Timothy Bradley chooses sure fight over chance at Floyd Mayweather

In the end, the security of a sure thing overruled the hope of a dream opportunity for Cathedral City boxer Timothy Bradley.

The WBO champion decided to extend his agreement with Top Rank to beyond 2015, meaning he likely will never get a chance to fight his idol Floyd Mayweather.

Bradley agreed to his extension while working out a deal for his rematch with Manny Pacquiao on April 12.

However, Mayweather announced he would retire at the end of 2015. While Bradley didn’t release details of his new deal, he said it goes beyond 2015. And because Mayweather is on a rival network, Showtime, a fight is unlikely to happen while Bradley is with Top Rank, whose fights air on HBO.

“I don’t know how that got blown out of proportion,” Top Rank president Todd duBoef said. “We were talking about our partnership extending beyond the Pacquiao fight and we were able to come to an agreement that extended beyond that for our relationship, so we were happy with that. He’s satisfied and our partnership will go on in the future.”

Mayweather is the No. 1 fighter on nearly every pound-for-pound rankings, which accounts for all fighters regardless of weight class. Most rankings have Bradley at No. 3 behind Mayweather and Andre Ward.

However, there’s no guarantee Mayweather would want to fight Bradley. And Bradley has had a lucrative relationship with Top Rank.

“Remember, Floyd Mayweather can do whatever he wants. He doesn’t have to fight me,” Bradley said. “Fans asked him to fight Manny Pacquiao, he’s not fighting Manny Pacquiao, you know what I’m saying? There’s no guarantee. What I have to look after is myself. I can’t chase a guy. I can’t chase Floyd Mayweather, and chase this guy, chase this guy. I need to secure my future, secure my legacy, and secure what Tim Bradley wants and what will benefit him and his family.”

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