‘Angry’ Bradley ready to face Casamayor in WBO bout

Maybe it's his vegan diet that has Timothy Bradley on edge. Or it could be Joel Casamayor talking trash to him.

Whatever the case, Bradley will enter the ring an angry man Saturday when he defends his WBO junior welterweight title against Casamayor atop the undercard of the Manny Pacquiao-Juan Manuel Marquez fight at the MGM Grand Garden.

"I've been angry for the last eight, nine months," Bradley said Thursday.

Bradley (27-0, 11 knockouts) last fought Jan. 29 against Devon Alexander. The bout was stopped in the 10th round when Alexander claimed he couldn't see after an accidental head butt.

Despite Bradley's victory, the lackluster fight triggered a run of negative events for him. He was stripped of his WBC title in July after refusing to fight Amir Khan. Last month he severed ties with his longtime promoter, Gary Shaw, and signed with Top Rank.

"I'm still fighting for respect," Bradley said. "I'm fighting to be the No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter in the world.

"I'm stronger than ever. As frustrating as these last nine months have been, I've grown. There's nothing anyone can say that's going to hurt me."

Cameron Dunkin, Bradley's Las Vegas-based manager, said his challenge was not letting his fighter get discouraged by the sport's business side.

"I told him to let me worry about that and just focus on staying ready," Dunkin said. "I knew it was just a matter of time until he would feel like he's really being promoted and he's just 28. His best is still to come."

There were reports that Bradley's contract with Top Rank stipulates that if he beats Casamayor, he automatically would be given a fight against Pacquiao. Dunkin and Top Rank president Todd duBoef denied that. But Bradley clearly would be considered as a potential Pacquiao opponent if he defeats Casamayor, a former two-time champion who is 38-5-1 with 22 KOs.

"Of course we want Pacquiao," Dunkin said. "We want to make Tim a star and promote him as a champion."

Bradley said: "I don't fear any man. Pacquiao. (Floyd) Mayweather. I'll fight anyone."

Even Khan. Bradley said the reason he turned down Golden Boy's offer to fight Khan this year was he felt like he was being used and had no protection for his future.

"Now that I'm with Top Rank, I know I have security, so if Khan wants to fight me, bring it on," Bradley said.

Casamayor and Bradley got into a verbal joust during Thursday's news conference. For Bradley, it was just another motivational log on the fire.

After Casamayor told him to sit down and shut up, Bradley barked: "You don't tell me when to sit down. Bring that (expletive) fire to the ring."

Afterward, Bradley said: "Casamayor's a good dude. But he's slow as molasses. I'm going to punish him."

■ NOTES -- Doors will open at 1 p.m. for today's weigh-in at the Grand Garden. The undercard weigh-in begins at 2:30, with Pacquiao and Marquez expected on the scales at 3. HBO will air a live prefight "Game Day" show at 11 a.m. Saturday from the MGM Grand lobby. Fans may participate in the telecast, which will be hosted by Jim Lampley and feature several boxing guests. Pacquiao is a 10-1 betting favorite at the MGM Grand, with Marquez at plus-700. Pacquiao was minus-950 Wednesday.

Contact reporter Steve Carp at scarp@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2913. Follow him on Twitter: @stevecarprj.