Is Bradley Overrated?

[Rantcatrat]

Bradley isn't overrated because (1) he's undefeated against quality opposition; (2) he has key wins over Alexander (unification fight which is always commendable) & Peterson, and (3) good wins over Witter (in England), Cherry, and Abregu (of significance this fight was at welterweight). In sum, he is ranked p4p because he has gone up in weight to defeat an undefeated fighter in Abregu and he is the top guy in what used to be a deep division (prior to Alexander, Maidana, and it appears, Khan, exiting).

It's not Bradley's fault Khan lost to Peterson. Khan was supposed to win that fight and then fight Bradley. If Bradley avoided Khan at that point after Bradley's promotional situation had cleared up, which was his previous excuse, it would be an out-right duck. In a way, however, it's still bad precedent to reward Bradley for avoiding a fight with Khan with a bigger fight against Pacquiao. Not that it makes it right, but I guess Bradley's people thought it was too much of a risk because after seeing Khan struggle with Peterson, whom Bradley outclassed, I favor the Desert Storm in a fight with Khan.

Bradley versus Pacquiao should be a good fight. I'll go as far as to say that I can see potential for Bradley pulling off an upset win here. So, I guess, after thinking about it, maybe I am one of his fans that believes he is underrated, not overrated.

I understand your skepticism because Bradley doesn't have a lot of power and his chin is somewhat suspect (I don't agree, but I get it). The general consensus is that he does a lot of things "good," but not much "great." I disagree. He's always been one of my favorite fighters (with Sergio Martinez, Lucian Bute, and Nonito Donaire). I believe he is one of the elite fighters in the game and that he just doesn't have flash that attracts crowds is the reason he is not more of a mainstream star (part of that is his lack of pop).

Before you completely dismiss him as overrated, take a look at his footwork, his defense (underrated), his stamina, and his in-fighting. He has great body positioning; he doesn't get hit cleanly very often; he fights for a full twelve rounds; and, he is a great fighter on the inside.

Check out his ring generalship and his footwork in the first round with Peterson:



Here is his assessment of how he would beat Manny Pacquiao and it might be spot on at least for Bradley's style of boxing. He says you have to "isolate him with your feet and good defense."

In that first round against Peterson he leans in and is off balance when he throws the overhand right, making himself vunerable to the exact same uppercut that he saw Khan being caught with against Madiana. I don't think his footwork is that great to be honest and we have already seen that anticipating Pacquiao and deploying a barrage of crisp quality counter punching is what neutralizes him. An asset that Bradley is not renowned for. It is not his chin that I think is suspect it is his heart and his vulnerability to speed. Khan not being undefeated is not the deciding factor that renders him inferior to Bradley, in fact Bradley has not had to get through a round even half as hellacious as the one Amir survived against Maidiana. It counts for something and I am not impressed by wins against Witter, Cherry and Abregu they are no better than Kotelnik, Judah, Maidiana, Malinaggi, even Prescott bangs harder than any of Bradleys opposition. You know Bradley outclassing Peterson a fighter Khan struggled with does not make him better than Khan, we will not find that out until they meet. If they do, I see Khan, like Pacquiao, proving to fast and relentless for the desert storm.

Why do you have have an issue with Bradley's heart? What makes you think he has vulnerability to speed? Alexander is plenty fast and Bradley neutralized him.

I agree that outclassing Peterson does not mean Bradley will beat Khan but the difference with the two performances I thought was that Bradley controlled the tempo for the most part throughout the fight with Peterson whereas Peterson controlled the tempo throughout the fight with Khan. Also important was that Khan showed he couldn't adjust to Peterson. He didn't have an answer to Peterson's ambushes and he didn't know what to do when Peterson got him on the inside. Bradley is better than Peterson at both of those skills. Bradley's also faster than Peterson. Thus, Khan also has weaknesses that play to Bradley's strengths.

Don't get me wrong: Khan is a formidable challenge for any light welterweight including Bradley. I just don't believe that Bradley is overrated.

[Spicoli]

For a minute I was convinced Bradley was shot in the face when he was dropped off that hook from Holt. If that's not heart making him rise I don't know what heart is.

He has some of the hardest grit and determination of any fighter in the ring today. The man exudes fight. He's earned his due.

@ Master...crazy notion here, but maybe he actually believes he can win