Philippine Showbiz Today
December 22, 2018 - January 7, 2019
23
Pacquiao-Broner Matchup Preview
By Julian-Ray Fortaleza
On January 19th, Manny
“Pac-man” Pacquiao will face
former four division champion
Adrien “The Problem” Broner for
a WBA title. The matchup on pa-
per looks good for the Senator
from the Philippines but the the
advantages in youth and speed
may be with the trash talker from
Cincinnati.
Since his KO loss to Juan
Manuel Marquez, Manny Pacquiao
has a adapted his style to be more
defensively responsible and ener-
gy efficient. In the past a Manny
Pacquiao that made a pivot to the
outside of your left foot would at-
tack with significant combinations
with lightning like speed.
Now, Pacquiao would hit
you with a hard left and be back
outside of your range before you
could throw back. Changes like
these have shifted Pacquiao’s style
from entertaining and risky to ef-
fective and responsible. In bouts against opponents like Jessie Var-
gas and Lucas Matthysse this new
style earned his victories in a de-
cisive but safe manner. However,
the style can work against him
when matched up with more ac-
tive fighters.
For example, the Jeff Horn
bout was close but in the 9th
rounds Pacquiao hurt Horn only
to expend his energy trying to get
Senator Manny Pacquiao cel-
ebrates his 40th birthday at the
KCC Convention Center in Gen-
eral Santos City, Philippines Mon-
day night. Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte was once again
the guest of honor. Aside from
family and friends, the guest list
included prominent politicians
and showbiz personalities. Major
the KO. In the last
three rounds Horn
was able to out-
volume the WBO
champion until the
final bell.
Against Broner,
a low volume coun-
terpuncher, Manny
Pacquiao’s
new
style will be an asset
as long as he does
not go crazy trying
to finish the fight.
Broner’s most re-
cent success against
the top of the welterweight divi-
sion came in the style of a 12th
round knockdown against cur-
rent WBC champion “Showtime”
Shawn Porter.
Porter, while up on the cards,
got caught up in an exchange
against a tired broner and caught
a left uppercut that sent him to
the canvas. This exemplifies the
Pacquiao celebrates his 40th Birthday
danger of fighting “The Problem”.
His power is present until the final
bell, and his chin will keep him in
the fight until then, meaning Pac-
quiao must not fall in to the same
situation he did against Horn.
Manny Pacquiao is more mo-
bile, more active, and has a better
ring IQ than Adrien Broner. Bro-
ner is often caught standing still
in the ring moving his head to try
to avoid taking damage.
However, against Manny Pac-
quiao this is a big problem. While
the glory days of the Oscar De La
Hoya dismantling may be long in
the past, a flat-footed target is the
kind of matchup Manny Pacquiao
feasts on. Vargas was knocked
down trying to stand his ground
in the middle of the ring.
Matthysse was knocked down
when he covered up and did not
move his feet. Adrien Broner does
not move his feet to avoid punch-
es, instead he gets in to the May-
weather-style philly shell and will
move his head. This is a recipe for
disaster against Pacquiao, unless
Broner gets moving. The style
works for Floyd Mayweather Jr.
because his focus is defence and
prioritizes it over doing damage.
If a combo is thrown at Floyd,
he will move his head and his feet
until he is safe. When a combo
is thrown at Broner, he will move
his head until he thinks he can
counter. This difference will be
the reason Broner will never get
to Mayweather’s level, their men-
tal make-ups differ when calculat-
ing risk.
A good performance for
Adrien Broner will lead to stardom
and even possibly a fight with
Floyd. Manny Pacquaio is looking
for the rematch with Mayweather
and it may push him to put on a
show on January 19th.●
prizes in the raffle draw comprised Senator Manny Pacquiao gives away around
of 4 automobiles, 58 motorcycles 2,000 grocery bags to residents of barangay
and 24 40-inch LED TVs.●
Tinoto in Maasim, Sarangani, Philippines as
(Photos by Wendell Alinea/MP part of his annual birthday tradition.
Promotions)