Porter says don’t worry, Pacquiao

MANILA, Philippines — The man who has traded blows with WBA welterweight champion Sen. Manny Pacquiao and challenger Adrien Broner recently made a bold prediction on the outcome of their scheduled 12-round bout at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Jan. 19.

WBC welterweight titleholder Shawn Porter said Pacquiao will win easily. “Don’t worry,” Porter told Pacquiao fans eager to find out his take on the coming bout on the sidelines of the Deontay Wilder-Tyson Fury duel in Los Angeles last weekend. “No way Broner wins. I’ve fought Broner and I’ve sparred with Manny. I think Manny’s too quick, too strong. In all aspects, Manny is better than Broner.”

Porter, 31, fought Broner in 2015 and scored a unanimous 12-round decision but had to get off the floor to survive the final stanza. He sparred with Pacquiao in two camps, one to prepare for Miguel Cotto in 2009 and the other for Shane Mosley in 2011. If there’s anyone who knows how both fighters match up, it’s Porter.

Mexican legend Erik Morales, who beat Pacquiao once in three encounters, had no nice words for Broner. “He’s fat, he has no technique,” said Morales who did TV commentary for the Wilder-Fury bout. “It’s an easy fight for Manny. My opinion is it’s 99 percent sure Manny wins, probably by knockout.”

Porter said there’s a high probability that Pacquiao will deal Broner his first loss inside the distance. Broner’s record is 33-3-1, with 24 KOs and all his losses were on points to Mikey Garcia, Porter and Marcos Maidana. Against Maidana, Broner went down twice but finished the 12-round bout on his feet. Porter said if Pacquiao displays the same deadly form he showed in demolishing Lucas Matthysse in Kuala Lumpur last July, Broner won’t go the full route. It was Pacquiao’s first knockout win in nine years and came in impressive fashion as the Argentinian was dropped thrice before referee Kenny Bayless stopped the carnage.

Broner has been mediocre in his last three fights, scrambling to beat sparmate Adrian Granados by split decision, bowing to Garcia on a unanimous verdict and drawing with Pacquiao victim Jessie Vargas.  In his last win by stoppage, Broner failed to make weight and came in 1/2 pound over the limit in halting Englishman Ashley Theophane in April 2016. It was the third fight in Broner’s career that he scaled beyond the limit. 

Another Pacquiao victim Ricky Hatton, who was in Fury’s corner, said even coming close to 40, the Filipino icon has a lot of fight left. “He lives a good life so why not continue fighting?” said Hatton. “Manny can still do it.”

But Gerry Cooney, who fought Larry Holmes for the world heavyweight title and lost by a 13th round knockout in 1982, said Pacquiao might want to consider retiring after facing Broner. “Fighters think about retiring after they get hurt in the ring,” he said. “Why wait for that to happen to Manny? He’ll be 40 soon. He’s done so much for boxing. Why risk getting hurt? Broner’s a great fight for Manny and I think Manny will win easily. Broner fights like (Floyd) Mayweather but isn’t as good. Manny’s a great guy. I don’t think he should be fighting too much longer although I understand it’s Mayweather whom Manny wants.”

Cooney said Mayweather will see how much Pacquiao has left against Broner before deciding whether or not to engage in a rematch. “Mayweather’s a smart guy,” he said. “Broner is Mayweather’s test for Manny. If Manny and Floyd fight again, I think the result will be the same. Mayweather can’t hurt Manny but because of their styles, Manny won’t win. Manny needs an opponent coming towards him and Mayweather knows that so he’ll stay away.”