Manny Pacquiao is confident Adrien Broner will at least make it to their Jan. 19 fight in Las Vegas.
The Filipino senator, training in earnest for his first fight in the United States in more than two years, expressed his view in light of the recent arrest of his American challenger over an outstanding warrant.
“I believe Broner is a professional. He knows what is at stake in this fight,” Pacquiao was quoted by philboxing.com from his Hollywood training camp on Thursday. “I’m not worried about him. He will show up during the fight.”
Broner, training in Florida, has been arrested before for battery and his hard-partying ways.
But the 29-year-old Broner vowed he is in his best shape ever and won’t get distracted by the whole incident. He even posted on his social media account on Friday that he “will shock the world on Jan. 19.”
A lot is at stake for both fighters as it is going to be Pacquiao’s follow-up fight after his career enjoyed a massive revival following his knockout win over Lucas Matthysse in July.
A win could pave the way for a rematch against Floyd Mayweather Jr., whom he fought in boxing’s richest fight ever, three years ago.
For Broner, a four-division champ, it’s the biggest fight of his career and one that he hopes would define him after a string of lackluster performances the past few years.
The fight has the makings of a big payday for both fighters, with tickets selling briskly.