Timothy Bradley Jr. stays grounded before his big fight by spending time with his kids

What do you like to do when you are not training for a fight? Do you play or watch other sports? Do you have any particular role models?

Even though I’m world champion fighter I enjoy off seasons like other professional athletes and I like to make the most of my free time. Like any other sports fan, I enjoy watching football and basketball on television as well as spending time with friends and family.

I’m a homebody, even during training camp because I train at a local gym and stay at home. My wife and kids keep me grounded and I like to stay involved in their day-to-day lives even when training camp is in full gear. When I’m not training I serve as president of the junior All American tackle football and cheer program and help coach any of the teams my son plays on. I have a great appreciation for the head coaches and how they teach and motivate. I’m honored to assist them. It’s really been a lot of fun watching my son and his friends develop as players and teammates over the years. It’s been a very rewarding experience.

I also attend as many school functions for my kids as possible. Back-to-school nights, PTO, you name it my wife and I are there. I’m amazed at what they are teaching our kids and how early these subjects are being taught to them. So much of it is fascinating. It’s always fun going to Career Day at my kids’ schools. With one in elementary and the other in middle school you can imagine the differences in questions I am asked!

My favorite time of day is the morning when my daughter and I walk to school together. It’s a great time to just chat about anything that’s on her mind. It’s our time and I really treasure it.

May 11: Blog #1
Discuss your best and worst memory as a fighter, and which wins -- amateur or professional -- have been the most satisfying or memorable?

I have been blessed to have been in many memorable fights which have contributed to great memories as a professional fighter. I get asked a lot which fight stands out the most and I would have to say my victory over Junior Witter. It was my first world championship fight. I'll never forget it.

Witter was the champion and I was the challenger. I had to travel to his backyard in England to fight him in front of his hometown fans. I knew I had to train hard in camp and execute perfectly against him. No one was going to do me any favors over there. Every point I won I earned.

There is something very special when you defeat an opponent on his home turf. But in this case, I was facing a world champion on foreign soil. I didn't think about it much while I was training but when I landed it really struck me. I was fighting for me and I was fighting for the U.S. of A. It may sound corny but I really felt I was representing my country throughout fight week. And the fans in England were great. They all came in as fans of Witter but they left as fans of boxing. Everyone was so nice.

Winning that first world title from Witter was not just a turning point for my career but for my life too.

My worst memory in boxing was when my amateur trainer O.J. Kutcher passed away. O.J. was the one person who always believed I had it in me to become world champion. When O.J. suffered a stroke I was with him through his last days. It was very sad. Losing O.J. was like losing my right arm and to this day I think of him or something he taught me on a daily basis.

I held on to a pair of handwraps and gauze O.J. had given me when I was a child, saving them for something special. I wore them the night I fought Junior Witter. I just knew O.J. would have wanted to be there that night and I as I wrapped my hands I really felt he was with me, even when I was in the ring. Though O.J.'s passing is my worst memory as a fighter, you can count my experience with O.J. as a memory every bit as sweet as winning the title from Junior Witter.

Pacquiao vs. Bradley takes place Saturday, June 9 from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. The HBO pay-per-view begins at 9:00 p.m. ET/ 6:00 p.m. PT.

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