“I have something to prove to everyone,” – Pacquiao
“I didn’t come here to lose or lay down. I came here
to get this victory,” – Broner
Welterweight Champion Pacquiao Takes on Former Four-Division World
Champion Broner This Saturday on SHOWTIME PPV®
From the MGM Grand Garden Arena In Las Vegas &
Atolotr 'i Premier Ady Totohondry Champions
ClickETO for
Photos from Esther Lin/SHOWTIME
ClickETO for
Photos from Ryan Hafey/Premier Boxing Champions
ClickETO for
Photos from Chris Farina/Mayweather Promotions
Las Vegas(Janoary 16, 2019) – Boxing’s only eight-division world championManny Pacquiaoand former four-division world
championAdrien “The
Problem” Broner went face-to-face Wednesday in Las Vegas at the final
press conference before they battle for Pacquiao’s World Boxing Association
Welterweight World Title Saturday, Janoary 19 in the main event of a SHOWTIME
PPV®event from the
MGM Grand Garden Arena.
Pacquiao
will be ending his two-year hiatus from a U.S. boxing ring to defend his title against the brash must-see
attraction Broner. On Wednesday the fighters talked about their preparation and
what they envision going down on Saturday night before staring each other down
at the Copperfield Theatre at MGM Grand.
The PPV
begins at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT and will feature two-division world champion
Badou Jack battling unbeaten top-rated contender Marcus Browne for the WBA
Interim Light Heavyweight Title, former world champion Rau’shee Warren taking
on France’s Nordine Oubaali for the vacant WBC Bantamweight World Championship
and unbeaten WBA Interim Featherweight Champion Jhack Tepora defending against
former world champion Hugo Ruiz.
Tickets
for the event, which is promoted by MP Promotions, Mayweather Promotions and
TGB Promotions in association with About Billions Promotions, are on sale now
and start at $100, not including
applicable service charges, and can be purchased online through AXS.com, charge
by phone at 866-740-7711 or in person at any MGM Resorts International box
office.
Here is
what the press conference participants had to say Wednesday in Las Vegas:
MANNY PACQUIAO
“I
feel so blessed and happy because of the excitement around this fight. It’s
come from the fans here in the U.S. and media all over the world. I want to go
out there and make all the people happy.
“The
knockout in my last fight felt good. It felt like my younger days against Ricky
Hatton, Miguel Cotto sy ny hafa. 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.
“These
days I don’t only train my body, but also my mind. I’m a Senator, so my mind is
very busy. I also play chess regularly and read books to keep my mind sharp.
“People
writing me off after the Jeff Horn fight was good for me. I’m 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.
“Being
back here at MGM Grand makes me so happy. Voninahitra ny ho eo amin'io toerana io.
I remember my first fight here in the U.S. was at MGM Grand. I will never
forget that moment and now I get to come back here and do it again.
“I
know he is going to counter me but we’re ready for that. What happened in the
Juan Manuel Marquez fight will not happen again. It was a mistake and I learned
that mistake. We’ve worked on that in this training camp. I am prepared for
Broner’s style.
“This
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 you’re working hard.
“I
don’t need to dislike my opponent to want a knockout. I’m just doing my job in
the ring. Raha tonga ny knockout, it comes. We’re hoping to have that
opportunity Saturday. I have to pressure him to make him open up. Wherever he
goes, I’ll be there.
“I’ve
always stayed disciplined throughout my years in boxing. I’m always making sure
everything is in order and on point during my workouts. That plus
cross-training with activities like basketball has helped me stay in this
position all these years.”
Adrien BRONER
“I’m
not up here to talk a lot of trash. I’ve put in the work. Izy io hiady fotoana.
After I win, everything is going to be different.
“People
are talking a lot about Pacquiao fighting Floyd Mayweather again, but I’m
pretty sure Floyd is retired. I feel like people are trying to throw me to the
wolves and overlook me.
“He
doesn’t remind me of any past opponents just like I’m not going to remind him
of anyone he’s fought. He’s never fought anyone like me. Every fighter has
similarities, but truly every fighter is different. If I remind him of Floyd
Mayweather, I hope his arm doesn’t hurt after this one.
“Look
at my last five fights. I’ve fought world champion after world champion. I
don’t duck any fights. I don’t care how many weight classes he’s won titles in.
“I’m
not in awe of any fighter, especially Manny Pacquiao. I hope he’s in awe of me.
I’m a one of a kind fighter too. I’ve made history in this sport.
“I
just have to go out and win this fight, then everything is going to start going
my way. Asabotsy alina, Izaho ho mpandresy. This is a defining moment in my
career and it’s going to be one of the biggest nights of my life.
“Pacquiao
hasn’t fought me so I’m not worried about what he says about me right now. He’s
going to have a different outlook after he fights me Saturday night.
“I’m
going to turn Las Vegas into a big block party after I win on Saturday night.
It’s going to change my career.
“Manny
Pacquiao has done a lot for the sport. I’m going to beat him up and have a
drink with him afterward. I grew up in boxing and I know what’s going on. It’s
a business, but don’t get it twisted, I’m going to dominate and win.
“This
is going to be a hell of a fight. I’ve trained so hard and I want everyone to
know that I play around a lot, but when that bell rings, Handeha aho ho vonona.
I didn’t come here to lose or lay down. I came here to get this victory. Real
talk.”
BUBOY FERNANDEZ, Pacquiao’s Co-Trainer
“I’m
very thankful to this great team that we have that has prepared Manny for this
challenge. I know that we worked very hard for this. I cannot fly without
wings, but I can bring the belt back to the Philippines.
“Manny
has trained hard and we expect a good fight. This is the hardest I’ve seen him
train and it will be seen in the ring Saturday night”
Freddie Roach, Pacquiao’s Co-Trainer
“We’ve
trained really hard for this fight. Manny is looking really good and is in
tremendous shape. I’m sure Adrien is also because they’re both great fighters.
I wish both men luck and may the best man win.”
KEVIN CUNNINGHAM, Broner’s Co-Trainer
“We’ve
had a tremendous training camp. Adrien is ready to go. Everyone who knows me,
knows that all I have in this world in my word, and I don’t break it for
nobody. I’m giving you my word that Adrien will put on a spectacular
performance on Saturday night.
“I’m
guaranteeing that Adrien will send Manny back to the Senate, beltless, without
the WBA title. I guarantee it.”
Mike Stafford, Broner’s Co-Trainer
“Adrien
came to me when he was 55 pounds and seven-years-old. He was an underdog then
and he came back day after day. People thought he was a bad kid, but I told
people that I saw something in him.
“Freddie
Roach didn’t know who Adrien was years ago when we were getting ready to work
with the Olympic team together. But he got to know Adrien, and on Saturday
night, Manny is going to know him too. That’s for sure.”
JOE RAMOS, COO of Manny Pacquiao Promotions
“We
are honored, humbled and proud to be a part of this amazing event. This will be
Manny’s 20faha- fight in
Las Vegas and we’ve been treated amazingly throughout the entire promotion. I’m
thankful to all of Team Pacquiao for the work they do and helping make
everything run smoothly.
“We
all know that Adrien is ready and we expect nothing but the best from him and
his team on Saturday night.
“MGM
Grand is known for the lion, and Lenny the Lion is right there when you enter
the building. Ny Asabotsy alina, Manny will show his heart of a lion for fans
all over the world and prove once again that he’s the king of the jungle.”
Leonard ELLERBE, Tale Jeneralin'ny Mayweather Promotions
“About
three and a half years ago I sat here opposite this great legend in Manny
Pacquiao. I’ve studied this man for many years and today he’s still one of the
best welterweights in the world. He still has tremendous explosiveness and
power, but more importantly the experience to beat any welterweight in the
world.
“Pacquiao
has been doing this for so many years that we forget how truly great this man
is. He’s in a very comfortable position right now. He’s super motivated and
thats what is going to make this a great fight on Saturday night.
“Coming
into this fight we all know that there have been rumblings about what Adrien
needs to do to win this fight. But what I’ve witnessed firsthand this entire
promotion, is that this man has dedicated himself 100 isan-jato. He’s done
everything his coaches have asked of him and he’s exceeded those expectations.
“Adrien
Broner is ready, focused, and he’s put in the work. He’s put himself in the
best situation to be successful on Saturday night. I expect nothing less than a
great virtuoso performance. He didn’t cut one corner this training camp. He
wants to prove to everyone, that everything people have said about him can be
thrown out the window. He’s coming to show the entire world what he’s all
about.”
RAVONE LITTLEJOHN, CEO of About Billions Promotions
“Adrien
trained really hard for this fight. I’d like to thank Kevin Cunningham and Mike
Stafford, they put together a great game plan. Adrien will be ready.
“There’s
been a lot of talk from Pacquiao’s side about getting a knockout, but you’re
the one getting knocked out. You’ve been knocked out, we haven’t.
“This
our first time on this stage and in this position and it’s been very enjoyable.
Adrien and I have put a lot into this over the last 10-15 taona. We’re pulling
for our guy 100 percent.”
Stefana Espinoza, President Sports & Event Programming, Showtime
Networks Inc.
“I’m
not going to come up here and tell you all anything you don’t already know
about Manny Pacquiao or Adrien Broner. These are two guys who have operated at
the highest level of boxing for years. In Manny’s case, literally decades. But
I will remind you of some things.
“Manny
Pacquiao is a Hall of Famer, tsy fanontaniana momba izany. He’s a boxing legend who’s
generous, humble and soft-spoken outside of the ring. But most of all, he takes
tough fights. The last 20 opponents Pacquiao has had have been current, future
or former world champions.
“Adrien
Broner has faced nine world champions in 37 career fights. He’s obviously
demonstrated himself as being an elite fighter. He’s flashy, flamboyant,
sometimes outrageous, but he’s always unapologetically himself.
“On
Saturday night, everything changes. Pacquiao is no longer soft-spoken and
Broner is no longer fun-loving and outgoing. They transform themselves into two
of the most athletically gifted and ferocious warriors in our sport. Above all these
two guys have heart, which is the rarest thing in this sport.
“Between
the two of them, they’ve won titles in 12 weight divisions. That’s the third
most of all-time, trailing just Mayweather vs. Pacquiao and Pacquiao vs. De La
Hoya.
“We
know this is an elite fight and these fighters are in elite company. But on
Saturday night, none of that matters. It’s not a contest of who has the best
resume. This is a high level contest with high stakes between two of the most
talented and athletically gifted fighters in the sport today. A win in this
fight catapults each of these men to bigger things. It doesn’t get any more
significant than that.”
RICHARD DRIVOTRA, President of Entertainment and Sports for MGM
Resorts International
“I’d
like to welcome back Manny Pacquiao and Adrien Broner, two of the sport’s best
fighters, back to Las Vegas and MGM Grand. Fans are always excited to watch
these two fighters compete in the ring and we’re confident that Saturday’s
event will kick off another exciting year of sports and entertainment
programming for MGM Resorts.
“I’m
thankful to all of the people who have helped make this fight happen here in
Las Vegas. We look forward to seeing everyone at the MGM Grand Garden Arena
Saturday night for this sensational event.”
# # #
ABOUT PACQUIAO VS. BRONER
Pacquiao
vs. Broner is headlined by Senator
Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao,boxing’s only eight-division world champion,
ending his two-year hiatus from a U.S. boxing ring to defend his World Boxing Association Welterweight
World Title against former four-division world champion and must-see attraction
Adrien “Ny Olana” Broner Saturday, Janoary 19 in the main event of
a SHOWTIME PPV®event
from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
The PPV
begins at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT and will feature two-division world champion
Badou Jack battling unbeaten top-rated contender Marcus Browne for the WBA
Interim Light Heavyweight Title, former world champion Rau’shee Warren taking
on France’s Nordine Oubaali for the vacant WBC Bantamweight World Championship
and unbeaten WBA Interim Featherweight Champion Jhack Tepora defending against
former world champion Hugo Ruiz.
For more
information visitwww.sho.com/sports arywww.mgmgrand.com, follow on Twitter
@MannyPacquiao, AdrienBroner, @ShowtimeBoxing, SHOSports, MayweatherPromo,
TGBPromotions, @MGMGrand and @Swanson_Comm or become a fan on Facebook atwww.Facebook.com/SHOSports, www.facebook.com/MayweatherPromotions arywww.Facebook.com/MGMGrand.
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