which has produced a couple of boring fights (Chavez, Pacquioa I and II, and Marquez).
Jessie Vargas is six years younger than Bradley and considered the more technical boxer. He has a bright future, but after this fight he will have to go to back to the drawing board. Vargas has never face a warrior like Bradley and it was his first gut-checking fight.
Bradley's aggressive game plan worked. He often would jump in recklessly to exchange and be the first to hit land throughout the fight. In the early rounds Vargas was sharp and able to counter punch well, however, he never had full control and the scorecards were close the first rounds as a result.
Bradley simply proved to be a different animal than young-Vargas. He came in looking his G.I. Joe self and his physical superiority carried him to victory.
Bradley scored the unanimous decision despite a late moment scare. With only 20 seconds left in the fight, Vargas almost did the impossible nearly knocking out Bradley with a huge overhand right. I rewatched the punch several times and still do not understand how Bradley’s knees held up. Unfortunately for Vargas, the moment was trumped by a miscalculation from the referee who mistook the ten second count bell for the final bell ending the fight premature by 9 seconds.
Larry Merchant, HBO broadcaster, said it best “it stole Vargas’ only chance of winning the fight”.
Not that I believe Vargas would have knocked Bradley out. Bradley did benefit by the ref’s error. The judges scored it a unanimous decision win for Bradley. This fight proved yet again why Bradley is not the most talented fighter in boxing, but one of the best.
Bradley vs. Mayweather -- A Good Matchup
Let me begin by saying Mayweather would likely dominate on points, however, Bradley has one of the better chances of dethroning the champ. Due to political and promotional issues it is unlikely fight fans ever see it.
Since Mayweather has shown himself to be more susceptible to being hit in recent fights, Bradley would be have to be aggressive like he was against Vargas. It seems he would be able to withstand Mayweather’s power given his past wars with the likes of Provodnkov, Marquez and Pacquioa. It’s safe to say Floyd’s "pillow" punches won’t be an issue. Additionally, Bradley’s natural aggression would put Floyd at major risk, especially as the fight wears on. Unlike most of Floyd’s biggest fights, I don’t see Bradley fading in the later rounds.
Bradley vs Mayweather is the best chance fight fans have to see a competitive fight – even though Money Mayweather still has to be a favorite in that fight. What other welterweights would you rather see face Floyd and why?
