Tim “Desert Storm” Bradley’s D-Day

INDIO, CA.-Early Saturday morning more than 100 people including media waited for Tim “Desert Storm” Bradley to arrive to his desert boxing gym facility.

The former welterweight champion Bradley (31-1-1, 12 Kos) seeks to recapture the WBO title when he faces Las Vegas fighter Jessie Vargas (26-0, 9 Kos) at the StubHub Center in Carson. HBO will televise the June 27th Top Rank fight card.

It’s been 71 years since Allied troops hit the beaches at Normandy, France to turn the tide during World War II and it’s on this day that “Desert Storm” Bradley chose to welcome and thank his fans. They came in abundance with babies, sons and daughters, grandparents rich and poor.

“He’s such a nice person,” said one woman sitting nearby with her husband snapping photos.

Bradley has a strong base in the Palm Springs desert region. Growing up in the desert he’s accustomed to the cold and extremely hot temperatures and prefers to work out near his base.
Lately, he has felt something was lacking. He felt it against Diego Chaves of Argentina and he felt it against Manny Pacquiao. Bradley knows his next fight is red hot critical.

“I want to be strong and get a decisive win over Vargas – like knock him out and put him to sleep,” said Bradley to the crowd. “I know he’s going to have a will to win but I am generating more power in camp. I’ve gone back to my roots in training, doing things which got me to this high level.”

Bradley performed his warm up exercises hitting the mitts, speed bag and heavy bag. Then he brought out the big guns and big hammer as he pounded a large truck tire with a massive sledgehammer that would make Thor’s look wimpy.

“I am not on a vegan diet for this training camp. I am eating fish, chicken and once a week, steak, to help build up my strength and power,” said Bradley.

Now 31 years old, Bradley knows that time is running out and that Vargas has youth on his side.

“I need a clear decisive win over Jessie Vargas. I need to knock him out,” said Bradley. “He’s where I was years ago. I know he’s young, hungry and wants to war.”

Joel Diaz, who has trained Bradley for all of his pro fights, said that Vargas cannot be overlooked, but his charge still has all of his weapons.

“This is a hard camp but we are facing a fighter who hungers to win. But Tim has too much power and more experience than Vargas,” said Diaz.

Lee Samuels, representative for Top Rank, said the winner will get a huge prize but he could not say what the reward will be.

— Photo Credit : Chris Farina – Top Rank

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