Tim Bradley to Prove Himself Against Lamont Peterson

Nicknamed, "The Desert Storm," Tim Bradley may be among boxing's best-kept secrets when it comes to skills, concentration and resiliency in the ring.

The Palm Springs, Calif., resident is unbeaten in 24 bouts, 11 of them by knockout. He was WBC junior middleweight (140 pounds) champion for three fights and has twice defended his current WBO crown.

"You can basically look at my resume and see that in less than one year, I won two world titles. I'm still young, yet I've fought on the road like a veteran, and I won on the road," said the 26-year-old Bradley.

"People don't understand how much pressure there is on a fighter when he fights on the road. I beat Junior Witter on the road to win the world title and didn't get much credit for that," said Bradley, referring to the man he dropped in the sixth-round of a May, 2008, split-decision before Witter's hometown crowd in England. "On the road, that just shows you how determined I am to be great."

On Saturday night, however, Bradley will be fighting before what is expected to be a partisan crowd when he makes the third defense of his WBO title in a Showtime-televised bout against unbeaten Lamont Peterson (27-0, 13 KOs).

Their matchup will take place at the California's Agua Caliente Casino, Rancho Mirage, where Bradley will be performing as much to raise his stature and visibility in the boxing world as he will be to retain his crown.

"At the end of the day, after I beat Lamont Peterson, people are going to start realizing that, 'I'm going to stop betting against this guy and I'm going to get on the bandwagon,' " said Bradley, who is coming off of August's no contest against former unified lightweight world champion Nate Campbell.

"Lamont and I are both undefeated, which makes for a great fight. We both have speed and power, and we both have boxing ability," said Bradley. "But, at the end of the day, it's my job to teach Lamont Peterson how to lose, and that's what I'm going to do on Dec. 12."

In returning to the site of the Campbell fight, Bradley will, yet again, enjoy the opportunity of being at home.

"There's nothing like fighting at home and I'm glad to be back. I'm glad that my promoters were able to make that possible. There's a little added pressure, but this is my job, this is what I do," said Bradley.

"I know I have to get in there and take care of business, but I'm a little more relaxed now, and a lot more mature. I'm not as nervous or anxious as I normally am."

With Campbell being cut over his left eye, Bradley was originally declared the winner by third-round knockout.

But the ruling was later changed to a no-decision after the California State Athletic Commission determined that Campbell's injury was due to an accidental head-butt.

"I'm way over that. Things happened and you just have to move on. My biggest focus right now is on Dec. 12," said Bradley. "As far as it goes with Campbell, I've been over that for months, so I'm moving onto the next challenge, and that's Lamont Peterson."

Standing 5-foot-6 to Peterson's 5-9, Bradley admitted that Peterson "could give me problems."

"[Peterson's] a much taller opponent with a lot longer reach, but that's not going to keep me off of you," said Bradley. "I'm coming in there to get him, and we'll see how long he lasts."

In Peterson, Bradley is facing an amateur teammate with whom he was a former roommate when they were members of the junior national team.

"Lamont Peterson is a great fighter. I grew up with him in the amateurs. I know him very well, and he knows me very well," said Bradley. "I'm just looking forward to the fight. I'm hungry and I'm willing to show the world what I have."