Timothy Bradley has been in with some tough fighters, as he will be Saturday night, Dec. 13, at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas against Diego Chaves, but none gave “Desert Storm” more of a challenge as the hard-hitting Ruslan Provodnikov did last year.
In what many media outlets saw as Fight of The Year, Bradley and Provodnikov played rock em’, sock em’ robots with each other, landing power shot after power shot on one another.
Bradley outlasted Provodnikov in the end despite being knockdown several times and won via unanimous decision. But more importantly he finally won the fans over, after many had turned on him after he was awarded a victory over Manny Pacquiao in their first bout, when most thought the he clearly lost the fight.
Chaves is known as a tough, gritty fighter who at times, but despite his reputation Bradley says he won’t be the toughest he’s seen.
“He’s (Chaves) a tough guy, but not as mean as Ruslan Provodnikov,” Bradley said.
Bradley said that Chaves brings a lot more to the ring other than toughness and that’s what makes him such a dangerous opponent.
“Chaves in the ring changes so much,” Bradley said. “He has speed, steps in gets out, can double up with his left hand. He has a complete arsenal.”
With that tough reputation, Chaves has also been called dirty, for what many see as unsportsmanlike fouls during the course of many of his bouts. This was on full display in August when he was disqualified in a foul-filled brawl against Brandon Rios at The Cosmo as well.
If Chaves decides to use his notorious dirty tactics against Bradley, he said he would welcome the foul play.
“Will he get dirty? I think so, particularly when we get close to each other,” Bradley said. “I like to brawl and actually look forward to doing it.”
Bradley is more successful when he takes a more defensive-style strategy into a fight, so choosing to brawl with a brawler in Chaves, could be the wrong move for “Desert Storm.”
No Matter how the fight goes, Bradley is confident he has what it takes to be victorious Saturday night.
“I am only thinking of winning,” Bradley said. “That’s all that is on my mind–use my skills, beat Chaves, anyway I can.”
