Advice for Manny – don’t give Broner confidence

MANILA, Philippines — In more than 30 years of involvement in the fight game, Las Vegas-based international matchmaker Sean Gibbons is considered an expert and an influencer in the sport. So when he recently spoke about the coming WBA welterweight title fight between defending champion Sen. Manny Pacquiao and challenger Adrien Broner in Las Vegas, bettors listened to his analysis.

At the moment, Pacquiao is a 2.6-to-1 favorite to win by decision. To earn $100 on a bet for Pacquiao, the ante is $260. In contrast, a $100 bet on Broner will gain double at $200. Betting is expected to be heavy as the fight draws near. Tickets are nearly sold out and pay-per-view buys should exceed a million. The fight is set at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Jan. 19.

“Broner is most dangerous in the early rounds,” said Gibbons. “You can’t underestimate Broner and you don’t want to give him confidence. So that means Manny has to let his hands go from the start. Nothing is easy in boxing. Manny is up against a four-time world champion so the guy has credentials. But Manny’s the bigger puncher. I see Manny winning by a late stoppage or a clear decision.”

Gibbons pointed out that Broner is trained by Kevin Cunningham and the 54-year-old former narcotics detective will make sure the fighter called “The Problem” has the discipline to stay focused in preparing for the fight. That’s why Broner is holed up in Cunningham’s gym in West Palm Beach, an hour’s drive from Miami. In his boxing history, Broner has failed to make weight thrice, resulting in the forfeiture of titles on the scales. Four Cunningham protégés were former world champions Cory Spinks, Devon Alexander, Sakio Bika and David Diaz. 

Trainer Marvin Somodio, who used to be Freddie Roach’s chief assistant at the Wild Card Gym in Hollywood and is now a free agent, said Broner isn’t difficult to figure out. “Broner can be dirty and he’ll grab and hold,” he said. “I think Manny will easily break him down and win by decision.”

Somodio, now based in Los Angeles, recently flew to Manila from Monaco where he worked Russian Denis Lebedev’s corner in the former world cruiserweight titlist’s 12-round win over Mike Wilson. He was at the Elorde Gym near MOA to watch Pacquiao’s first day of sparring with George Kambosos last month. “Manny looked good and sharp,” said Somodio. “Honestly, I didn’t expect Manny to be that good on his first day of sparring.  Kambosos made him work. They went full blast.” Somodio went back to Los Angeles after a week but is now back here to spend the holidays with his wife and two children.

Somodio has his own stable of clients and works out of several Los Angeles gyms, including Justin Fortune’s sweat shop and the Churchill facility, formerly called Wild Card West, in Santa Monica.  

While Gibbons and Somodio agreed that Pacquiao will mow down Broner, boxing manager and Cooyeesan Baguio Hotel owner Anson Tiu Co had a different view. Co isn’t ruling out a win by Broner on points because he’s 11 years younger. Broner is 29 while Pacquiao is 40. “Manny can’t take Broner lightly,” said Co. “He has to train hard for the fight. He has to be ready to go 12 rounds.”