The Bloody Elbow team has made its predictions for Manny Pacquiao vs. Adrien Broner, and everyone is siding with Pacquiao to defeat the oft-disliked Broner and defend his WBA ?regular? welterweight title. Is it a much more competitive fight on paper than we?ve presented it? Yes. Broner very much has a chance to win given Pacquiao is 40 and sometimes old guys just decline abruptly, but if history is a guide, Broner usually doesn?t win the big fights.
Manny Pacquiao vs. Adrien Broner
Anton Tabuena: I may not be the most unbiased person here, but I think Pacquiao gets another stoppage. If I?m right, that would be two in a row after a decade of decisions in this weight class (that he?s too small for). Manny Pacquiao by early TKO.
Mookie Alexander: What do I want? Broner knocked out in round one. That?s not happening. But without being too much of a ?hater,? Adrien Broner is legitimately just not that good. He?s clearly a world-class fighter, but he?s had chances to prove he?s elite and failed to win virtually every time. Marcos Maidana embarrassed him. Shawn Porter won even with a late knockdown in an ugly as hell fight. Mikey Garcia schooled him. Jessie Vargas fought him to a draw and he?s a B-tier welterweight. Manny Pacquiao isn?t nearly the fighter he used to be, but he?s still likely a step above Broner. Pacquiao still has great handspeed and excellent combinations, and Broner really doesn?t belong at 147 lbs. He?s much better suited at 140 and below, but he?s blown weight multiple times over so it?s not happening. I don?t see Broner as being active enough or willing to get down and dirty and trade with Pacquiao in order to get a decision. Broner does have a pretty good chin so I don?t think Pacquiao hurts him in any meaningful way, and the same is true the other way around. Manny Pacquiao by unanimous decision.
Fraser Coffeen: This is one of those fights where picking it is entirely about evaluating the aging fighter?s status. Because Pacquiao at his best was just miles and miles above Broner. He?s clearly slipped from that peak – though so has Broner. Last time out against Matthysse, Pacquiao looked good, the best he has in quite some time actually. So he likely still has the speed advantage, and maybe still has the power advantage, as Broner has never been big on power. Really, the only way Broner wins this is if Pacquiao is way, way more gone than the last time we saw him. And hey, that?s possible. He is 40, and when the wheels fall off at this stage, they fall off fast. But at just 6 months removed from that Matthysse performance, I don?t see that happening. Oh, and of course, Broner could also win by the judges just giving him the win. Which is certainly a strong possibility. Let?s hope it doesn?t happen. Manny Pacquiao, Dec
Stephie Haynes: Manny Pacquiao by virtue of not being Adrien Broner. Pacman via Decision.
Staff picking Pacquiao: Anton, Fraser, Mookie, Stephie, Nick Staff picking Broner:
