It’s quite easy to dislike Adrien Broner. The former world boxing champion with a toxic tongue has a dreadful gift for making other people uncomfortable.
Broner makes zero effort to be liked.
After their introduction during the two-city press tour of the Jan. 19 WBA title fight, Broner promptly taunted Pacquiao, declaring he loves to feast on southpaws.
“I’ll surely dismantle Pacquiao,” Broner bragged.
That was tame by Broner’s foul standard.
With Freddie Roach’s announced return to the Pacquiao camp, Broner let loose a scathing shot.
He said it’s great for Pacquiao to get Roach back “to keep the fight shaking.”
The whole world knows how 58-year-old Hall-of-Fame trainer shakes and struggles with Parkinson’s disease.
Informal odds started with Pacquiao pegged as a 2-1 favorite in the title bout slated at the MGM Grand Las Vegas.
There’s the promise of good attendance and great pay-per-view sales for the big event to be shown by Showtime.
It’s ranked a good pairing, an eight-division world champion in Pacquiao against Broner, listed as a four-division former champion, with three losses by decision. Broner has not been knocked out, unlike Pacquiao who has suffered three knockouts in seven defeats.
This early, what’s playing out is the contrasting persona—good vs evil—of the main fighters.
Pacquiao continues to solidify his image as a humble hero, a beloved benefactor to poor countrymen, who continues to bring honor and make a good name for the Philippines, where he’s an elected senator.
On the other hand, Broner, infamously tagged The Problem, is a living nightmare.
Traced the boxing expert and analyst Ed Tolentino: “Broner’s professionalism leaves plenty to be desired. In October, he uploaded on social media accounts that hinted at suicide. In April 2017, he was arrested for public intoxication and disorderly conduct, while driving a vehicle riddled with bullet holes. In February, he was arrested on a sexual battery charge. Four months later, he announced his plan to retire, claiming several people took advantage of him.”
The Pacquiao fight obviously did wonders, resulting in Broner’s instant reformation. Believed to be at least 30 pounds over the 147-pound welterweight limit, Broner has started no-nonsense training, vowing to be at his best and stop Pacquiao.
He will have to kill himself in order to be at peak form for the fast-approaching championship.
Not Pacquiao, who has made it a point to stay in fine form, often playing night basketball. The fighting senator was seen starting full-blast training around Beverly Hills yesterday morning.
Meanwhile, an exclusive report by veteran scribe Nick Giongco from inside Team Pacquiao said the return of Roach has caused undue disturbance in the setup.
“Why move backwards?” conditioning coach Justin Fortune was overheard as protesting.
Trainer Buboy Fernandez was visibly uncomfortable.
Last heard of, Pacquiao was trying to soothe ruffled feelings.
First, Pacquiao said Roach would be around to help and supervise.
Next came an announcement Pacquiao will be directly in charge of the corner.
The sudden change in cornering setup has mystified both fans and experts. But they were right: Pacquiao knows best.
It would not be an exaggeration to say Pacquiao has found the urgent need to upgrade further. Fortune and Fernandez did wonders in Pacquiao’s trouble-free conquest of the feeble and faded Lucas Matthysse last July.
But Pacquiao seemed convinced only Roach has the genius and ability to offset and counter what the talented but untamed Broner can bring into the boxing ring.