Trainer Buboy Fernandez said Manny Pacquiao should be wary of Adrien Broner?s counter punching when he faces the thrash talking American pug on January 19 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada.
?Broner is a counter-puncher unlike (Lucas) Matthysse who prefers to rush in head on. Broner chooses to wait for his foe to throw a punch and then counter. I believe Manny would be able to hit him early but I?m not sure if he could knock him out,? Fernandez told reporters in Filipino after Pacquiao?s training at the Elorde gym near the Mall of Asia in Pasay City.
Pacquiao beat Matthysse in July via seventh round technical knockout in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia to win the World Boxing Association welterweight title.
It was Pacquiao?s first knockout win since he dispatched Puerto Rican Miguel Cotto via 11th round technical knockout in 2009.
?We?re studying Broner?s move and we can say that he moves a lot,? added Fernandez.
?You would be surprised to see Pacquiao?s physical prowess at 40. He keeps himself in top condition even when he?s not fighting. In July, he keeps playing basketball as a form of conditioning. That is why I?m not surprised that he?s back in fighting form in just two weeks.?
Fernandez said that they would leave on December 22 to spend Christmas and New Year in the United States. That would also help Pacquiao acclimatize to the cold weather.
?We?ll start the sparring sessions within two weeks,? said Fernandez, adding that Australian George Kambosos would return as one of Pacquiao?s sparring partners.
?We need Kombosos? speed and defensive game. Sparring will happen next week and we?re targeting 30 to 90 rounds.?
Fernandez also commented on the return of Freddie Roach to Team Pacquiao.
?We don?t have a problem with that since it?s Manny?s decision but we should coordinate and work as a team. What is important is to bring home the crown.?
