Tim Bradley Out-Throws Chaves, But Judges See Split Draw

The former junior welter and welter champ Tim Bradley took on rugged man Diego Chaves in the main event on HBO, from the Cosmo in Vegas, and this was wiseman Tim, who boxed smart, frequently moving and not letting Chaves get set. Bradley wasn’t in runner mode; he looked to land sharp with overhand rights, and indeed did jazz the crowd with clean connects. But the judges got mixed messages; they saw scores of 116-112 (for Chaves, from Julie Lederman), 115-113 (Bradley, from Burt Clements), 114-114 (from Craig Metcalf), and a split draw.

Bradley went 225-572 to 152-570 for Chaves.

Julie’s proud pop Harold Lederman had it 8-4 for Bradley. His daughter Julie had it for the other guy, so one wonders what the talk was at breakfast in the household of that wondrous boxing lifer family lol.

Chaves wasn’t in the same class, and this was a drama free bout, basically, to me, though the word of the judges will have the most resonant say..

Word is Bradley might move to 154 next, but he seemed not so into that plan when he talked to Max Kellerman after. He wasn’t crazily disturbed, but yes, thought he won. He made $2 million for the outing, so that’s some potent novocaine for the bee-stung soul, eh?

Chaves (146 1/2; 23-2 with 19 Kos) came from Argentina, while Bradley (145 3/4 31-1 with 12 Kos), came from Cali.

In the first, Chaves came out gunning, with a bomber right, which Bradley slipped. Chaves hunted with the right, and the overhand right from Tim was a sharp counter. Tim landed 15 to Chaves’ 11.

In the second, a right landed on Chaves and the crowd dug it. We saw swelling under Bradley’s left eye. Bradley was moving so smartly, not getting silly or into trades. He didn’t want to let Chaves get set at all.

In the third, Tim jabbed to the body, and looked to be on message.

In the fourth, Chaves had trouble with the volume, and the movement. Tim was looking to work in close now more so; he ate a straight right late, but all in all, was in a good mode.

In the fifth, it was more inside fighting, head to head, as both clanged to the body. A left hook by Bradley landed smartly, and then his corner asked for “spark” after. In the sixth, Tim got more distance between them. The left eye was swollen pretty bad on Tim. The Chaves team liked his work, and said he looked relaxed.

In the seventh, they tangled in tight. A right hook while pulling out was just one of the array of shots which Bradley landed. The Chaves corner asked for a sneaky right after the round. In the eighth, we saw the stubby strongman Bradley pop a jab, then windmill. A crisp right had the crowd buzzing for Bradley. In round nine and ten, Brad stayed smart. He moved and didn’t let Chaves get set to bomb. The sneaky quick jab irked Chaves. The swelling, off a butt, didn’t keep Bradley from using his fine footwork. A low blow gave Chaves some extra time in 11; they commenced and Bradley kept shuffling left, worked the angles, won the round. Same for the 12th; we went to the cards….Oh, the cards, the cards, always we await, with bated breath, as Teddy Atlas’ cardiologist cringes in expectant sympathy.

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