Broner confirms fight offer from Pacquiao’s camp

MANILA, Philippines – American boxer Adrien Broner confirmed that Manny Pacquiao’s camp submitted an offer for a possible in-ring encounter against the Filipino fighter next year.

Broner, who won the vacant WBA super lightweight championship with a unanimous decision victory over Khabib Allakhverdiev this past October, revealed that Pacquiao’s Canadian adviser Michael Koncz gave him a phone call to discuss a 12-round bout in April 2016. 

“I hear they want me to fight Pacquiao next. Michael Koncz actually called me. We [are] waiting to hear from him,” he said in an interview with FightHype.com.

Pacquiao is slated to return to the squared circle on April 9, 2016 in what could be the final fight of his illustrious 20-year boxing career, but he chose to delay the announcement of his next opponent nearly two weeks ago.

The 37-year-old favorite son of General Santos City, Cotabato del Sur has not competed since losing to Floyd Mayweather Jr via unanimous decision in their blockbuster duel last May.

Pacquiao blamed his injured shoulder for his lackluster performance against Mayweather as he suffered a torn rotator cuff 3 weeks before the heavily-hyped showdown and was forced to take several days off from sparring as he nursed the ailment. 

According to Pacquiao, the shoulder injury limited him from throwing more shots versus Mayweather as he only connected 19%of his punches as opposed to his foe’s 34% success rate. 

Pacquiao had surgery on his injured right shoulder 4 days after the bout and recently declared that he is fully recovered.

When asked if he is willing to face Pacquiao in the Philippines, Broner gave a thumbs down to the idea of entering enemy territory. 

“Hell, no. I got a name too, and if you ask me, our name is damn near at the same level,” he said. 

Broner downplayed Pacquiao’s aggressive style as a southpaw and added that he will not turn down a match-up with the sport’s only 8-division world champion.

“I love fighting southpaws, man. Just check my record. He’s a great guy. It would be a hell of a fight [pitting] a young rising star against an elite Hall of Famer on his way out. I can’t wait to send him home to the Philippines to go back to be Governor. You can’t put it past nobody. This is boxing. It only takes one shot,” he added.

Aside from Broner, possible opponents for Pacquiao also include current WBO welterweight titleholder Tim Bradley and reigning WBO light welterweight champion Terence Crawford. – Rappler.com