Reigning WBO welterweight champion Timothy Bradley (32-1-1, 12 KOs) is reportedly preferring a fight with former WBA lightweight titlist Brandon Rios (33-2-1, 24 KOs) rather than with his unheralded mandatory challenger, American Sadam Ali (22-0, 13 KOs), this last quarter of 2015.

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Bradley and Rios, who are both under Bob Arum's Top Rank Promotions, are said to be arranging a match this December, but WBO officials have ordered the former to negotiate with Ali instead, who is under Oscar De La Hoya's Golden Boy Promotions, for a fight that should take place before the year ends.

Boxing News 24 indicated that Arum could offer De La Hoya a "step aside" fee to allow the Bradley-Rios fight to happen this year before Ali can have his shot versus Bradley some time next year.

Bradley prefers Rios because it would more likely generate a lot more viewers and profit than a fight with Ali would. Rios was more popular than Ali because, like Bradley, he had fought with Filipino icon Manny Pacquiao in the past. Also, HBO is said to be intent on broadcasting a Bradley-Rios encounter than a Bradley-Ali sleeper.

"We'll listen to what Top Rank has to say, of course," De La Hoya said, as reported by ESPN. "I just need to talk to Bob (Arum) and see what they have in mind and see if it makes sense for Sadam Ali and for Golden Boy Promotions."

Meanwhile, Rios' trainer Robert Garcia recently told Boxing Scene that he hopes his ward would be able to seal the fight with the Desert Storm this December. He cited that drawing the fans' interest is an essential factor for a fight to be considered, and Rios brings that to the table more than Ali.

Garcia also noted that Bradley and Rios are two fighters who are already well-known "to put on a show" and they should be given a chance to make the fans happy this coming holiday season.

Arum is planning to set the fight at the Forum in Los Angeles on the 12th of December. But he has to first convince De La Hoya, Ali, and his team to wait for their turn on Bradley.

TagsBoxing, Boxing 2015, Boxing News, Boxing News 2015, Boxing Rumors, Boxing Rumors 2015, Timothy Bradley Jr., Brandon Rios, Sadam Ali