Bradley could be next for Pacquiao

MANILA, Philippines - Timothy Bradley, well-trained and highly motivated, impressed a lot of people with his ninth-round stoppage of Brandon Rios yesterday in Las Vegas.

Promoter Bob Arum, who said Bradley could earn a third fight with Manny Pacquiao if he won impressively over Rios, liked what he saw.

“That was the best Bradley I’ve ever seen,” Arum told the press after the fight held before 5,106 boxing fans at the Thomas and Mack Center.

Bradley brought home the WBO welterweight crown and sent Rios, who came in a bloated 170-pound welterweight, into retirement.

The 32-year-old Bradley, who’s even with Pacquiao after two fights, did not mention any names but said he’s willing to fight anyone.

Aside from Pacquiao, other possible fights for Bradley, now under trainer Teddy Atlas, are light-middleweight Canelo Alvarez or a rematch with Jessie Vargas.

Later on, Arum took a call from The STAR, and said Bradley, now 33-1-1 with 13 knockouts, is interested in a third fight with Pacquiao.

“Yes,” said the chief of Top Rank Promotions.

Why not?

Bradley earned $1.9 million for the Rios fight and $6 million for his rematch with Pacquiao in April 2014. He can’t earn anything closer to that fighting someone else.

The line was choppy from where Arum sat but he said something like Bradley is “very anxious” about a third fight with the Filipino superstar.

According to ESPN, Pacquiao asked Top Rank to send him a tape of yesterday’s fight.

Alvarez is scheduled to fight Miguel Cotto on Nov. 21, and there’s word that Bradley, who’s with Top Rank, might want to challenge the former at 154 lbs.

“Canelo is not my guy,” said Arum.

Of course, Arum would rather pit his guys against each other, like Pacquiao vs Bradley or Pacquiao vs Terence Crawford.

Amir Khan, however, remains on the inside track as Pacquiao’s next opponent, probably on April 9 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

If Khan asks for the moon Bradley or Crawford, both Top Rank boxers, can perhaps settle for less and take his place.

Days ago, Arum told The STAR, “There’s a possibility it could be Bradley.”