Jilted by Pacquiao, Bradley moves forward

The business of boxing can be just as cruel as what takes place inside the ring. Just ask Timothy Bradley.

Bradley had hoped to capitalize on his stunning upset of Manny Pacquiao on June 9, when he won a controversial 12-round split decision and Pacquiao's WBO welterweight belt at the MGM Grand Garden.

Had Pacquiao elected to exercise the rematch clause in the contract, Bradley stood to receive another multimillion dollar payday. (He made $5 million from the first meeting.)

But Pacquiao decided to face Juan Manuel Marquez on Dec. 8 for a fourth time, which left Bradley on the outside looking in.

So what does Bradley do now? His manager, Cameron Dunkin, wants to get him back in the ring and headline a card before the end of the year. But finding a suitable date and opponent will be a challenge.

Dec. 1 is taken by Miguel Cotto vs. Austin Trout, and Pacquiao-Marquez IV is on Dec. 8. That leaves Dec. 15 as the likely date for Bradley's return.

"We want him to headline, and HBO wants him for Dec. 15," Dunkin said. "Right now, we're trying to find an opponent. But Tim's got a lot of options, and I just want to keep him busy and keep him visible."

Dunkin said just because Pacquiao turned down Bradley now doesn't mean the rematch will never happen.

"That fight's not going away," Dunkin said. "The only way it goes away is if Manny retires. Tim knows that, and while he's disappointed about not fighting Pacquiao Dec. 8, he understands it's a business and he'll get through it."

■ PARTING WAYS - Amir Khan decided it was time for a change, and he informed Freddie Roach on Friday that he no longer would require his services.

Roach, who helped Khan (26-3, 18 knockouts) become the world junior welterweight champion, understood.

"I've been fired before," he said. "I told Amir, 'No hard feelings.' I wish him nothing but the best."

Khan and Roach had been together since 2008 and made it to the top of the 140-pound division. But Khan lost his last two fights, the latest a fourth-round knockout by Danny Garcia on July 14 at Mandalay Bay, and there had been mounting speculation the Bolton, England, native was going to make a change.

Khan reportedly has talked to Virgil Hunter, who trains super middleweight champion Andre Ward, and has interest in working with Pedro Diaz, who trains Miguel Cotto.

■ BACK AT COSMO - The Cosmopolitan will bring boxing back to its property Nov. 3 with Sharif Bogere facing Richard Abril for the vacant WBA lightweight title.

The fight, which is being promoted by Golden Boy Promotions, will be televised on Showtime as part of its "ShoBox: The Next Generation" series.

Bogere (23-0, 15 KOs), who has lived and trained in Las Vegas since 2008, last fought June 2, when he knocked out Manuel Leyva in the second round at the Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif.

Abril's last fight was his controversial 12-round split-decision loss to Brandon Rios on April 14 at Mandalay Bay. Many observers thought Abril (17-3-1, 8 KOs) won the fight, but only judge Adalaide Byrd agreed.

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