Timothy Bradley Jr. has only lost once in his professional boxing career, and that was to Manny Pacquiao.
Why does it feel, then, like Saturday's fight against undefeated young welterweight contender Jessie Vargas (HBO, 9:45 ET), is set up as a way for Vargas to take the next step toward stardom?
Bradley, 31, was on a hot streak, beating Pacquiao, Juan Manuel Marquez and Ruslan Provodnikov three fights in a row, but in his last two fights, he lost the rematch to Pacquiao and drew with Diego Chaves. Because of that, Bradley (31-1-1, 12 KOs) feels he is coming into this fight somewhat overlooked.
"I still have plenty of fights left in me," Bradley said. "And I'm going to show this guy that it's not his time yet."
That there has already been talk of a Vargas-Pacquiao clash amuses Bradley.
"That is funny," Bradley said. "I have no idea where people are planning a Vargas-Pacquiao fight. Who is the toughest opponent he's faced before me? And who have I lost to? Manny Pacquiao and nobody else. Those people who are counting me out, put your money where your mouth is and give me a call."
This fight is just the first step of Bradley's plan for the next year, a plan which includes some surprising names on his hit list outside of his 147-pound division.
"We've talked about 154 or going to 160 and fighting Triple G (Gennady Golovkin) or going to 140. There are a lot of different things and it can all change, but the sky's the limit."
Bradley says his goal is to be a Hall of Fame fighter and the desire to be the best in the sport still motivates him after 33 fights and several recent wars which may have made lesser men consider opting out of the sport.
Following a Fight of the Year with Provodnikov, in which Bradley was knocked down twice, his trainer, Joel Diaz had serious concerns about his health and whether he would be ready for his next fight. Bradley, after being put through the ringer in training camp by Diaz, went out and defeated a legend in Marquez.
That relationship with Diaz continues to fuel Bradley's career as well, despite what some on the outside may see as more than tough love.
"Joel is my big brother. We understand each other and we have great chemistry," Bradley said. "I love the way he talks to me in the corner. Some people say they don't like that, but come on man, it's a tough sport, it's the hurt business and I don't want my trainer talking soft to me during the fight."
In contrast, Vargas (26-0, 9 KOs) made another change in trainer, going from Roy Jones Jr., who he had worked with for only one fight, to another future Hall of Famer in Erik Morales marking his fifth trainer in seven years.
Bradley looks at that with added appreciation for Diaz.
"He knows me so well. We've grown together and perfected our craft together," Bradley said. "He's become a great trainer and helped me become a great fighter and we've been together all the way up. You rarely see that. Vargas, he's had what, like four or five trainers?"
A win on Saturday night and Bradley sets himself up, yet again, for a big-money fight, and more importantly, he says, reminds the boxing world that he is still one of the pound-for-pound best.
"I'm hungry and determined. I'm not old, I'm not washed up, I'm still in my prime and I'm getting better still," Bradley said. "I'm going to make my mark. I don't want to be forgotten. I'm not going to be some name on a resume for this kid."
