Boxers Timothy Bradley, Alfredo Angulo ready for July 17, beyond
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In Hollywood, with no television cameras around, Palm Springs’ Timothy Bradley and Downey’s Alfredo Angulo grinded through a workout Thursday, preparing for their next bout on July 17 while anticipating the fights that will give them more (deserved) attention.
Bradley (25-0, 11 KOs) is the World Boxing Organization’s junior-welterweight champion, and Angulo (18-1, 15 KOs) is considered by other sanctioning bodies the No. 1 contender among super-welterweights.
A week from Saturday, Bradley will headline his first HBO-televised card at 2,000-seat Agua Caliente Resort Casino Spa in Rancho Mirage in a replacement welterweight fight against Argentina’s Luis Carlos Abregu (29-0, 23 KOs). Angulo, a 2004 member of Mexico’s Olympic boxing team, is in the main undercard bout against Mexico’s Joachim Alcine (32-1, 19 KOs).
Bradley was supposed to fight Argentina’s Marcos Maidana, but he scratched due to injury. He’s now afforded the comfort of moving up seven pounds in weight, but deprived of a more noteworthy title defense.
‘You still have the same focus, I still have to work hard,’ said Bradley, formerly a Showtime fighter. ‘Being on HBO means a lot to me, it gives me the recognition I believe I deserve. I think I’ve earned more viewers.’
On Wednesday, HBO Sports President Ross Greenburg told The Times he anticipates a Bradley victory, and an ultimate showdown with double-world champion junior-welterweight Devon Alexander one week before the Super Bowl.
‘Let’s do it,’ Bradley said. ‘I’ve been hearing those things. But you know boxing, one hour from now, things can change. This kid [Alexander] feels he’s the best, and so do I. We’ve both had to work from the ground up to be here. We had nothing handed to us, accomplished it all the hard way.’
First, there’s the task of Abregu.
‘His uppercut is a little bit of a concern, I tend to lean my head in, and he has power, he’s a big puncher,’ Bradley said. ‘It’s not just about being a big puncher, though. It’s about skill. If you can’t see what you’re swinging at, you’ll hit air.’
Bradley said he wouldn’t want to wait until January before fighting Alexander, and would prefer another tune-up bout in November.
‘I’m a busy fighter, I don’t like layoffs,’ Bradley said. ‘I like to train, a structured plan. If I don’t have one, you can get lazy.’
Bradley was recently married May 15, and plans to buy a new beach house in San Diego to complement homes he already owns in Cathedral City and Indio. Landing the more lucrative fight against Alexander would help that cause.
‘That’s right,’ Bradley said, beaming a smile and extending a fist pump. ‘You’re feeling me.’
Angulo, meanwhile, is in search of a title belt like Bradley’s.
He lost a May 2009 decision to former world champion Kermit Cintron, but has rallied with three victories, including April’s 11th-round knockout of Joel Julio in Ontario.
‘If any champs give me a chance, I’ll go get [the belt],’ Angulo said through an interpreter. ‘I’m aware [promoter] Gary Shaw has a plan for me. I take it fight by fight.’
Angulo could use a sensational effort Saturday, with HBO in the house, even if it might sway champions to avoid him.
‘I would think a lot of boxers would want to fight me,’ Angulo said, maintaining his stone face. ‘Boxers like to fight real boxers and prove they’re the best at their job.’
--Lance Pugmire
