by James Slater – Due to annoying but unavoidable circumstances, the eagerly awaited light-welterweight match-up between alphabelt champions Tim Bradley and Marcos Maidana, set for June 19th, has had to be postponed. As Dan Rafael of ESPN.com reports, the power-punching Argentine injured his back earlier this week and now needs approx “20 days” of rest.
Maidana, the interim WBA champ at 140-pounds, still wants the fight; as promoter Gary Shaw explained to Rafael..
“Maidana got hurt and the fight will be postponed for about a month,” Shaw said. “They [Golden Boy] confirmed that Maidana hurt his back but that he still wants the fight, but that he needs roughly 20 days [of rest]. They said he still wanted the fight, otherwise I would have switched back to [Luis Carlos Abregu].
“I will take them at their word that it’s Maidana’s back and that he still wants to fight Tim.”
This is more irritating news for WBO 140-pound ruler Bradley. Initially unable to land any meaningful fight, the undefeated “Desert Storm” was then given the June date with Abregu. Then, in a move that excited the Palm Springs native enormously, Abregu was replaced by the once-beaten banger from Argentina. Bradley at last had a big name against whom he could make his HBO debut in the summer time. But now this unfortunate turn of events has occurred.
Bradley, very possibly concerned he will start to pick up ring-rust if he doesn’t fight again soon, last boxed back in December, when he put on that master class against Lamont Peterson. Of course, one more month shouldn’t hurt the 26-year-old too much as far as ring-rust goes, but let’s just hope that one month and one month only is what the delay will be for Bradley Vs. Maidana – we all know how niggling injuries to a fighter can serve to stick around much longer than initially thought.
Both guys, Bradley especially in my opinion, are too good to be left on the shelf for months at a time.
For his part, Shaw has been doing his best to make sure the exciting fight gets re-set as quickly as is possible.
“I’ve been on the phone with HBO but we need to work with HBO and Agua Caliente (the fight’s venue) to find the right date that works.”
Hopefully, this can be done soon. The 140-pound weight class is red-hot right now, but this fight has the look of one of the best that can be made at light-welter.