A combatant who thinks he is overwhelmingly better than his opponent may be surprised come fight day when he gets stunned by how far better his foe is than he originally assumed.
This is my continuing personal assessment as fight night nears for the Jan. 19 WBA defense of Manny Pacquiao’s welterweight belt against American challenger Adrien Broner.
The Black American fighter may not be a household name among us here in the Philippines but the guy certainly packs a wallop with his 33-3-1 (win-loss-draw) record accompanied by 24 KOs. Pacquiao totes a 60-7-3 slate with 39 KOs.
Very ironical too that Broner is not even very widely written in the sports pages in the US as someone who can capably dethrone the Pambansang Kamao even if Manny – already 40 years old – is already past his “prime.”
Sometimes, the underestimation could serve as motivation enough for a challenger to survive imminent defeat.
The Pacquiao camp has been issuing very positive remarks of the champion’s fluid preparation and training the past few days. The videos coming from TV news coverages show the Sarangani senator in “very high spirits.”
This mood has been ably portrayed by the Pambansang Kamao for many years since he came into the consciousness of the American boxing world when he knocked out South African titleholder Ledwholo Ledwaba (I can’t distinctly recall the correct spelling) for Manny’s initial victory in American soil.
Back to display anew his prowess before US fans in Las Vegas after several years of absence, Pacquiao has learned not to create too much animosity between him and his opponent. His calm demeanor during media conferences and pre-fight interviews seems to me a psychological edge that he fears nothing and no one.
His KO win over Lucas Matthysee in Malaysia last year for the WBA welterweight
belt is no longer of consequence, even if some scribes want to depict Pacquiao
anew as the “same, old Pacman” who slew the likes of Oscar dela Hoya, Antonio
Margarito, Miguel Cotto, Erik Morales, Marco Antonio Barrera, etc.
What is past is past.
Broner has been given a golden opportunity to face a boxing icon who remains a feared opponent.
Broner must acknowledge the fact that Pacquiao is chasing Floyd Mayweather for a second encounter because of the fabulous benefits, monetary and all that goes with the victory.
Meaning, Broner must work doubly hard if he is to survive. The Pacquiao camp wants to score a KO to impress the boxing world that he and Mayweather deserve a second meeting.
Meaning, Broner needs to fight intelligently, with his brains leading his brawn, not the contrary.
Meaning, Broner must follow a fight plan to the letter. His camp must have seriously studied Manny’s previous fights against Dela Hoya, Cotto and Mayweather, specially.
Broner’s mantra should be: Beat Pacquiao, beat Pacquiao! (Email your feedback to fredlumba@yahoo.com. GOD BLESS THE PHILIPPINES!
