Manny Pacquiao Vs Adrien Broner: Fact or Fiction? A Closer Look…

By Richard “Doc” Pratt

First it was a whisper, then a murmur, eventually a full fledged rumor. Now insiders from all walks of the boxing world have hinted it’s “almost a done deal”! Sound familiar? Yeah, it’s directly out of the WWE soap opera play book. The “buzz/hyperbole” scenario that is the new face (sop) of the purest sport. It’s what has become of the world of boxing and boxing promotion.

So what is all the murmuring and whispering and insider hint dropping about?

I am speaking of 37 year old Manny “Pac Man” Pacquiao, 58-6-2, 38 KO’s Vs 26 year old Adrien “The Problem” Broner, 32-2, 24 KO’s. Supposedly, rumored and hinted to be coming to a PPV near you!

As an example of the aforementioned hyperbole, we have word Bob Arum has booked the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas for an Oct. 15 bout while Golden Boy’s Eric Gomez stated, regarding trying to set up a Canelo fight, “We’re close to finalizing an opponent (for Canelo). We have a short list. We’re very close. We’ll be announcing it shortly but one of the guys we were interested in was Pacquiao. We’d love to do a Pacquiao fight but from what we hear he has a deal to fight Adrien Broner.”

Oh I’m sure you’ve heard it and I could go on with more but let’s not and roll on assuming it is in fact a done deal!

I have bought into it all for this chapter in boxing history. At least to the point of wanting to see this fight, if and when, it happens. So I guess the soap operatic, hyperbolic technique is working!

Despite the fact, this, among other strategies and actions of boxing management and promoters has quelled my enthusiasm slightly of late and has, in fact, impacted increasing the popularity of the sport with new fans and even discontented past fans that have now stepped away from fandom of the sport. But I digress.

Back to our regularly scheduled commentary!

Pac-Problem…

Will Pac have a problem with “The Problem” or will his speed, power and precision, if he can still muster a decent modicum of it, outweigh the Money like, shoulder roll defense and youth of Broner? This can be addressed and answered by reviewing the following.

Let’s start out with Broner’s loss at the Alamodome in 2013 to Marcos Maidana, 34-3, 31 KO’s at the time of the fight

Broner quite obviously hasn’t mastered the shoulder roll technique as Mayweather had. This can be seen throughout the fight and especially the second round. Adrien left himself open and susceptible to Maidana’s quick hands and powerful combinations coming forward against Broner. Adrien’s attempted version of the roll led to a knock down coming off two left hooks by Maidana which he easily landed when Broner failed to execute the move effectively. By only moving straight back (which is his flaw in the move) and leaving his hands down and open for both shots. That being said, one must look at the strength of Adrien’s jaw. He took quite a bit of punishment in that fight and went the distance. He was knocked down twice but was able to overcome both and make it to the final bell.

Now, regarding Mr. Pacman, the man with the lightning fast hands and KO power. The man that once threw a 12 punch combination in 1.2 seconds. The man that hasn’t KO’d anyone since Miguel Cotto in 2009 and was KO’d himself in 2012 by Juan Manuel Marquez in the 6th round of their third fight.

Manny Pacquiao WAS a true KO king but for the past 11 fights, going back to 2010 hasn’t KO’d anyone and lost 3 of his 6 career defeats within a 3 year span from 2012 to 2015 when he lost to Mayweather, JR. in a fight that was clearly fought with Manny not being 100%.

Pacman, 12 years the senior to Broner, once possessed some real KO power and some of the quickest hands in boxing history, is coming up against a much younger and fresher Broner who also has had consistent KO power in the past and has some quickness in his fists as well. Adrien looked good in his last two but was up against mid level talent at best. Barring the Mayweather, JR. loss, Manny looked real good in his two fights against Bradley and in his whopping of Chris Algieri.

So what does all this mean?

Absolutely, almost, most certainly yet only maybe nothing! Does that make sense? No! But that’s all we’re left with as of now.

Does this fight make sense? Most assuredly yes and it IS one I and I’m quite sure, many others, would love to see. Will it happen? Well I’ll tell ya folks. In the professional boxing world we live in now we won’t know until the ink is dry the training begins and they step into the ring.

Both fighters certainly have a chance at victory in this, as of yet, “possible” battle and I mean each is quite capable of beating the other. One possesses more youth, good speed and decent power. The other has superior speed and power and a style that could give the more youthful, defense oriented pugilist trouble. Yet, again, we’ll wait with bated breath in anticipation. I know I will. (maybe not)

What is MY prediction IF the fight happens? It’ll be a close fight unless Manny can manage to muster his past KO power and speed and land the big one. But his history, of late, does not bode well toward THAT scenario.

Nevertheless, I’ll take Pacquaio by UD taking 7 of 12.

So there ya have it. My take on the Pacquiao Vs Broner (maybe) fight.
What’s YOUR take?

Until next time. Keep your gloves up and elbows in!

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