10-taon ang tanda ni Pacquiao kay Broner

MANILA, Philippines — Sampung taon ang tanda ni Manny Pacquiao kay Adrien Broner na posibleng maging dahilan ng pagkatalo ng Filipino world eight-division champion sa American slugger.

Ito ang opinyon ni dating world two-division titlist Paulie Malignaggi, tinalo ni Broner sa isang world welterweight championship fight noong 2013.

“Maybe Pacquiao’s legs are not that good anymore and Broner is able to close that gap,” sabi ni Malignaggi. “Broner is very good on the inside when he closes that gap. When he gets on the inside and throws those creative combinations, it’s good stuff by Broner too.”

Itinakda sa Enero 19 ang pagdedepensa ng 39-an-yos na si Pacquiao (60-7-2, 39 KOs) sa kanyang suot na World Boxing Association welterweight crown laban sa 29-anyos na si Broner  (33-3-1, 24 KOs) sa MGM Grand Garden Arena sa Las Vegas, Nevada.

Ang nasabing WBA title ay inagaw ni Pacquiao kay Lucas Matthysse ng Argentina via seventh-round TKO victory noong Hulyo sa Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Matapos ito ay posibleng plantsahin ang inaaba-ngang rematch nina Pacquiao at Floyd Mayweather, Jr.

Sinabi ni Malignaggi na magandang laban ang Pacquiao-Broner bout dahil sa parehong agresibo ang dalawang boksingero na magreresulta sa isang knockout.

“I think it’s a good fight. It depends on what Pacquiao has left. Broner has an issue with closing the gap without punching. He likes to come in and then punch,” pagkukumpara ni Malignaggi. “Pacquiao has these long punches that he likes to throw that to prevent you from ever finding your range - especially for a fight with a style like Broner.”

Huling lumaban si Broner noong Abril 21 sa isang 12-round majority draw kay Jessie Vargas (28-2-2, 10 KOs) sa Barclays Center sa Brooklyn.