Bradley vs Peterson rematch: Contracts sent out, could 50 Cent be involved?

Top Rank has sent out contracts to both fighters as negotiations continue between Timothy Bradley and Lamont Peterson, with the hope of soon finalizing a December 15 rematch at Marlins Park in Miami, Bob Arum tells The Ring:

"It would be a fight for the WBO welterweight championship," said Arum. "We've sent contracts out, but it's not a deal until it's a deal."

Bradley (29-0, 12 KO) and Peterson (30-1-1, 15 KO) appear to be all but signed, sealed, and delivered for the date. They met previously in 2009, with Bradley widely outpointing Peterson over 12 rounds in a junior welterweight title fight.

One thing that keeps coming up is the fact that Marlins Park seems a massive venue for a fight between two guys who aren't from Florida and aren't big stars, period. Bradley has never been a draw, and while Peterson can do a decent crowd in Washington, DC, it's not like name fighters are dying to fight there after the Khan fight last December, and that was still a second-tier crowd, anyway.

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Fight Hype's Ben Thompson wonders if there could be something at play with 50 Cent involved. Arum has had nothing but kind words about the rapper-actor's desire to become involved in boxing, and Thompson figures that in Miami, and without Andre Berto involved, involving a Cuban fighter on the undercard would be the best way to bring in fans from a boxing perspective.

Guillermo Rigondeaux has been rumored for the card, but Yuriorkis Gamboa is the bigger star, and his return is decent-sized news, too, especially if he'd be fighting at "home" in Miami. Gamboa is supposedly being targeted for the Pacquiao-Marquez IV card on December 8, but switching him to December 15 and Rigondeaux to December 8 might make perfect sense. Pacquiao-Marquez is going to sell either way, while this show will in theory need all the help it can get.

Last anyone knew, Gamboa was still signed with 50 Cent as his promoter, but either way, it appears he'll be working with Top Rank again for his next fight. If Gamboa does wind up on this card, Fight Hype speculates that 50 Cent might also perform a concert, in order to bring fans into the stadium. It's not the worst idea I've ever heard, particularly because it wouldn't be something we'd be forced to watch as boxing fans. It would be entirely for a live audience, unless HBO signs for a 50 Cent concert, which I would doubt. They don't make those deals two months in advance. Also it's not like he's Lady Gaga or anything.