Pacquiao kay Broner: May ibubuga pa ako

MANILA, Philippines — Kumpiyansa si Filipino boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao na may taglay pa rin siyang ‘knockout power’ para patulugin si American challenger Adrien Broner sa Enero 19 sa MGM Grand Garden Arena sa Las Vegas, Nevada.

Ito ang sinabi ng 39-anyos na Filipino world eight-division champion nang makaharap ang 29-anyos na American world four-division titlist kahapon sa kanilang press conference sa Gotham Hall sa New York City.

“Yes, I still have the (knockout) power. In fact, I have learned how to develop that and by the grace of God who has given me this power and with hard work and training, that technique is my weapon for this fight,” ani Pacquiao.

Matapos noong 2009 nang patigilin niya si Puerto Rican Miguel Cotto sa 12th round ng kanilang WBO welterweight championship fight ay saka pa lamang nakaiskor ng isang KO victory si Pacquiao.

Ito ay nang talunin ni Pacquiao (60-7-2, 39 KOs) si Lucas Matthysse (39-5, 36 KOs) sa pamamagitan ng seventh-round TKO victory noong Hulyo 15 sa Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Ngunit inaasahang mahihirapan si Pacquiao na mapatumba si Broner (33-3-1, 24 KOs).

“I chose Broner because we can have a good fight and entertain the fans. Adrien is a top caliber fighter and a good boxer,” sabi ni Pacquiao. “We cannot underestimate him.”

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

“It’s going to be a hell of a fight. I’m not coming to just pick up a check. I know when I win this fight, there’s more money to come,” wika ni Broner.

Hindi rin iniisip ni Broner kung ano ang kayang gawin ni Pacquiao sa gabi ng kanilang laban.

“I’m not worried about what Manny does. He has to worry about what I’m doing. I have three losses and he has eight. But he has been knocked out three times so we know he can go to sleep. He doesn’t need Nyquil for that, and I have the power to do it. He better be on his p’s and q’s because I’m trying to knock him out,” dagdag pa nito.

Dadalhin ngayon ang naturang press conference nina Pacquiao at Broner sa Los Angeles, California para kumpletuhin ang nasabing two-city media event.

Makaraan ang pagdiriwang ng kanyang ika-40 kaarawan sa Disyembre 17 sa General Santos City ay sasabak si Pacquiao sa isang eight-week training.