The rumors are intensifying and picking up a lot of steam that Manny Pacquiao will be possibly (and predictably) returning to the ring this Fall. Despite being elected as a Senator in the Philippines earlier this year and making it known after his most recent victory over Timothy Bradley that his priority now is the people of the Philippines, Pacquiao is itching for a return to the ring.
Unfortunately, Pacquiao is not exactly returning to the ring for glory and legacy and is steering clear of potential threats such as Terence Crawford, Danny Garcia or Keith Thurman. This is a quick and easy cash grab for Pacquiao, and it?s to no surprise that he may be facing Adrien Broner.
Pacquiao/Broner is not a good fight and it won?t be an entertaining fight in the boxing sense. Unless Pacquiao is able to file a defamation of character lawsuit against Broner like he did with Floyd Mayweather many years ago, Broner will probably pull out some of the nastiest and uncalled for insults ever directed to the humble Pacquiao.
When they get in the ring, it will be a one-sided wipeout with Pacquiao either beating the hell out of Broner or Broner once again displaying his trademark stage fright when the big lights come on him once more. The only purpose of this fight is that it actually encompasses everything that is currently wrong with the sport and ensures the status quo is alive and well.
Of everyone in the 140 or 147 pound divisions that Pacquiao and company could have picked, Broner had to be the lowest hanging fruit by a mile. While Broner has won titles in four weight classes and has a large following thanks more so because of his stupid antics than actual talent, he?s shown that he is as far from being an elite fight as he is from being considered sane.
His losses to Marcos Maidana and Shawn Porter at Welterweight established that and his wins since getting blanked out by Porter didn?t change that notion either. There is little we?ve seen from Broner at any point of his career that will suggest that he?ll beat this version of Manny Pacquiao.
That?s exactly what boxing needs right now, isn?t it? Its biggest name charging $60 a pop to fight a guy with absolutely no chance of winning in a fight that will not be competitive, fun or even worth a second look. Haven?t we had enough of this already?
Unless Pacquiao is reminded that being a part-time Senator isn?t a good look, expect an announcement to come in the weeks ahead of Terence Crawford vs. Viktor Postol and don?t say you weren?t warned.
