Timothy Bradley Wants Erik Morales When He Returns

Timothy Bradley is currently still engaged in legal wrangling with ex-promoters Gary Shaw and Ken Thompson, but the now-former WBC junior welterweight titlist has a message for the man favored to pick up that belt tonight on the Mayweather vs Ortiz undercard:

"Erik Morales can be handed the title, but that's a paper champion if you don't fight the man," said Bradley, who still retains the WBO title. "I fight real opponents and they're fighting hand-picked fighters.

"When I come back, Morales better be ready."

Bradley (27-0, 11 KO) was stripped by the WBC (technically, promoted to "champion emeritus" status) without reaching a limit on how long he could be out of the sport. The WBC made the decision to attempt to put a fourth weight division's title on Morales (51-7, 35 KO), because Morales is a Mexican legend and having him become the first Mexican fighter to win titles in four weight classes during Mexican Independence weekend is some great marketing. I mean, let's not lie about why this really happened.

Bradley also tells The Desert Sun that he was surprised by the WBC's decision:

"When I found out, I was like ‘Dude, you have a year to defend. It was six months, and there was no mandatory (title defense). Why are you stripping me?'" Bradley said. "It makes no sense whatsoever. But this is boxing, man."

This is the problem some of us have or at least had with the decision to take the belt off of Bradley. He was well within his time to make a defense, and there was no spinning this as a fair decision.

Bradley is currently expected to sign with Top Rank if and when an agreement is reached with his former promoters, and the promotional giant wants to put him on the Pacquiao vs Marquez pay-per-view on November 12.