By Nick Giongco
LAS VEGAS – When the dust settles Saturday night at the Grand Garden Arena, it will be Manny Pacquiao’s hands – and not Adrien Broner’s – that will be raised in triumph, Floyd Mayweather Sr. said on Friday at the MGM Grand.
“I’m picking Pacquiao to win. Pacquiao will be the last man standing,” said Mayweather Sr.
It was a surprising selection for the 66-year-old Mayweather Sr, whose son Floyd Jr., beat Pacquiao in May 2015.
For Broner to pull off an upset, Mayweather Sr. insists that “he has to slip and slide and throw lots of punches”, something the former contender feels won’t be the case come fight night.
“I don’t believe Broner is going to win,” he said.
Broner is a counter-puncher while Pacquiao is an engager and the Filipino’s knack for throwing punches in bunches would be too much for the US challenger, Mayweather Sr. stated.
Pacquiao, who holds the lesser version of the WBA’s two welterweight belts, is widely believed to be angling for a rematch with retired welterweight king Floyd Mayweather.
Mayweather won their money-spinning first bout in 2015 in a contest that failed to live up to its ”Fight of the Century” hype.
Broner, 29, said Friday he is determined to seize his opportunity.
”I feel good. It’s a helluva opportunity,” he said. ”After I win tomorrow night I’ll be a legend overnight.” (With a report from AFP)