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SPORTS Saturday 19 January 2019
Pacquiao awaits Broner bout in crossroads fight at age 40

By TIM DAHLBERG reunited for the fight, Pac-
AP Boxing Writer quiao's first in the U.S. in
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Manny more than two years.
Pacquiao has been beat- But while Pacquiao is fa-
ing the odds since he was vored, there's always a
a teenager in the Philip- chance in boxing that age
pines stuffing his pockets often catches up to a fight-
with metal at weigh-ins er in the wrong place —
so he wouldn't look like a the ring.
98-pound weakling. And that adds some in-
Nearly a quarter century trigue to seeing a fighter
later, Pacquiao is still up for who has been so much of
a challenge. a part of the fabric of box-
He fights Saturday night ing for the last 15 years.
against Adrien Broner in a "He's unbelievable," Roach
true crossroads bout that said. "His work ethic is great,
will determine a lot about he has fast hands and he
his future in the ring. Chas- still hits hard. I think he actu-
ing a second fight with ally wants to knock this op-
Floyd Mayweather, Pac- ponent out."
quiao will be tested by That may be asking a
a younger and talented lot since Pacquiao went
fighter who has a lot to nearly a decade without
prove himself. knocking anyone out be-
He's 40 now, an age where fore stopping Lucas Martin Manny Pacquiao, left, and Adrien Broner pose for photographers during a news conference
Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2019, in Las Vegas. The two are scheduled to fight in a welterweight cham-
fighters either have long Matthysse in a fight in Ma- pionship bout on Saturday.
stopped lacing up the laysia last July. But if Pac- Associated Press
gloves or are very careful quiao needed any more
in picking opponents. Pac- motivation he got it after just feel like it's my time to ner is not a tuneup fight," officially retired.
quiao is not only still fight- Broner mocked the Parkin- take over this sport and I'm Pacquiao said. "He's a for- Pacquiao blamed an in-
ing, but willing to take on son's that Roach has. coming to take the throne mer champion. He's fast, jured shoulder for his poor
a 29-year-old who thinks "Manny's a great guy to from Pacquiao." he moves fast and he's a performance in the 2015
of himself as a young May- have on your side," Roach Broner (33-3-1, 24 knock- good boxer." bout, a lackluster affair won
weather. said. outs) certainly has the skills Unfortunately, a lot of fans by Mayweather. A second
And he's not terribly con- Indeed, Broner has done to do just that. He has long won't be watching. The Mayweather fight would
cerned about the possibil- his part to sell the fight by been considered an elite fight is on Showtime pay- cap Pacquiao's career
ity he might lose. acting boorish and flash- fighter, though he has lost per-view and the price and put him closer to retire-
"I still have that killer instinct ing money around like his most of his bigger fights and ($74.95) is lofty for a fighter ment and full-time duties
and the fire in my eyes is still mentor, Mayweather. At tends to be undisciplined in a few years removed from in the Senate in his home
there," Pacquiao said. "That this week's final news con- the ring. his prime. country. It's on Pacquiao's
aggressiveness, the interest ference, Broner went into a To beat Pacquiao he will Still, Pacquiao will make mil- mind, as well as the mind
in this career is still there 100 profane rant about Show- have to use his speed to lions, and Broner will have of his millions of fans."You
percent. The speed and time announcer Al Bern- match that of the Filipino a big payday of his own. cannot avoid people will
the power are still there." stein, though his comments senator, and figure out a Both would also profit with ask if there's a rematch with
That showed in a gym ses- about Pacquiao were way to deal with an unorth- a win, with Broner regaining Floyd Mayweather," Pac-
sion this week in Hollywood, more respectful. odox style that has puzzled some of his reputation and quiao said, "because I think
where Pacquiao looked "Pacquiao's a legend," Bro- opponents since Pacquiao Pacquiao putting himself they have a big question
sharp and fast while hitting ner said. "He'll always go began fighting for $2 purses in line for another possible mark in their mind and also
the mitts with trainer Fred- down as one of the best in so he could help his mother huge payday against May- in their heart about what
die Roach. The two have the boxing business. But I feed the family."Adrien Bro- weather, who still says he is happened in that fight."q

Andrade set for first defense of middleweight title at MSG

By BRIAN MAHONEY around waiting. He's done weight belt on Oct. 20 in 160-pound division are before winning his title, the
AP Sports Writer too much of that already. Boston, dropping Walter breathtaking," promoter former U.S. Olympian from
NEW YORK (AP) — Deme- So he gets right back into Kautondokwa four times Eddie Hearn said. Providence, Rhode Island
trius Andrade is just a few action Friday night, making and cruising to a lopsided Alvarez and Jacobs will wants to stay busy until one
months from winning a mid- the first defense of his WBO unanimous decision. An- meet May 4 in a unifica- of those fights emerges.
dleweight title but perhaps belt against Russian Artur drade had been sched- tion bout. Both fighters, like "I believe I am the great-
still far away from fights Akavov in the Theater at uled to face champion Billy Andrade, are aligned with est talent out there at the
with the division's biggest Madison Square Garden. Joe Saunders, but Saun- DAZN, which will stream 154, 60 and maybe even
names. "It's great to be back in the ders tested positive for a Friday's card, so perhaps 68 weight class division, but
Canelo Alvarez, Gennady ring," Andrade said. "It's banned stimulant and was there's a route to a fight right now in front of me I've
Golovkin and Daniel Ja- been a long time since I've stripped of his belt. with one or both of them got to take care of business
cobs are the headliners been this active and so like "We always knew he was eventually. Jacobs, the IBF come Friday," Andrade
at 160 pounds, and while I said before, every oppor- going to win that world champion, is also promot- said.
one or more of them could tunity that comes my way championship because ed by Hearn's Matchroom That comes against Akavov
someday be in Andrade's I'm going to take." now he's a three-time, Boxing USA, so that could (19-2, 8 KOs), who is getting
future, it doesn't appear to Andrade (26-0, 16 KOs) is a two-weight world cham- help lead to another op- his second shot at a title. He
be the near future. former 154-pound cham- pion, and the fights that portunity. lost a decision to Saunders
Andrade isn't about to sit pion who won a middle- are ahead for him in the But after sitting out for a year in December 2016.q