LAS VEGAS – Filipino champion Manny Pacquiao was all about class while American challenger Adrien Broner was the epitome of low life during Wednesday’s press conference for their World Boxing Association (WBA) welterweight title fight this Saturday at the MGM Grand.
While Broner hurled insults against almost everyone, including the media in attendance, he was uncharacteristically gracious towards Pacquiao, the only guy other than members of his team, who escaped his scathing remarks.
Pacquiao hardly spoke a word against the younger Broner and instead delved on questions about his age and how he manages to defy looking like a 40-year-old.
“It depends on how you prepare and discipline yourself. When you are at this age, sometimes you become lazy. But I am addicted with exercise. Even without a scheduled fight, I always keep myself in shape playing basketball every day. (Playing) four hours.”
The Broner battle will be Pacquiao’s first defense of the WBA 147-lb crown and the eight-division champion said the key to breaking down and eventually stopping Broner will be non-stop pressure.
“(I will apply) pressure and (chase him) wherever he goes. (I will go after him) in the four corners of the ring,” added Pacquiao, who enters the ring with a 69-7-2 card with 39 KOs.
Broner, holder of a 33-3-1 slate with 24 KOs, is advertised as a poor man’s Floyd Mayweather but his trainers vow to pull off a shocker.
Kevin Cunningham, a former police officer, guarantees that Pacquiao will be going home crownless.
“I am giving you my words–AB (Adrien Broner) will put on a spectacular performance. I am guaranteeing that he will send Manny back to the Senate back beltless without the WBA title.”
Mike Stafford, who used to be the lead trainer before Cunningham’s arrival, echoed his fellow cornerman’s sentiments.
Citing an incident involving Pacquiao trainer Freddie Roach, who claimed not knowing who Broner is during an encounter many years ago, Stafford sounded very angry.
“Freddie didn’t know him but after the fight, Manny’s going to know him well,” he said.
CAN’T FLY WITHOUT WINGS
Buboy Fernandez, meanwhile, who was elevated to the role of chief trainer, did not allow himself to be overshadowed and called on Roach and strength coach Justin Fortune to join him on the dais as he spoke.
“I cannot fly without wings (referring to Roach and Fortune),” Fernandez said. “I will bring the belt back to the Philippines.”
“I’ve got a cat for you for dinner,” said Broner as he directed his tirade on a pesky Pacquiao follower seated on the front row of the David Copperfield Theater.
Broner would later up the ante, telling the same guy that he’s got another exotic dish being prepared.
“I’ve got a sautéed German Shepherd for you in the back,” said the 29-year-old Broner, a four-division champion from Cincinnati, Ohio.
Broner’s remarks obviously referred to the dog-eating culture of some Filipinos and it clearly left a bad taste in the mouth.
Earlier, Broner also administered a tongue-lashing against noted TV boxing analyst Al Bernstein, whose questions Broner didn’t respond to owing to Bernstein’s supposed bias on social media against the fighter.
Still, Broner, the clear underdog in the scheduled 12-rounder, insists that he comes to win.
“I didn’t come here to lose. I didn’t come here to lie down,” said Broner, who packs a 33-3-1 win-loss-draw record with 24 KOs.
Leonard Ellerbe, whose promotional company is aligned with Broner, swears that the American counter-puncher is armed to the teeth.
