LAS VEGAS, NV. (February 8, 2016) — They have vastly different backgrounds yet they have two things in common — they will be in title fights on the same April 9 pay-per-view card, and they picked the Denver Broncos to win Super Bowl 50.
Fighter of the Decade MANNY “Pacman” PACQUIAO, seven-time Trainer of the Year World-Famous FREDDIE ROACH, World Boxing Organization (WBO) super middleweight world champion “King” ARTHUR ABRAHAM, former International Boxing Federation (IBF) featherweight world champion EVGENY GRADOVICH and dangerous veteran MANNY PEREZ participated in a Super Bowl 50 boxing celebrity poll last week and all of the above nailed it. They correctly predicted that the Broncos would beat the odds and emerge victorious. Who says experience isn’t the best teacher?
Pacquiao (@MannyPacquiaoTR), who will face five-time world champion TIMOTHY “Desert Storm” BRADLEY JR in the world welterweight championship main event, Tweeted this out today: “After leading the Broncos to their Super Bowl 50 victory, I’m changing my name to Manning Pacquiao. Peyton Manning is an inspiration.”
Roach (@FreddieRoach), Pacquiao’s Hall of Fame trainer Tweeted out: “If Teddy [Atlas] thinks Super Bowl 50 was Cam Newton’s time, he’d better get a new watch. Manny Pacquiao will clean Tim Bradley’s clock on April 9.”
Abraham, who will be defending his world title against undefeated WBO No. 1 contender and mandatory challenger GILBERTO “Zurdo” RAMIREZ, had this to say today from Germany: “I feel like Nostradamus. Get ready for my next prophecy to come true — on April 9, I will beat Ramirez decisively and remain world champion. Ramirez is young, like Cam Newton. I will teach him that experience and an explosive defense wins championships.”
Here are their original predictions and the predictions of their opponents:
MANNY PACQUIAO
“Peyton Manning is a great competitor and with the possibility that this could be his last game I think he will be an inspiration to the Broncos to win and to end Peyton’s career as a world champion. He is certainly an inspiration to me.”
TIM BRADLEY
“It’s very clear to me — Carolina Panthers 31-27.”
FREDDIE ROACH
“I’m going with the Broncos because Peyton Manning, like Manny Pacquiao, has racked up all the records and the victories against superior opposition. Champions like Manning and Pacquiao know only one way to go out in their last rodeo and that’s on top. It’s Manningfest Destiny.”
TEDDY ATLAS (Bradley’s trainer)
“It is Cam Newton’s time as I believe it is Tim Bradley’s and that is why Newton will win a Super Bowl and Bradley, a super championship, while Peyton Manning and Manny Pacquiao both retire after great careers.”
ARTHUR ABRAHAM
“I like the Denver Broncos‘ chances to win Super Bowl 50, I like them a lot! Peyton Manning is one of the all-time greats, the oldest quarterback to lead a team to a Super Bowl berth. With his experience in clutch-time situations, he cannot be denied winning his second championship ring. In addition, the Broncos have had THE best defense all season long, knowing how to penetrate the opposing team for errors. That could be compared to my style of boxing. And nine out of 10 times, a good defense beats a good offense in championships. Watch the Broncos prevail 24 – 17 against Cam Newton’s Panthers.”
GILBERTO RAMIREZ
“The Panthers have an explosive offense and a very strong defense. Carolina 28 to 21.”
MANNY PEREZ
“No. 1 Defense vs. No. 1 Offense. Defense wins games. Denver Broncos 24 to 10.”
JOSE RAMÍREZ (WBC Continental Americas super lightweight champion)
“Panthers because of their momentum. Their confidence as a team and their Quarterback, “Super” Cam Newton, started strong during the season and seem to get stronger. Final score will be Carolina 24-17.”
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Pacquiao (57-6-2, 38 KOs), of General Santos City, Philippines, boxing’s only eight-division world champion and a two-term Congressman, representing the Sarangani province, collides with two-division world champion Bradley (33-1-1, 13 KOs), of Palm Springs, Calif., in a 12-round world welterweight championship battle. Promoted by Top Rank®, in association with MP Promotions, Pacquiao vs. Bradley will take place Saturday, April, 9, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. It will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View®, beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET / 6:00 p.m. PT. The Abraham vs. Ramirez world championship fight will be co-promoted by Sauerland Event and Zapari Boxing Promotions.
The pay-per-view undercard will feature the following title fights:
Gilberto Ramirez (33-0, 24 KOs), from Mazatlan, Mexico, No. 1 super middleweight contender with the matinee idol looks, will get his first world title shot when he challenges two-division world champion Abraham (44-4, 29 KOs), of Berlin Germany. Valdez (19-0, 16 KOs), of Nogales, Mexico, a two-time Mexican Olympian and the WBO’s No. 1 featherweight contender, will defend his NABO featherweight title against former world featherweight champion Gradovich (21-1-1, 9 KOs), a Russian native who lives in Oxnard, Calif. Jose Ramírez (16-0, 12 KOs), of Avenal, Calif., a 2012 U.S. Olympian, will defend his World Boxing Council (WBC) Continental Americas super lightweight title against Perez (25-11-1, 6 KOs), of Denver, CO, a former WBC Continental Americas champion.
Remaining Tickets to the Pacquiao vs. Bradley world championship event are priced at $1,204, $804, $604, $404, $254 and $154, not including applicable service fees. To charge by phone with a major credit card, call Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000. Tickets are also be available for purchase at mgmgrand.com or ticketmaster.com.
For fight updates go to toprank.com, hbo.com/boxing or mgmgrand.com, on Facebook at facebook.com/trboxing,, facebook.com/trboxeo or facebook.com/hboboxing, and on Twitter at twitter.com/trboxing, twitter.com/trboxeo, or twitter.com/hboboxing. Use the Hashtag
