Timothy Bradley makes his return on February 9

Phil D. Jay
WBN Editor

‘Desert Storm’ to make first title defence at 147

WBO welterweight champion Timothy Bradley will attempt to silence the doubters on February 9 as he fights for the first time since scoring a blatantly wrong decision win over Manny Pacquiao.

The 29 year-old Californian was ridiculed in some quarters for his win after turning up at the post-fight press conference in a wheelchair and now faces some reputation rebuilding in the contest, which has been initially pencilled in for the date.

Manager Cameron Dunkin confirmed the news to WBN this week, although an opponent and venue is yet to be announced as two-weight world title holder Bradley looks to further extend his perfect 30-fight record.

Rival Pacquiao takes on Juan Manuel Marquez tonight for a fourth time instead of taking up the opportunity to rectify the poor result he received from the judges in June and Bradley will surely be hoping to face the winner late in 2013.

The Tragedy of Billy Collins Jr.

Phil D. Jay WBN Editor Collins after the fight Williams Ray Collins Jr. or Billy Collins Jr. as he became known, was born to a boxing father in Antioch, Tennessee in 1961. His father William Sr, once fought Welterweight Champion Curtis Cokes and wanted his boy to follow in his footsteps, so decided to train Billy himself. Collins Jr. turned pro in 1981, a welterweight, just like his father before him and impressively won his first 14 professional contests, 11 by knockout with eight inside the first three rounds. It was 1983 and Billy was matched up against Puerto Rican journeyman Luis Resto on the undercard of Roberto Duran v Davey Moore at Madison Square Garden in a ten rounder. Resto wasn’t known for his punching power but Billy took a sustained beating for the full ten rounds, his face, badly damaged and his eyes were almost shut. After the fight, which Resto won on decision, Billy’s father shook Resto’s hand and noticed there wasn’t much padding in his gl...

The Ring Magazine P4P Top 10 compared to WBN's P4P Top 10

World Boxing News pound for pound Top 10 (25/11/2011) 1. Manny Pacquaio (53-3-2) WBO Welterweight champion and WBC light-middleweight champion 2. Nonito Donaire (26-1) WBC and WBO bantamweight champion 3. Floyd Mayweather Jr (41-0) 4. Bernard Hopkins (52-5-2) WBC and IBO light-heavyweight champion 5. Juan Manuel Marquez (52-5-1) WBA and WBO lightweight champion 6. Miguel Cotto (36-2-0) WBA "Super" light-middleweight champion 7. Sergio Martinez (47-2-2) 8. Wladimir Klitschko (55-3-0) WBO and IBF heavyweight champion 9. Pongsaklek Wonjongkam (80-3-1) WBC flyweight champion 10. Chris John (44-0-2) WBA “super” world featherweight champion Do you agree or disagree? Have your say on the WBN Facebook wall at http://www.facebook.com/pages/World-Boxing-News/134654593225151

Derry Mathews willing to offer Scott Harrison title shot

Phil D. Jay WBN Editor British champion open to fight with former WBO title holder According to Scott Harrison’s manager Alex Morrison, the Scot has been offered the chance to fight British champion Derry Mathews later in the year. The possbile fight hinges on whether Mathews can come through a rematch with Gavin Rees next month at the Motorpoint Arena in Sheffield. Morrison is looking to fast-track his fighter to a world title shot in 2013 and sees the Lonsdale belt as an ideal stepping stone for Harrison as he makes his comeback from a seven-year absence. The 34 year-old fights Brahim Bariz in his first fight since 2005 at the end of the month at the Kelvin Hall in Glasgow and wants to move as quickly as possible on to a potential shot at a world champion. Harrison held the WBO featherweight title on two occasions in the past and now campaigns at lightweight.

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