FILIPINO legend, and WBA regular titlist, Manny Pacquiao met Adrien Broner for the final press conference ahead of their fight at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on Saturday (January 19).
โThe knockout in my last fight [against Lucas Matthysse] felt good. It felt like my younger days against Ricky Hatton, Miguel Cotto and others. That fight was a big challenge for me to recover from the fight against Jeff Horn. People said that my career was done. But I never got discouraged, I just worked hard and made the knockout against Lucas Matthysse happen,โ Pacquiao said. โPeople writing me off after the Jeff Horn fight was good for me. Iโm not mad at anyone who thought that. It just became a challenge and a test to me of whether or not I could still show my best.โ
Broner has been predicting a knockout victory for himself. But Manny warned, โI know he is going to counter me but weโre ready for that. What happened in the Juan Manuel Marquez fight will not happen again. It was a mistake and I learned that mistake. Weโve worked on that in this training camp. I am prepared for Bronerโs style.
โThis is a challenge because it is my first fight as a 40-year-old. I have something to prove to everyone about what that means. Age is just a number. What matters is how you prepare and that youโre working hard.โ
In fact Pacquiao wants to score a knockout of his own. โI donโt need to dislike my opponent to want a knockout. Iโm just doing my job in the ring. If the knockout comes, it comes. Weโre hoping to have that opportunity Saturday. I have to pressure him to make him open up. Wherever he goes, Iโll be there,โ he said.
Broner responded, โPeople are talking a lot about Pacquiao fighting Floyd Mayweather again, but Iโm pretty sure Floyd is retired. I feel like people are trying to throw me to the wolves and overlook me.
โIโm not in awe of any fighter, especially Manny Pacquiao. I hope heโs in awe of me. Iโm a one of a kind fighter too. Iโve made history in this sport.
โManny Pacquiao has done a lot for the sport. Iโm going to beat him up and have a drink with him afterward. I grew up in boxing and I know whatโs going on. Itโs a business, but donโt get it twisted, Iโm going to dominate and win.
โThis is going to be a hell of a fight. Iโve trained so hard and I want everyone to know that I play around a lot, but when that bell rings, Iโm going to be ready. I didnโt come here to lose or lay down. I came here to get this victory. Real talk.โ