This Saturday night in Vegas eight-division world champion Manny Pacquiao (60-7-2, 39 KOs) of the Philippines and four-division world champion Adrien Broner (33-3-1, KOs) of Cincinnati square off at the MGM Grand Garden live on Showtime PPV. Pacquiao Broner will kick off the 2019 year as the first major fight with Pacquiao looking to add another name to his legacy and for Broner he is looking to redeem his career after being plagued by issues outside the ring.
"I feel so happy and excited for the fight on January 19 and we’re ready - it’s all set," Manny Pacquiao said. "I’m still passionate about the sport of boxing and boxing is my passion and that’s why I’m still here continuing fighting," Pacquiao added.
“I’m just excited I’m the underdog and I know there are a lot of people that are here to see me lose," Adrien Broner on his upcoming fight. "This is my second fight with my trainer Kevin Cunningham and we brought in strength and conditioning, so we good. You’ll see so on January 19. It’s going to be huge and I’m taking full advantage of it. I’m well-prepared and I’m just ready to go out there and perform,"" Broner added.
Coming into this fight, Pacquiao scored a spectacular stoppage in his last fight over former world champion Argentine slugger Lucas Matthysse this past summer in July as we witnessed a vintage Pacquiao, stopping Matthysse in seven rounds.
"I still have that killer instinct and the fire in my eyes is still there. That aggressiveness, the interest in this career is still there 100%" Pacquiao said.
"Pacquiao’s a legend. He’ll always go down as one of the best in the boxing business. But I just feel like it’s my time to take over this sport and I’m coming to take the throne from Pacquiao," Broner said about Pacquiao
This fight will also mark Pacquiao's first fight in the States since his 2016 decision over Jessie Vargas in Las Vegas as his last two fights were held in Australia and Malaysia.
“People say I appear happier this fight. I am happy. I’m so excited to be back in the U.S. to fight again. Everyone has been so good to me here; it’s like a second home," Pacquiao on his return to the U.S.
For Broner, he is coming off a draw against former world champion Jessie Vargas, in a competitive fight. Prior to that fight he dropped a unanimous decision to undefeated Mikey Garcia. Broner's last victory was in February of 2017, a questionable decision over Adrian Granados in Broner's hometown of Cincinnati.
“I’m so focused that I don’t feel any of this hype surrounding the fight. This just starts another chapter in my book. I’m still writing my story and it’s going to have a happy ending," Broner said.
"I’m very focused on this fight January 19 against Adrien Broner because Broner is a former champion and he’s the kind of fighter that you cannot underestimate or take him lightly," Pacquiao on Broner.
Issues outside the ring have also plagued the 29 year old, as just a few weeks ago Broner was scheduled to appear in court in two different states on the same day. In Cleveland for sexual charges and Miami for traffic violations. All this leading to perhaps the biggest fight of his career.
"I’m just focusing. I’m just ready to go in there and have a hell of a night and start a new chapter in my career," Broner said.
A win here for Broner would definitely make him a player at 147.
"It’ll definitely play a big part but we’ve got more in store to beat Pacquiao and I will show you,"
As for Pacquiao, a win here will likely set up a rematch with the semi-retired Floyd Mayweather Jr. Floyd last fought in August of 2017 as he stopped mixed martial arts UFC star Connor McGregor and just recently had lopsided mismatch against Japanese kick boxer Tenshin Natsukawa in one round.
"I’m focused for this fight against Adrien Broner," Pacquiao explained.
The two met nearly four years ago as Pacquiao dropped a decision to Mayweather. Just last year Floyd and Manny were seen together partying it up at a rave concert in Japan and just last week they were spotted at Staples Center greeting each other at the Los Angeles Clippers game. All indications we will likely see a rematch between the two as that has been the buzz leading to this fight.
"I think after this fight it’s easy to talk about my next opponent," Pacquiao stated.
Make no mistake about it. This will be an entertaining fight as the always exciting Pacquiao looks to make a statement with a knockout and for Broner, well A.B. is always A.B. Your entertained if he wins or your entertained if he loses.
"I am not making a prediction, but my goal is to knock out Broner. I am looking for a knockout against Broner,"
"I’ve been focused and I’m just ready to go out there and prove all the naysayers wrong," Broner added
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