Pacquiao vs Bradley: Timothy Bradley Plans to Save $5 Million Purse

Timothy Bradley will make a career-best $5 million purse for Saturday's fight with Manny Pacquiao, and tells Chris Robinson that he's got no plans to become "Money" Bradley after the fight:

"I’m putting that money away, man. I aint buying nothing. I got everything I need. I’m not buying anything. Me and my wife, we’re going to put that money away so I don’t ever have to come back to this game. Once I leave it, I ain't never got to come back ever again."

Bradley, 28, sounds like a guy who isn't planning to make a long-term life in the ring, but he does say he wants to stay involved with boxing as long as possible, mentioning becoming a commentator, referee, or judge, or perhaps opening his own gym when he retires. Even if he doesn't plan to hang on forever, though, he's probably got another ten years or so in the sport left to go, and if he wins on Saturday, a lot more money coming his way.

Bradley seems truly cool and down to earth. Laid back guy. A blue collar fighter. These are all things one would use to promote him, but they seem real. That's when things work: When a fighter's "personality" is not too far from his personality. I know people cringe at pro wrestling comparisons with real fight sports, but that's usually when wrestling characters take off, too, when the character is just an amped up version of the real person.

And he seems smart. A lot of boxers in this generation speak this way, and time will tell if they were sincere or just talking. Many of them seem far more aware of money issues, having seen what has happened to so many retired, great fighters over the years, who didn't have income after their fighting days were done, and didn't do anything smart with their money while it was coming in. I hope that's a stereotype the new generation of fighters breaks. I'm not preaching or anything. I suck with money, too. I just hate seeing guys who earned so much wind up with so little when it's all over.

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