Many people are writing off four-weight world champion Adrien Broner in next week’s fight against Manny Pacquiao for the WBA title at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas — but those in the know don’t have it as such a clear cut one horse race.
Broner has moved his final training camp to Barry’s Boxing Gym in Vegas and clearly the hard work is now already done as he sharpens his stools and maintains and tapers off what he’s built up in recent months.
A renewed energy for the sport has seen him get in the best shape of his fight career to date.
Speaking in an open media scrum to a group of reporters this week in Las Vegas, Mayweather Promotions CEO Leonard Ellerbe is not convinced the Manny Pacquiao is washed up:
“I’m not buying it. If he was passed it — Matthysse would have knocked him out or dropped him or something.”
On the fight itself, Ellerbe said:
“He (Manny) throws a lot of punches from different angles who has a tremendous amount of experience, who’s beat a number of great fighters who’s a future Hall of Famer, who’s eager to mix it up with everybody. That’s what Manny Pacquiao brings to the table. But in this particular fight I think it just comes down to the timing of the fight and when it’s taking place in their career. Adrien, say what you want, he just needs to find a way to win and this is a big fight. As I said with the timing, both guys know what’s at stake. Essentially, in my personal opinion — it’s a must win for both guys.”
Pacquiao and Broner face off on January 19th live on Showtime pay per view at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas and live on ITV 4 in the UK.
