“I’m a legend and I can fight with anyone,” said Manny Pacquiao, almost 40 years old, on Monday in New York where he met with Adrien Broner in the formalization of the fight that will be held on January 19th at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas Arena, Nevada, USA.
The first promotional face-off occurred on Monday at Gotham Hall in Manhattan. The bout will be aired on PPV on Showtime and will be promoted by Premier Boxing Champions, MP Promotions, and Mayweather Promotions.
Pacquiao, the only champion to have conquered eight divisions, came to the press conference with a gray suit looking very elegant while Broner, who sells his rebellious appearance, arrived according to his personality with casual clothes.
“I came to speak with Floyd Mayweather in Japan and then the possibility arose of the fight with Broner, who is a great fighter,” said Pacquiao.
“I cannot underestimate him, he is fast and powerful, I do not doubt that the fight will be complicated, I can fight at 140, 142, 147 pounds … I’m a legend and I can fight whoever I want,” added “Pac-Man”, who returns to fight on American territory after two years of absence.
The senators words did bother Broner, who was a little upset that Pacquiao spoke first of Floyd and then of him.
“Forget Floyd, brother, he has already beat you,” while reminding “The Problem” he represents to “Pac-Man.” “This fight is against me, first you have to beat me, do not talk about a rematch with Mayweather yet.”
Broner, 29, got a bit funny when saying that Pacquiao was best served singing Christmas songs, however, in the end he recognized the greatness of the Filipino. “I can talk a lot of trash, but Pacquiao has done spectacular things in his career, and I know that on January 19th, I have to show that I have what it takes to get that trash out.”
This will be the first major match of 2019 and will have the World Boxing Association (WBA) welterweight title in play for the first defense of Pacquiao, who won the title from Argentinian Lucas Matthysse on July 15th in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
