I have to say that I've always liked Timothy Bradley, and after hearing that he wasn't going to pay the morons at the WBC a sanctioning fee for his upcoming title fight against Devon Alexander next January, I like him more and more. I hope that this is a continuing trend, started by Floyd Mayweather and Shane Mosley last May, and that fighters take a stand to not waste their hard-earned money on a title belt that they will almost certainly be stripped of in the future. Bradley's WBO title will still be on the line against Alexander, but then again, the WBC belt is up for grabs should Alexander win.
Alexander's camp has paid the sanctioning fees and will have the opportunity to win both titles should they be victorious. I am actually ashamed of the Alexander camp for giving some ground to these tyrannical idiots, considering that the IBF stripped him of their version of the title when he couldn't make a mandatory against Kaizer Mabuza. Here's one thing I'm sure we'll see in 2011; should Bradley win and the title be vacant, none other than Erik Morales will fight for the belt being that he's the WBC's favorite kind of fighter...Mexican.
Martirosyan More Content Fighting With His Mouth
Junior Middleweight prospect Vanes Martirosyan has done everything in his power to not only prove he has a big mouth, but to put his foot in it as well. In the past few weeks, the chihuahua has barked out names like Shane Mosley and Sergei Dzinziriuk, demanding that they get in the ring and give him a shot. Unfortunately for Martirosyan, only Erislandy Lara took note, challenging him to a fight. Martirosyan would, not surprisingly, decline the challenge yet continued to goad Lara, saying that he's not at his "level."
Hey Vanes, wake up! You are second fiddle to Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., you stunk up your last appearance on HBO, and you barely scrapped by Kassim Ouma, who lost three of his last four heading into your fight. Needless to say, I don't think Martirosyan's mouth will bring the paychecks that the Mosley's and Dzinziriuk's of the world are looking for.
Lopez Looking For Chris John; Referred to Caballero Instead
Before Juan Manuel Lopez engaged Rafael Marquez in one of the years best fights, another battle almost broke out at the weigh-in when Celestino Caballero got in Lopez's face in a vain attempt to get a fight with him. Caballero has been chasing Lopez for years, and while it has been wise for the Lopez camp to avoid him, it's very frustrating for the former champion. Following the Marquez victory, Lopez was looking into a possible homecoming fight in Puerto Rico against WBA champion Chris John, but things have taken a turn for the interesting.
Sampson Lewkowicz, John's manager, also happens to manage Caballero, and he has already ruled out a fight between Lopez and John. John will be fighting in December, and then has a mandatory fight with Yuriorkis Gamboa in March, leaving Lopez with an opportunity he'll surely pass up against Caballero. I wouldn't be shocked if Lopez is able to goad Israel Vazquez out of retirement, but rest assured that he'll get those track shoes on once Caba comes knocking.