Timothy Bradley-Jessie Vargas: Post-Fight Report Card

By Cliff Rold

Sometimes a controversy really isn’t much of one but the perception of controversy makes a fight more memorable than it would have been without it.

That happened Saturday night.

With less than ten seconds to go, referee Pat Russell mistook the ten-second warning for the end bell of round twelve while former (and now sort of current) Welterweight titlist Timothy Bradley was reeling.

It made a great talking point.

History says Bradley wasn’t getting knocked out.

Let’s go the report card.

Grades

Pre-Fight: Speed – Bradley B+; Vargas B/Post: Same

Pre-Fight: Intangibles – Bradley A; Vargas B/Post: A; B+

Bradley was in trouble but time simply wasn’t on the side of Vargas and Bradley’s past history speaks to him finishing. He was in far worse trouble late against the brick handed Ruslan Provodnikov and Jessie Vargas was having trouble landing a felling shot. Even if Bradley had been dropped in the remaining seconds, as long as he got up there wasn’t going to be time for another assault. 

That doesn’t excuse the error of referee Pat Russell. We’ll never really, really know if there might have been a thunderbolt before the bell. The shot that got Bradley in trouble came out of nowhere. It’s just hard to imagine we get the knockout there. Even with a knockdown, Bradley still wins a fairly decisive decision.

For all but the last thirty seconds, the better man was never in doubt. Coming in, the question marks were all on Vargas. He’d escaped his share of close nods with more than hi share of ridiculous scores in those fights. What happened Saturday was karma in line with what Bradley experienced after his debated Pacquiao win when he was held to a draw last year with Diego Chaves in a fight he clearly won.

It didn’t mean the fight wasn’t entertaining. Vargas was game all night. The first six rounds were really good viewing. The faster, more skilled, and more talented Bradley was just always a step ahead. Both men left with their faces marked up. Bradley looked like he’d been in a fight.

Vargas looked like he got beat up. In the second half of the fight, he mostly did. Punch stats were closer than what the eye revealed, as Bradley appeared to block more than he was credited for. That the fight remained compelling was no surprise. Bradley has made a lot of fun fights.

Who will the next be against? There is always the possibility of a rematch but it’s not necessary and the odd ending doesn’t merit it. There was a case for Bradley winning every round of the fight before the twelfth. Vargas could be credited with, at most, three of the first eleven.

In a division with names like Kell Brook, Keith Thurman, and, yes, Floyd Mayweather, Bradley deserves better. Unfortunately, the space between his promoter and the PBC remains wide. In the absence of PBC foes, a rematch with Provodnikov or showdown with Lucas Matthysse would be fantastic matchmaking.

For Vargas, it might be better to return to campaigning at 147. Despite a big punch late, he’s not a heavy hitter and Welterweight is going to expose that more over time. Always a good TV fighter, his willingness to keep punching to the end had to win some fans Saturday. He’ll be a welcome return when his number gets called again. 

Report Card and Staff Picks 2015: 53-13 (Including staff pick for Ruenroeng-Casimero)

Note: A previous version of this piece incorrectly addressed the rules in play concerning stoppages and the bell. That error is corrected with apologies.

Cliff Rold is the Managing Editor of BoxingScene, a founding member of the Transnational Boxing Rankings Board, and a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America.  He can be reached at roldboxing@hotmail.com