Boxing superstar Manny ‘Pac-Man’ Pacquiao 60-7-2 (39) is set to defend his secondary WBA welterweight title against fellow multi-weight world champion Adrien ‘The Problem’ Broner 33-3-1 (24) at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada on January 19.
The fight appears to be the first step in a three-fight exit strategy from the sport for the soon-to-be 40-year-old who has won world titles in most weight classes from flyweight through to junior middleweight.
At the New York press conference to officially announce the fight the Filipino Senator made an interesting admission about his brief time away from the sport.
“When I stopped boxing nobody liked me,” revealed Pacquiao, who spent a year out of the ring after losing a 12-round unanimous decision to Jeff Horn in July last year. “I want to be seen in boxing. Boxing is my passion. When I stopped boxing, nobody loved me.”
The embittered former eight-division world titleholder signed a promotional agreement earlier this year with Al Haymon, advisor to both Broner and long-time rival Floyd Mayweather Jr, who Pacquiao lost a comprehensive 12-round points decision to in May 2015.
Mayweather outpointed Pacquiao 118-110 and 116-112 twice. The two closer cards appeared to be generous.
“It would be good to have another fight with him,” said Pacquiao, who blamed an undisclosed shoulder injury for the loss. “I don’t believe he won the last fight we had. I’m still surprised at the decision.
“It’s good to have another [fight] if he comes out of retirement. I’m still here in boxing. It depends on him.”
Before that fight can happen Pacquiao will need to get past Broner, 29, a quick and powerful boxer in his own right who has only ever lost to fellow world champions Macros Maidana, Shawn Porter and Danny Garcia.
“You can’t underestimate Adrien Broner,” said Pacquiao. “He’s fast. He’s a good boxer and you have to train hard and be in perfect condition to beat him.”
