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SPORTS Tuesday 20 November 2018

Quite the contrast: Senator Manny vs Adrien Broner

By BARRY WILNER
AP Sports Writer
NEW YORK (AP) — Dressed
in a sharp gray suit and tie,
Manny Pacquiao looked
every bit the senator he is.
It was his other job, though,
that he was working Mon-
day when the eight-time
champion announced a
Jan. 19 defense of his WBA
welterweight belt against
Adrien Broner.
“He’s one of the top boxers
out there,” Pacquiao said
of Broner, who attended
the news conference in
slightly different garb: torn
jeans adorned with span-
gles, a T-shirt and black
jacket. “Adrien Broner is a
high-caliber fighter.
“I have no problem to fight
at 140 (pounds), it’s my
natural weight. I can’t say
I am avoiding (opponents),
that is not my style. I am will-
ing to find other fighters to
fight, too, I am available to
fight at 140, 147. It is 147 for
this fight.”
Pacquiao will be 40 when
he enters the ring at the
MGM hotel in Las Vegas
to take on the 29-year-old
Broner. It will be the Filipi- Manny Pacquiao, left, and Adrien Broner pose for photographers at a news conference, Monday, Nov. 19, 2018, in New York.
no’s 70th fight in a career Pacquiao will defend his World Boxing Association welterweight title against Broner on Jan. 19, 2019, in Las Vegas.
that began in 1995 and Associated Press
has included titles in weight “I am fighting Adrien Bron- his most recent fights, los- pay-per-view television. smirked when queried on
classes from flyweight to er,” Pacquiao said, adding ing a unanimous decision Both men were asked if his skill level these days.
welterweight. He hasn’t he was with Mayweather to Mikey Garcia, who won they are elite boxers now. “I’m gonna do me; he’s
fought in the United States in Japan and mentioned his 36th straight, in July last Neither flinched in answer- gotta worry about what I
in two years. that he, not Mayweath- year, and then drawing ing. do,” Broner said. “I know
Referred to by his follow- er, owned a belt, so “you with Jessie Vargas. “Yes, of course,” Pacquiao what he can do.
ers as Senator Manny, come challenge me.” Which means recent re- insisted. “I want to fight the “I got three losses, he’s
Pacquiao won and then Broner views this as his sults indicate neither he nor greatest opponents in the got (seven). He’s been
lost the WBO welterweight chance to “become a leg- Pacquiao is in his prime or world and one of them is knocked out; we know he
crown following his lopsid- end.” As he strutted around close to it. Still, they are big Adrien Broner. I can fight can go to sleep. I got the
ed loss to Floyd Mayweath- the stage, his words at first enough names for Show- anybody.” stuff to do it. I’ll hit the jack-
er in a May 2015 megafight. were respectful toward time to put the fight on Broner shook his head and pot overnight.”q
In July, he knocked out Lu- Pacquiao, whom Broner
cas Matthysse for the WBA “dreamed of fighting when
title, Pacquiao’s first KO I was a kid.”
victory since 2009 when he Soon, though, Broner was
stopped Miguel Cotto in back to being Broner, the
the final round. boastful, say-anything-
His government role will be character who likes talking
placed aside, Pacquiao trash as much as throwing
claims, while he prepares leather. “He ain’t fighting
for Broner. Floyd, he’s fighting me,”
“My opponent is fast, good, Broner said. “He’s gotta get
and I have to work hard past me first.
and train hard so the peo- “Of course, things he’s
ple will be happy on Jan. done in the game are un-
19 when we give them a believable. I know Jan. 19 I
good fight,” said Pacquiao, gotta be at the top of my
who flashed a mischievous game. I’m gonna (mess)
smile when asked if anoth- him up.”
er encounter with the cur- Broner, from Cincinnati, is
rently retired Mayweather 33-3-1 with 24 knockouts.
might be in the future. But he didn’t win either of