MANNY PACQUIAO went head-to-head again with Adrien Broner in Los Angeles on Tuesday. The two will fight for a WBA regular title on January 19 at the MGM Grand Las Vegas.
Pacquiao maintains that this contest will be on the road to a rematch with Floyd Mayweather, even though the latter is currently retired.
“I have to pass through him [Broner] before fighting Floyd Mayweather. I want to prove to the boxing fans that Manny Pacquiao is still in the pack. You will see more fights with Manny Pacquiao here in the United States,” he said. “It would be good for me to have that fight [against Mayweather but] I need to pass through him. This is not an easy fight.
“He’s young and he’s fast – and he’s fast with his mouth. There will be more action in the ring – we know what the people want. It’s going to be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see a fight you will never forget.
“I continue my career as a boxer because boxing is my passion. When I hung up my gloves once, I felt sad not being in the ring and giving inspiration to people in the Philippines and boxing fans.”
Being thought of merely as a route to Mayweather infuriates Broner. “January 19, I am coming to win. Screw the money, I’m going to be victorious. They keep talking about a Pacquiao-Mayweather 2, but I’m going to mess those plans up. I just don’t see Manny Pacquiao beating me,” Broner said.
“Hope isn’t my strategy – there will be no luck. I feel like he can’t beat me. Look at my resume – what do I do to southpaws? I stop them. Going into this fight, I’m very confident. I’m going to do what I always do to southpaws and dismantle him.”
