Step by step, inch by inch, Timothy "Desert Storm" Bradley is showing just how good the littlest junior welterweight champion in years can be.
The audience is growing.
Bradley had only three rounds to show his stuff, but the soldout crowd at Agua Caliente Casino got an eyeful of the Palm Springs boxers' blistering hand speed, accuracy and overall authority inside the four corners.
Challenger Nate Campbell, no slouch by any means, had to resort to Plan B and allow Bradley to exhaust that energy by accepting combination after combination to rain down. And, perhaps, Bradley would be open for a devastating right counter that's become Campbell's trademark punch.
But when you're fighting in close quarters, with heads within centimeters of each other, there's an increased danger of cuts from accidental noggin bumps. It happened Saturday night several times and may have resulted in the Floridian's cut eye, but the referee ruled it came from a punch.
"I knew what I had to do to win the fight," Bradley said.
It's on to the next challenger.
Bradley showed he is one of the truly great boxers in a truly great division. The 140-pound weight class is home to Manny Pacquiao, Ricky Hatton, Juan Urango, Kendall Holt and Marcos Maidana. All pretty talented, although most of the world only knows Pacman and the Hitman.
Perhaps the two newest jewels are Bradley and Great Britain's Amir Khan, who also trains in Southern California and recently captured the WBA junior welterweight title. In stature and skills, Bradley and Khan resemble a Southern California rivalry of the 1990s when Shane Mosley and Oscar De La Hoya were rising quickly.
Khan and Bradley may have to wait a while before meeting. In many ways this is a match that deserves the "big build up," as they used to say in an earlier boxing era. The tall, lightning-quick Khan, who beat a talented Andriy Kotelnik for the title, has to prove that he can blow out a couple of top contenders before the casual boxing fan begins to notice.
Bradley, on the other hand, was not known much outside of Southern California. The low visibility allowed him to ambush Junior Witter in London and Holt in Canada. Campbell was expected to be the first real test for the pocket-sized world champion. But an early cut over the right eyebrow ended any aspirations of a 12-round war.
"It could have gone 100 rounds and it would have ended in the same way -- with Timmy winning," said Gary Shaw, who promotes Bradley. "He's getting better every time."
Forget about anonymity. Most of the world is beginning to realize that Bradley has that extra gear the great ones have. It's still early, but fans are beginning to nod their head at his ability.
Another fighter on the periphery for Bradley could be the winner of the WBC title, Devon Alexander. Although he had problems with Witter's herky-jerky style, the St. Louis boxer prevailed when the British speedster suddenly quit.
The junior welterweight division sprouts fighters like weeds. Oxnard's Victor Ortiz has the tools to become a factor among the elite, and newcomers such as Colorado's Mike Alvarado, D.C.'s Lamont Peterson and former champions Paul Malignaggi and Juan Diaz are now calling the 140-pound division their home.
But the best of the best might have to move over for Bradley, who is beginning to make believers out of the skeptics.
"He was coming on in the fight," said Peterson, who could be Bradley's next challenger and is ranked No. 1 by the WBO. "Bradley won all three rounds and he had too much speed."
The junior welterweights have a wealth of talent, and aside from Hatton and Pacquiao, the pieces are set for a scramble to determine who can rise to the super elite level. Many people like Bradley's chances.
"I think Timothy Bradley has proven he's one of the top dogs in the junior welterweight division," said Alex Camponovo, of Thompson Boxing Promotions. "What makes him so good is his will to win."
El Perro at Primm
Mexico's popular Alfredo "Perro" Angulo returns to the boxing ring Friday when he meets Philadelphia's Gabriel Rosado in a 10-round junior middleweight main event at Buffalo Bill's Resort and Casino in Primm, Nev. The fight card is promoted by Gary Shaw Productions.
It should be some brutal action. Both are pressure fighters who prefer to slug it out rather than slip and move.
Angulo returns to the ring after suffering his first professional loss against Kermit Cintron in a battle for the IBF title. The Mexicali native, who now lives in Downey and trains in Maywood, caught the flu the week of the fight but refused to cancel the bout. Despite the weakened condition, he battled for all 12 rounds and lost by decision.
"I've never felt that way in a fight before," said Angulo, adding that he did not want to cause hardship to organizers and television viewers.
Angulo will face Rosado, who was a sparring partner for Mosley when he was preparing for his match against Antonio Margarito. He's a big, strong junior middleweight and has never been an easy test for anyone.
In a super middleweight bout, undefeated Anthony Dirrell opposes Alfredo Contreras and heavyweight Travis Kauffman faces Victor Barragan. Also on the fight card are undefeated boxers in lightweight Sharif Bogere, welterweight Said El Harrak, junior lightweight Anna Donatella Hultin and U.S. Olympian Gary Russell Jr. a featherweight.
Primm is located on the Interstate-15 Freeway on the way to Las Vegas. Tickets and information: 800-FUN-STOP.
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