Abregu Thinks Win Over Bradley More Likely Than Palin-To-MSNBC Scenario

Tim Bradley is easily a top 20 pound for pounder right now, and arguments can be made that hes better than that. His case for unanimous top ten P4P status would be made easier if he wasnt dodged so much, of course.

The 25-0 26 year-old Californian gloves up against 27-year-old Luis Carlos Abregu, a 29-0 Argentine, on July 17 at Agua Caliente in Rancho Mirage, CA. A win over Abregu will not really rocket Bradley up to within sniffing distance of Mayweather, Pacquiao, the Klitschkos, Chad Dawson, Sergio Martinez et al. A win will better set him up to be a fallback foe for Floyd Mayweather or Manny Pacquiao or Andre Berto or Shane Mosley, the studs at 147.

But going in, people arent sold totally on Abregu. Heck, even Abregu isnt 100% sold on Abregu. TSS chatted with the hitter at world famous Gleasons Gym in Brooklyn on Wednesday, and the boxer, through interpreter Hector Roca, gave some insight in to how he views himself in the P4P sphere, and what a win over the ultra-busy Bradley really would mean.

Im a fighter whos trying to be one of the best. Im fighting for the opportunity to fight good fighters. Ill be one of the best when I fight Pacquaio or Mayweather or Berto, Abregu said. But I dont think Bradley is top 20 pound for pound. Bradley hasnt fought anybody. Hes fought guys who are 36, 38 years old.

The underdog with the gleaming record built on a goodly number of cooperators and journeymen said he doesnt feel dissed when knuckleheads like me write stuff like this. https://www.tss.ib.tv/boxing-article/8105/woods-think-sarah-palin-goes-msnbc-before-abregu-beats-tim-bradley/

He knows that his record hasnt been built on the very sturdiest of frames, but thinks a win over Bradley will make believers of any doubters. He came off as being all-boxing, telling TSS that he isnt interested in marriage or kids just yet, that hes married to boxing.

Gary Shaw, who promotes Bradley with Thompson Boxing, tells TSS that he sees Abregu as an Argentine Arturo Gatti.

Hes got some skills. And a lethal right hand. He gets hit, if he goes down, he gets back up. Hes got a huge heart. Hes hugely underrated, he just hasnt been seen much. This is his Super Bowl, Shaw said.

Abregu said he will win the fight…and I duly share this with you, even if some of you think this is a brutally obvious non-newsy declaration to print… because weve all heard plenty of guys signal their lack of confidence by talking about how theyll compete hard and do their best.

Ive got the power to stop Bradley, Abregu told TSS. Nobody has hit him like Im going to hit him.

SPEEDBAG John Duddy trainer Harry Keitt works out of Gleasons. He told me that Duddy fought the best he could on that night against Julio Cesar Chavez Jr in San Antonio on Saturday. Keitt is still miffed, because he thinks Junior didnt even make weight. He thinks the scale never centered on 161, never mind the announced 160 pounds. The whole promotion was geared for Chavez Junior, Keitt said. He looked like a rock star when he came to the arena, but left looking like hed been in a gang fight. Keitt would like commissions to use electronic scales, to minimize human error…Not a bad idea, huh? For those curious, a bout pitting Duddy against Yuri Foreman isnt likely, according to Keitt. 154 is a problem for John, the trainer said. Plus, I wrap Yuris hands for every fight.

—Shaw has a plan, in his head, for Chad Dawson. If and when WBC 175 pound champ Dawson (29-0) beats 25-1 Jean Pascal on Aug. 14 in Quebec, Shaw would like to go back to Canada, and have Dawson drop to 168, and fight Lucian Bute. Im in discussions..in my head, said Shaw with a laugh. When he beats Pascal, imagine how big a Bute (26-0) fight will be?

—Shaw would love love love to get Bradley with with either ATM, Manny or Money. He thinks style-wise Manny might be easier for Bradley. Tim is tough for either guy. Hes faster than they give him credit for, the promoter said. Floyd is the slickest fighter Ive ever seen, since I got in the business in 1971. Shaw is also targeting Amir Khan. HBO is willing to put up the money, he said. But Golden Boy is opposed, the promoter said. Imagine Bradley-Khan at the O2 Arena. If Khan beat Bradley hed be the man at 140. And if Khan was a Gary Shaw fighter, hed do it. They fight everyone.

—If and when Manny-Money comes off, Shaw likes Mayweather. Hell frustrate Manny..but itll be a helluva fight.

–Nobody is calling out Shaws WBO 154 pound champ, Sergiy Dzinziruk. Hed like him to fight LTP.

–Shaw saws Lil Evil Vic will fight TBD in November. Vic wants 118 pound ace Fernando Montiel, Shaw isnt keen on it, but will do it if Vic wants it.

—Yonnhy Perez will probably do a Joseph Agbeko rematch, or maybe an Abner Mares rematch, or maybe even Jorge Arce.

—Watch out for 12-0 cruiser Lateef Kayode, who is trained by Freddie Roach. Hes ready for the big names at under 200 right now, the promoter said.