Timothy Bradley told BoxingScene Radio this week that he is going to see a concussion specialist next month in New York, following his win on March 16 over Ruslan Provodnikov. Though Bradley came out a fair winner, the 29-year-old took a ton of punishment to get the decision duke, and appeared to many to be concussed from round one forward.
Bradley says he's putting his health first:
"It's not about the money or the fame. Health is number one. I am going to do whatever he tells me to do. If he says take three or four weeks off then I will. If he says I can come back in two months then I want to do that. I made an appointment with him, he's a real busy guy and that's the soonest I can see him."
Bradley (30-0, 12 KO) was hurt in the opening frame by Provodnikov, and was on bad legs through much of the fight. It's a credit to his toughness and ring IQ that he managed to survive the fight and get the win, taking a knee late in the 12th and final round as he was reeling under the intense pressure of a blood-smelling Provodnikov (22-2, 15 KO).
Many worried immediately that Bradley's performance, which in theory might have won him some fans, could have been a sort of career-shortening effort, as he took so many heavy blows to the head that at times he seemed to be surviving on instinct. There's really no doubt that it was the worst beating Timothy Bradley has ever taken in the ring, and that wondering how this will impact his long-term career is a totally valid thought. It was sustained, repeated punishment, not a single KO blow like we saw Manny Pacquiao take against Juan Manuel Marquez, or Paul Williams against Sergio Martinez. This is the sort of stuff that can do real damage.
Hopefully, Bradley is OK and can continue on soon, getting his career back on track. If he's cleared to fight on, he's been mentioned as a possible opponent later this year for Marquez, Pacquiao, or the Rios-Alvarado II winner.