Manny Pacquiao clarifies goal for next fight, wants to knock out Adrien Broner

“3 weeks until #PacquiaoBroner” (Photo: @mannypacquiao/Instagram)

World Champion boxer Manny Pacquiao is ready to represent the Philippines once again as he trains in anticipation for his fight against American Adrien Broner, whom he recently shared in an interview when he said that he wants to “knock out Broner.”

During Pacquiao’s New Year’s Eve training at Wild Card Boxing, he shared that he is “not making a prediction, but [he] is looking for a knockout against Broner,” stating, “I have to maximize the opportunity. I forgot how much fun winning a fight by knockout was until I stopped Lucas Matthysse last summer to win the WBA (World Boxing Association) (secondary) welterweight title.”

Pacquiao emphasized that he “felt great to win” his last match against his previous Argentinian opponent, and wants to win in the same way on January 19. When asked about going against the fellow boxing champion who has won in four divisions, Pacquiao jokes, “I have nothing personal against Adrien Broner. This fight is strictly business. He is fun. He makes me laugh. He knows how to sell himself and to sell a fight.” Pacquiao is aware, however, that the 29-year-old Broner has never lost by knockout.

Filipino boxing fans, as well as Pacquiao’s family, is flying to Las Vegas for the fight in two weeks as this is the athlete-turned-politician’s first appearance in the United States since battling it out against Jessie Vargas in 2016.

To prepare for the fight, which many assume is a step towards the Pacquiao-Mayweather rematch, the “Fighter of the Decade” (according to the Boxing Writers Association of America) promoted his best friend and assistant trainer Buboy Fernandez as head trainer, while Coach Freddie Roach has been helping as well. Fernandez proudly shares that he is “very pleased with the training camp Manny has had. His footwork, distance, and angles are all coming together nicely,” confidently adding, “When he hits the mitts it sounds like an explosion. I have never felt such raw power.”