Michael Nelson previews tomorrow night's junior-welterweight clash between Timothy Bradley and Lamont Peterson.

Things aren't getting any easier for Timothy Bradley.

Saturday, he returns to Aqua Caliente near his hometown of Palm Springs to fight another tough opponent with a unique style.  This time, he'll stand across the ring from Lamont Peterson, a hungry 25 year old with a sparkling record.

There won't be any murmuring about his opponent getting old overnight if he exceeds expectations, like there was after his August 1 bout with Nate Campbell.  It's quickly reaching the point where critics have to acknowledge that Desert Storm resides near or at the top of the sport's best young talents.

Peterson - thus far impressive in his 27 victories without a loss, but largely untested - will be making his bid for that acknowledgement as well.  And a tough life leading up to this shot that included a brief stint of homelessness has likely provided the motivation necessary to leave everything he has inside of the ring.

Stern trainer and mentor Barry Hunter helped him and his younger brother Anthony escape desolate conditions and molded the young men into world class fighters.  While questions swirl around how an untested prospect will react under the duress of the big stage and an unrelenting adversary, it's hard to imagine Hunter's disciplinarian style combined with Peterson's ambition resulting in less than optimal preparation.

Bradley's been there, done that, and there's no sign of complacency.  He went to Nottingham, England to snatch the WBC title last year from heavily-favored Junior Witter.  Two fights later, he got up from a violent knockdown to outwork and outguile heavy-handed Kendall Holt and gain the WBO strap.  He then impressed many observers with his boxing acumen four months later against the crafty Nate Campbell in a bout truncated by a brutal headbutt. The speedy ascent towards the top of the 140 pound division was accelerated by Tim's notorious work ethic and conditioning.

He'll have to use his high ring IQ along with that conditioning to solve the Peterson puzzle Saturday night.  His taller foe has taken apart opponents with a hard, consistent jab, compact combinations, and a dedicated body attack thrown behind a tight guard.  Although sparring anecdotes are to be taken with a grain of salt, it's not a shock that reports came out three months ago that Lamont gave Floyd Mayweather all he could handle in the gym.  He undoubtedly has the fundamental foundation to trouble an elite talent. 

The Memphis, Tennessee native is not without flaw, however.  Willie Blain, a well-schooled, but feather-fisted counterpuncher, won many of the exchanges in his April bout against Lamont.  But since he didn't have the pop to discourage his aggressive opponent, and couldn't match Peterson's workrate, he lost nearly every round before resigning from a hand injury.  Someone with quick mitts on the inside can give Peterson problems, and Bradley fits the bill. 

Bradley should also be able to exploit Peterson's exposed midsection beneath his guard.  Next to Mayweather, he may have the best body jab in the business, constantly stabbing his opponent to the sternum and stomach for purposes of ring generalship and setting up hard shots upstairs.  And while nobody would mistake Timothy as being heavy handed, his right hands and left hooks to the body are stinging, and Lamont will have to deal with getting his lumbars thrashed if he chooses to keep the earmuffs staunt. 

Still, Lamont's size, jab, speed, and consistent punch output will be a handful for the 5'6 26 year old.  He's bigger than Nate Campbell and more active than Kendall Holt; it's possible he has the tools to trip up Bradley's sprint towards big money fights. 

Nevertheless, Bradley's road to acclaim has been meritorious, and Peterson's escape from the pitfalls of the streets to a title shot has been equally inspirational.  One thing's for certain, there won't be a lack of desire.  I suspect that both men will walk away Saturday night with the respect they've been yearning for.

 

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