Tim Bradley Looks to Cut Luis Carlos Abregu Down to Size

When seven-division champion Manny Pacquiao dethroned Miguel Cotto as WBO welterweight (147 pounds) champion with November's 12th-round knockout, the Filipino star did so while contractually requiring his Puerto Rican rival to come in at a catch weight of 145 pounds.

The 31-year-old Pacquiao similarly required Oscar De La Hoya to do so at the same weight limit when he stopped De La Hoya in eight rounds in December 2008.

But on Saturday night, when he risks his unbeaten record against welterweight Luis Carlos Abregu in an HBO-televised, non-title, over-the-weight limit bout, WBO junior welterweight (140 pounds) champion Tim Bradley will forgo the catch weight requirement.

"I don't believe in a catch weight. If you're going to go to the next weight class, fight the best in that weight class. Catch weight is pathetic," said the 26-year-old Bradley. "Go the extra mile, gain the extra pounds. Roy Jones, Jr., James Toney, Sugar Ray Robinson and Sugar Ray Leonard have done it."

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Bradley will be putting his 25-0 record with 11 knockouts on the line against the hard-hitting Abregu (29-0, 23 KOs), of Salta, Argentina when they step into the ring for a clash at Agua Caliente Casino, in Rancho Mirage, Calif., near Bradley's hometown of Palm Springs, Calif.

"I've been very hard at work the last couple of months. I've had strenous workouts. I've added strength training to pick up my extra weight. I am ready for this fight with Abregu. I am focused on a game plan," said Bradley, during a break from an intense media workout on Tuesday at the Boys and Girls Club of America in Indio, Calif.

"I appreciate the media attention that I have received. It hasn't distracted or bothered me. I am ready both physically and mentally. I feel stronger and faster than I ever have. I feel alive. This weight feels more natural," said Bradley. "I can eat two portions of pasta instead of one. Life is about taking risks. You have to take risks to become the best. Abregu says that he's going to knock me out; I'd like to see him try."

Bradley is coming off of December's 12-round, unanimous decision victory over Lamont Peterson (28-1, 14 KOs), of Washington, D.C., whom Bradley dropped for the first time in his career.

"Abregu will find out how good I am on July 17. He's a powerhouse. He's got decent skills, and an okay amateur background. He's tall and rangy with a good right hand, good right uppercut and a decent left hook. He's just got heavy hands, man. So I will have to feel his power," said Bradley, who will stand 5-foot-6 to Abregu's 5-10.

"Skill-wise, I don't think that he's that great. But he can punch, and that's pretty much it. For me to win this fight, it comes down to fighting smart and not getting over confident," said Bradley. "Abregu is a dangerous fighter, but I trained to go 12 hard rounds. I'm not a knockout puncher, but anything can happen. A knockout against him would be amazing."

Abregu(pictured at right) is coming off of February's 10-round, unanimous decision victory over Richard Gutierrez, who floored Abregu in the second round before himself being dropped in the third.

A career welterweight who has fought at a weight as high as 150 pounds, Abregu believes Bradley's failure to meet him at a catch weight will result in his first loss.

"[Bradley's] making a big mistake. I'm a natural welterweight. It's a big mistake for him to fight at my division. He has no business here. My punching power is important to catch him at all rounds. I am going to try to in the first, second or third round. But if I have to, I am ready for the full 12 rounds. I've trained for it," said Abregu, who scored consecutive fourth-round knockouts prior to facing Gutierrez.

"I worked out with sparring partners that moved a lot. I believe I have the formula to beat Bradley. I have sparred with guys as fast, if not, faster than Tim. Bradley having all of the media's attention puts me at ease because the pressure is not on me, it's on the champ," said Abregu. "This allows me to do my work. I don't care about what is said before or after the fight. Everything I do, I do in the ring."

If it comes down to a knock-down, drag out affair, Abregu has been in at least of those, and Bradley, at least one. During a May, 2009 fourth-round knockout of Irving Garcia, for example, Abregu was floored twice, as was his opponent.

Bradley demonstrated determination during an April 2009 unanimous decision win over Kendall Holt, where he twice rose from the canvas before emerging victorious.

"I saw [Bradley's] fight against Kendall Holt, and I can't say much about that. I've been down and got up to win too. That's part of what we do," said Abregu. "But I have seen Bradley's fight style in his last four fights, and I am not impressed. Rest assured, when I put Bradley down, he's going to stay down. I'll do what I have to do. "

But so will Bradley.






"Abregu's at the top of the list. He's undefeated. I have to teach him how to lose. When they lose, they realize 'it's getting tough in here.' I have to break this guy down, make him pay for his mistakes. I am fighting for my fans. I have a motto: I can't lose at home, and if I do, I'm not afraid to lose. If I lose, I come back stronger. I would embrace a loss and learn from it," said Bradley.

"The key is going to be not standing in front of him and use a great jab. I'm looking forward to a great battle on Saturday. Fighting in my hometown is an advantage because the crowd is going to cheer for me," said Bradley. "Abregu is going to hear Bradley chanted all night long, and in his sleep afterward. My body is physically prepared and mentally, I'm set. When the bell rings I'm going to go for it."