NEW YORK (May 21, 2019) – Eight-division champion Manny Pacquiao and unbeaten welterweight world champion Keith Thurman, plus unbeaten super middleweight champion Caleb Plant and unbeaten Mike Lee went face-to-face Tuesday in New York at a press conference to preview their respective showdowns on Saturday July 20 and presented by Premier Boxing Champions and FOX Sports from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

Pacquiao and Thurman will square-off in a welterweight world title attraction that headlines a PBC on FOX Sports Pay-Per-View event beginning at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT. Plant will make the first defense of his title against the unbeaten Lee in the main event of FOX PBC Fight Night and on FOX Deportes preceding the Pay-Per-View and beginning at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT.

Tickets for the event, which is promoted by MP Promotions, Mayweather Promotions and TGB Promotions, are on sale now and can be purchased online through AXS.com, charge by phone at 866-740-7711 or in person at any MGM Resorts International box office. Plant vs. Lee is presented by TGB Promotions and Sweethands Promotions.

Here is what the fighters had to say Tuesday from Gotham Hall in New York City:

MANNY PACQUIAO

“I’ve never been scared of a challenge. I’m so excited for this fight against an undefeated champion. He’s the kind of fighter that you can’t underestimate. His record and successe gives me more motivation to work hard.

“I will make sure that I’m 100 percent and ready for this fight. We’ll find out what happens on July 20, but it’s going to be exciting. I like being the underdog for this fight because that gives me more focus in training.

“I’ve been careless and over confident in some fights, but this time around it’s different. Keith Thurman is a good fighter and we’re going to make sure the fans are happy on July 20.

“It’s a great honor for me to be fighting back in Las Vegas and on the FOX Sports pay-per-view. I’m going to take advantage of the opportunity.

“I chose Keith Thurman because he’s undefeated and I want to prove that at age 40 I can still beat a great fighter like Keith.

“My time is not yet over. My journey is continuing. I’m going to prove that and more on July 20 against Keith Thurman.

“I’m the kind of fighter that I don’t talk too much. I do my talking in the ring. I can do a lot of things in that ring. He can prove his words in the ring. I’m going to be a warrior on July 20 and show Keith Thurman what it’s like to be in the ring with me.

“I will work hard for this fight. I haven’t felt this motivated and excited since the Oscar De La Hoya fight. I feel like I’m back against the best fighters in the world.

“Our focus in every fight is on the speed and footwork, because those are advantages for me. We’re going to work on avoiding Keith’s offense.

“Fans should watch this fight because it’s a once in a lifetime showdown. We’re going to bring action and I’m confident I will be victorious.”

KEITH THURMAN

“We’re ready. This is a blessing to be here and a dream come true. I started boxing at the age of seven. I worked hard to be a champion and I’ve always wanted to fight the greatest names in the sport.

“Pacquiao wants a challenge and I’m very grateful to be sharing a ring with a legend. If you understand boxing history, you know that times change. I believe boxing is in a new era. Come July 20, Pacquiao will disappear. He’ll always be remembered in the sport, but I’m doing to Manny Pacquiao, what he did to Oscar De La Hoya.

“This is a big fight. I’ve waited 22 months to get back in the game. We had our ups and downs, but Keith Thurman is back on the rise. I’m going to make a big statement.

“This training camp is going to start this Saturday. Once I get home, it’s grind time and on July 20, it’s going to be my time.

“July 20 is 23 years in the making. I’ve dedicated myself to this beautiful sport of boxing for so long and my first trainer Ben Getty told me that I had what it takes to be a great champion. I’m truly looking forward to having another chance to show it.

“We definitely had a stretch with a lack of activity. Not everyone knows who Keith Thurman is today. You could see that I wasn’t at my best in January. But on July 20, ‘One Time’ is back. I’m getting ready to have one of my best training camps for this fight.

“I had the knockdown in my last fight that was a reminder of what ‘One Time’ is all about. We brushed the dust off and we’re taking that momentum into this fight.

“I’m excited to be the guy who shows Manny Pacquiao where the exit is. He’s a legend who’s done great things. But I’ve never lost to a fighter who’s lost seven times. I have no intention of losing this fight and I don’t see him winning in any shape or form.

“Speed, power and overall ring IQ will be the difference. I’m one of the smartest fighters in the sport. I always find a way to win. I know Pacquiao comes in shape, but he’s going to fall short of that finish line.”

CALEB PLANT

“I’ve been boxing my whole life. They say it takes 10,000 hours of work to become a true success at something. Come July 20, I’ll have been doing this for 18-years straight. No breaks and no Plan B. I’ve just been boxing, day in and day out.

“Mike Lee may have a financial degree, but in boxing, I have a Ph.D. That’s something he doesn’t know anything about. I came from very rock bottom, where nobody makes it out. If he thinks I’m going to let him mess this up for me, he’s not half as educated as I thought he was.

“I have everything to lose. Every night from now until July 20, I hope Lee and his team are envisioning the worlds ‘and still’. Because that’s all anyone is going to hear on fight night.

“It’s exciting to be on this primetime card. Everyone who wants to take it to the top of the sport wants to be a main event at MGM Grand. At the same time, where we fight is not most important to me. We can fight in the parking lot, because it’s about legacy to me.

“Anytime that someone steps into the ring and wins their first world title in fashion, it’s going to be a confidence booster. But I did tell everyone what was going to happen. There’s a season for everything and right now is mine.

“He may come into the ring bigger and heavier than me, but boxing skills are what wins fights. Years of repetition with boxing teachers, are what wins fights. You’ll see all of that on July 20.

“I don’t look at myself as the favorite in any fight. I’m the one who’s not supposed to be here. Put everyone through what I’ve been through, and see if they would make it here.”

MIKE LEE

“This has been a culmination of years of hard work and sacrifice. Most importantly, I’ve gotten somewhere no one thought I would get. I’m fine being the underdog. I have nothing to lose.

“I’m coming out with everything I have. This is everything I’ve ever wanted. I respect Caleb Plant, but on July 20, I plan on making it my moment.

“I’ve headlined cards in Chicago and at Notre Dame before so the bright lights are nothing new to me. I’m very excited and working hard. On July 20, I’m going to keep proving people wrong.

“The whole reason I got into this sport is to do it on big stages. Everyone wants to prove it on the biggest stage possible and there’s no bigger stage than at MGM Grand in Las Vegas. It’s a dream come true and it’s the reason I’ve worked so hard.

“Moving down in weight is an advantage. I’ve got a great team working with me to make the weight easily and rehydrate the right way. I’m going to be the bigger and stronger guy in the ring.

“I’ve had people that never thought I’d get here and I love it. It takes a different kind of person to step into that ring in front of so many people. You have to be ready to go out there and risk it all. I fight who they put in front of me and keep winning. That’s what I plan to do on July 20.”

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For more information: visit www.premierboxingchampions.com, http://www.foxsports.com/presspass/homepage and www.foxdeportes.com, follow on Twitter @PremierBoxing, @PBConFOX, @FOXSports, @FOXDeportes, @MayweatherPromo, @TGBPromotions and @Swanson_Comm or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/PremierBoxingChampions, www.facebook.com/foxsports, www.facebook.com/foxdeportes and www.facebook.com/MayweatherPromotions.

Photos by Stephanie Trapp / TGB Promotions

By Norm Frauenheim-

Call it the Welcome Back Division. At least, that what it is in mid-to-late January as the welterweights shake out who’s real. And who’s not.

First, there was the U.S. homecoming for an enduring standard in Manny Pacquiao last Saturday and this Saturday there is the return of Keith Thurman, who is back after a 22-month absence against Josesito Lopez at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center in a Fox-televised bout (5 p.m. PT/8 pm ET)

Despite his age, the 40-year-old Pacquaio stamped himself as still relevant at 147 pounds by outworking a much younger Adrien Broner in every conceivable way. The caveat is that Broner helped him do it. Broner might have collected more money per punch than anybody in the history of prizefighting. According to CompuBox, Broner landed 50 punches, or a little more than four a round. If he collected a $5 million guarantee, he got $100,000 per punch.

“Time to cash checks and have sex,’’ Broner said of his plans after the bout (Showtime replay 10:30 p.m. ET/PT)

His hands were a lot busier endorsing those checks than they were against Pacquiao. Then again, Broner did his job. In part, he was there to showcase reasons Pacquiao can still be a factor 147 pounds. He pursued throughout 12 rounds. His power was still potent enough to send Broner into retreat midway through the fight and almost into hiding over the last couple of rounds. But the undiminished power in his name was more meaningful than anything he still has in his left hand. The Filipino Senator is still a draw.

Showtime’s pay-per-view audience was reported be about 400,000, modest by standards that Pacquiao set during a bygone era when anything short of one million was a disappointment. By today’s standards, however, the audience size and an estimated PPV revenue of $30 million are solid numbers.

That begs the obvious question, of course. Floyd Mayweather Jr. was at ringside, prompting inevitable speculation about a rematch of their revenue-record setting fight, a Mayweather victory by decision in 2015. Mayweather didn’t answer the question about whether he’s interested. His silence, of course, leaves the door wide open for months of further speculation and media attention. Leonard Ellerbe, of Mayweather Promotions, spoke for him Saturday, saying he had no interest and reminding everyone that he’s retired.

A couple of days later, Pacquiao ran into Mayweather at Los Angeles’ Staples Center at an NBA game. Remember, real negotiations for the first fight began at an NBA game in Miami. This time, however, there were no signs that history would repeat itself.

“I only want to continue to fight the best,” Pacquiao said. “If Floyd can no longer fight at my level, then of course he should stay retired.”

Only a fool would doubt whether the speculation will continue. Meanwhile, however, Pacquiao says will continue fighting. His retirement date is now a couple of years away. He mentioned 42. That could mean three, maybe four, fights, all against fighters he says will be “the best.’’

For those considered the best, the welcome mat is out. Pacquiao is older, but the guess here is that he can still outdraw any of the world’s other contending welterweights.

Terence Crawford-Errol Spence Jr. fight might change that. But there’s no immediate prospect of that one happening. Instead, Crawford will fight a faded Amir Khan in April. Spence has an intriguing date against Mikey Garcia on March 16. Put Pacquiao in against three — Crawford, Spence or Garcia — of those four, and you have a pay-per-view attraction that could boost that PPV number by a couple of hundred thousand. That’s why everybody was so happy to have an effective Pacquiao back Saturday. Like the Mayweather questions, however, potential danger can’t be ignored.

A Pacquiao with relevancy restored in a one-sided victory over a shrinking Broner might be a Pacquiao set up to get hurt by the young lions.

Crawford, who ranks as No. 1 on this pound-for-pound list, seems to be sharpening the edge on his skillset and killer instinct with each opening bell. Spence, the strongest of today’s active welterweights, is also the biggest, which makes him too big for Pacquiao, whose natural weight is at about 140.

In terms of size, a Pacquiao fight with Garcia, a lightweight and junior-welterweight champion, makes some sense, especially if he is competitive against the bigger Spence. In terms of age, however, they have little in common, other than December birthdays. Mikey Garcia was born on Dec.15, nine years after Pacquiao was born on Dec. 17. Garcia is still in his prime. Pacquiao is not.

Fighting to get back on the list is Thurman, who is two inches shorter than Spence and two inches taller and a decade younger than Pacquiao. Thurman, who flashed huge power and instinctive smarts, was shoved off that list by injuries to an elbow and a hand. He under surgery. He got married. In the time he was idle, there Crawford’s impressive jump for 140 to 147 and Garcia’s risky challenge of Spence. Now, there’s Pacquiao, on a lengthening list full of reasons for Thurman to hit the welcome mat with a big win.

The Manny Pacquiao – Adrien Broner Pay-Per-View bout from Saturday generated 400,000 buys, according to Dan Rafael of espn.com.

With around 400,000 units sold, that means Pacquiao-Broner grossed approximately $30 million in domestic pay-per-view revenue. The official gate for the announced crowd of 13,025 has not been made official yet by the Nevada State Athletic Commission, but it will be in the seven figures.

By Bart Barry-

It was a lowbudget swindle, top to bottom, a return to the days when Showtime was the scrappy underdog, productionwise, while being so very far removed from that, qualitywise. Saturday’s was the work of a rubberstamp applied to a starmaking enterprise without an element of quality control in its ranks. What caustic commentary follows about the undercard is necessarily limited to a foiled plot to miss the whole damn thing, which be nigh impossible when the comain goes off a halfhour after the mainevent should.

In fact, start there: What possible demographic do you sate with a live sports event that concludes at 1:30 AM ET, last-call whoremonger? Stack the undercard a hundred fights deep, à la Don King, if need be, but don’t subject viewers to it; because it sure ain’t our problem PBC has more talent than it can afford to fight annually.

Comain victor Marcus Browne may be an exception to this, he’s on the rare PBC biannual plan, but he’s not exceptional. Perhaps it was the hour of his antics, but there’s something aesthetically offensive to a spectacle such as: After cautiously playing keepaway with a man so bloodied by his own wound even Tony Weeks tries to get the doctor to stop your fight, after wheeling shamelessly in the final 30 seconds from a man blinded by his own blood, you then perform the wrath of Achilles a halfsecond after the final bell frees you from the possibility of being punched again.

An apt leadin, that, for Showtime’s shopworn aping of HBO’s moribund model. Commercial, commentary, movie, national anthems, movie, ringwalk. National anthems, apparently, intend to announce: This is a serious event. But there’s no such thing as a serious event after midnight, that’s when, according to Eric Clapton, one merely chugalugs and shouts, which mightn’t actually be the worst way to describe AB’s performance in the main.

Broner is an entertainer who fights, not a fighter who entertains, and he’s not that entertaining either. He captures Floyd Mayweather’s schtick successfully enough to capture PBC funds, captured from Showtime, but not well enough to capture an audience. Mayweather long sold the prospect of comeuppance, a chance to see a boorish lout lose his undefeated record, maybe violently. But we’ve now seen Broner lose every way it can be done consciously, and the catharsis is long gone: There are committed if casual boxing fans among us who’ve watched hours of his fights live and have yet to see him win. Broner’s a conman who’s not conned anyone but his employer in a halfdecade. Because he rightly distrusts his conditioning, Broner makes dramatic fights that lack suspense and increasingly lack drama, too.

AB’s latest personal trainer, Kevin Cunningham, has collected a couple plump checks for bringing Broner in on-weight and fiercely performing empty orations, the sort of no-nonsense, give me 10 more reps, former-cop, cliche-gushing pap hardboiled sportswriters used to go cuckoo over.

After losing all but a handful of Saturday’s 36 minutes Broner leaped on the turnbuckle like an adolescent thespian following unclear stage instructions – over here, hands raised, OK? Pacquiao, who, a career ago, took the primes from three hall-of-famers seven times in five years, watched it all with a shrug: I guess this is the thing at my new circus, and the money’s nice, so, sure.

A certain barely detectable sadness now accompanies Pacquiao in the ring (or perhaps that’s projection); the men whose vanquishings made him a legend are already in Canastota, or just about, moved on to roles more permanent if less prestigious than Pacquiao’s senatorial gig, while Pacquiao plays acoustic renditions of his greatest hits with inferior and comparatively anonymous bandmates backing him. Maybe Manny needs the money, but more likely he just loves to play, and if the songs don’t have yesteryear’s force they still beat the hell out of silence.

In some odd way it brings to mind Marco Antonio Barrera’s bewildered look in Manchester a decade ago, after Barrera’d left his partnership at Golden Boy Promotions to contract his services on a fight-by-fight basis to whomever would pay for a legendary name on his inferior fighter’s resume, and a cut suffered early but allowed to bleed till Amir “Tomato” Khan could get his Barrera stamp happened, and Barrera absolutely could not have cared less. Fifteen months later Barrera was in San Antonio, going through the motions now with Top Rank, and he wanted to talk about the late Edwin Valero (with whom Barrera’d prepared for his uninspired 2007 rematch with Pacquiao) more than himself, and his cadence resembled that of Manny’s prefight chinwag with Showtime’s never-not-insufferable Jim Gray, Saturday.

It’s not that Manny’s not still fun to watch, he is, and it’s not that someone ringside for his best matches feels Manny’s new PBC tour is demeaning, not really, it’s that Manny himself seems to feel demeaning. Like he feels sorry for anyone gullible enough to swallow Saturday’s swill and call it otherwise.

Bart Barry can be reached via Twitter @bartbarry

By Norm Frauenheim-

LAS VEGAS – The smile never changes. It was there, forever young, all over again Friday as Manny Pacquiao looked into Adrien Broner’s bearded face and calculating eyes after both welterweights stood in front of each other for the face-to-face ritual that follows every weigh-in.

It’s still the smile that introduced Pacquiao to America. He’d walk to the ring, smiling like a kid headed to the playground. He’s 40 now. No kid, yet he’s still fighting to survive in a dangerous place he once ruled with punches and playfulness. He was happy to be there in those days. He’s happy to be there now.

The 29-year-old Broner promises – profanely, repeatedly and to anyone willing to listen – that Pacquiao has made a –mistake. Harm’s way — that canvas-covered turf surrounded by forbidding ropes – belongs to younger men with dangerous intentions still un-eroded by time. Broner’s youth and anger have sent a tone and a warning that middle-aged men belong on the safe side of those ropes behind a microphone or in a corner with a bucket.

Time moves on, and Broner (33-3-1, 24 KOs) insists that his will finally arrive Saturday night when he vows to upset Pacquiao (60-7-2, 39 KOs) at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in a Showtime pay-per-view bout (9 p.m. ET/6 pm PT).

“This one is for the ‘hood,’’ Broner said after weighing 146.5 pounds. Pacquiao was at 146, one pound lighter that the welterweight mandatory

Translation: It’s not for a Senator, which happens to be just one of Pacquiao’s many titles, including eight in eight weight classes and two in Filipino politics. Yet, Pacquiao, also a former Congressman and the WBA reigning 147-pound champion, hears it all and responds with that one enduring gesture. He smiles. There’s no mistaking Broner’s endless profanity and slurs. The words are meant to intimidate. Yet, no matter what Broner says, he always sees the same thing from Pacquiao. Broner must wonder: What in the (insert profanities and slurs here) is that (more profanities and slurs) thinking?

For this fight, at least, that Pacquiao smile is a psychological weapon. Broner is trying to elicit a response, yet all he gets are his own second thoughts about what he might be getting into against an aging fighter. A bad loss for Pacquiao might eliminate a much-talked-about rematch with Floyd Mayweather Jr., whose face and words figure all over the Showtime telecast. It also would eliminate a speculated with Errol Spence Jr. or Mikey Garcia, both of whom are lot more dangerous than Broner ever hopes to be. Spence and Garcia are set to fight on March 16.

But retirement only means Pacquiao moves on, finally and for good, into a stage of his life that includes fulltime politics and the Hall of Fame. For Broner, there’s more to lose, mostly because there not much else beyond another opening bell. Trouble with the law has been a constant for Broner. He is 1-1-1 over his last three bouts. Only the arrest warrants are outstanding.

Broner behaves like an angry man, raging at everything he doesn’t have and hasn’t won.

Pacquiao already has a lot, has won a lot and is poised to do more of both.

No wonder he still smiles.

WBA WELTERWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP – 12 Rounds

Manny Pacquiao – 146 lbs.

Adrien Broner – 146 ½ lbs.

Referee: Russell Mora (Las Vegas); Judges: Tim Cheatham (Las Vegas), Dave Moretti (Las Vegas), Glenn Feldman (Connecticut)

WBA INTERIM LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP – 12 Rounds

Badou Jack – 175 lbs.

Marcus Browne – 175 lbs.

Referee Tony Weeks (Las Vegas); Judges: Eric Cheek (Reno), Max DeLuca (Calif.), Don Trella (Connecticut)

WBC BANTAMWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP – 12 Rounds

Rau’shee Warren – 116 ½ lbs.

Nordine Oubaali – 118 lbs.

Referee: Vic Drakulich (Reno); Judges: Ricardo Ocasio (Las Vegas), Julie Lederman (New York), Steven Weisfeld (New Jersey)

FEATHERWEIGHT BOUT – 10 Rounds

Hugo Ruiz – 125 lbs.

Alberto Guevara – 126 lbs.

Referee: Jay Nady (Las Vegas); Judges: Adalaide Byrd (Las Vegas), Robert Hoyle (Las Vegas), Glenn Trowbridge (Las Vegas)

Note: Alberto Guevara replaces Jhack Tepora, who failed to make weight

FLASH QUOTES

Manny Pacquiao

“Age is just a number. It doesn’t matter that I’m 40 years old. I still feel young. Tomorrow I have something to prove – that at the age of 40, I can still give my best. It’s my legacy to give a good fight and to accomplish all this and especially at the age of 40. I have to prove something that Manny Pacquiao is still there.”

“Having Freddie [Roach] back has helped a lot. I’m happy that the team is united. We’re so happy and satisfied with the results of this training camp.

Adrien Broner

“This is a hell of an opportunity. I’m not just doing this for me, I’m doing this for the hood. After I win tomorrow night, I’ll be a legend overnight. I just have to do me. You’ll see tomorrow night.”

Marcus Browne

“He’s acting like he’s tough, but he isn’t. It’s business. He knows what time it is.”

Badou Jack

“He’s a good fighter. I respect everybody that steps in the boxing ring, but I’m going to show him what level I’m on. He’s never been on this level. He’ll see tomorrow.”

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For more information visit www.sho.com/sports and www.mgmgrand.com, follow on Twitter @MannyPacquiao, @AdrienBroner, @ShowtimeBoxing, @SHOSports, @MayweatherPromo, @TGBPromotions, @MGMGrand and @Swanson_Comm or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/SHOSports, www.facebook.com/MayweatherPromotions and www.Facebook.com/MGMGrand.

Photos by Scott Hirano /SHOWTIME

Photos By Ryan Hafey / Premier Boxing Champions

Photos by Chris Farina / Mayweather Promotions

LAS VEGAS (January 17, 2019) – Before they enter the ring on the undercard of this Saturday’s Pacquiao vs. Broner SHOWTIME PPV® event at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, fighters competing in PPV action squared-off against their opponents at the final press conference Thursday in Las Vegas.

The press conference saw a stare down and some verbal sparring between former two-division world champion Badou Jack and unbeaten contender Marcus Browne as they near their battle for the WBA Interim Light Heavyweight Title.

The event also featured former champion Rau’shee Warren and unbeaten Nordine Oubaali, who battle for the vacant WBC Bantamweight World Championship, and WBC Interim Featherweight Champion Jhack Tepora and former champion Hugo Ruiz, who compete in a 12-round attraction that opens the PPV at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT.

In the main event, Senator Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao,boxing’s only eight-division world champion, will end his two-year hiatus from a U.S. boxing ring when he returns to Las Vegas to defend his World Boxing Association Welterweight World Title against former four-division world champion and must-see attraction Adrien “The Problem” Broner.

Tickets for the event, which is promoted by MP Promotions, Mayweather Promotions and TGB Promotions in association with About Billions Promotions, are on sale now and start at $200, not including applicable service charges, and can be purchased online through AXS.com, charge by phone at 866-740-7711 or in person at any MGM Resorts International box office.

Here is what the press conference participants had to say Thursday from MGM Grand:

BADOU JACK

“We had a great camp. As usual, I’ve been in the gym training hard. It’s nothing new to me. I’m on weight and I’m full of energy. I feel blessed.

“Marcus Browne is a young up-and-coming guy. You have to respect everyone who steps into the ring. I’m ready for this challenge.

“On paper Marcus Browne isn’t on the level with the guys who I’ve fought. Who knows? He might be a great champion. But either way, I’m focused on what’s in front of me. If he doesn’t respect this challenge, that might be his downfall.

“Everybody opponent has talked about me and said I’m a basic fighter, but after the fight, they have excuses. I don’t want to hear any excuses after Saturday.

“If Marcus Browne really believes that this is his time, then that will bring the best out of me. I’m not a trash talker, but I’m extremely motivated now. I hope he comes to fight. My prediction is to win and dominate.

“Marcus has never been in this position so I think he’s a little nervous or he doesn’t know how to act. He’s disrespecting world champions and he’s never even won a title.

“I’m dedicating this fight to all of the refugees out there. If you go to badoujackfoundation.org you can find out about the refugee kids that I’m fighting for.”

MARCUS BROWNE

“My team has sacrificed their holiday to grind it out with me in camp and It’s got me ready for Saturday night. I’m in the best shape of my life physically, spiritually and mentally.

“I have respect for Badou Jack for stepping up to the plate and giving me this opportunity. In boxing you have to fight the guys who are hungry for opportunities and I’m that guy.

“I’m not trying to disrespect anyone he’s fought, but I feel like he hasn’t fought top level guys since moving up to this division. I’m young and hungry and I’m ready to go. I’m a different animal than what he’s seen.

“Hopefully after this fight they’ll say that this kid has something about him. Some pizazz, some sauce that I never seen before. My ideal year is winning this fight and getting on the phone and then discussing future plans.”

“I’m ready man. I’m focused, I’m hungry, I’m ready to get in there, weigh in and do what I have to do. I’m tired of talking. I’ve been put on hold a couple times, but I’m prepared for this moment right now.

“Badou is a strong, smart-headed as a fighter and just disciplined. A win over Badou would give me the respect that I deserve. But I gotta win first, and that’s what I’m here to do.

“I’m ready to go right now. I’ve worked so hard for this moment in my career. He’s fought six world champions in a row, but he hasn’t fought a real light heavyweight like myself. Come Saturday night, we’re going to go wherever we have to go to get this victory. I’m leaving Las Vegas with this win.”

RAU’SHEE WARREN

“I had a wonderful training camp. There’s nothing like fighting someone you lost to in the Olympics. I know Roy Jones Jr. felt like that when he got cheated in the Olympics. In this rematch, It’s going to be a way different fight.

“I’ve been in camp for about three months. My coach has seen me overcome different situations in training. I had the toughest sparring I’ve ever had in camp and I want to thank them for getting me to this point.

“Oubaali hasn’t fought anyone like me. Getting in the ring with me is a whole different story than when we met the first time. It’s an honor to get my revenge.

“I’m a different fighter from when I fought for the title the first time. In this fight I’ve picked up something different, which is my jab. I feel like I’m going to control the whole fight with my jab, my speed and my timing.

“In the professional ranks you have to sit down and pick your shot more than you did in the amateurs. When I land that shot, I’m going to put my foot on the gas and finish the job.”

NORDINE OUBAALI

“I’m doing this for everyone who supports me and helped me to this moment. Saturday is a big fight for me to get my first world title.

“To have this fight in Las Vegas makes me very happy. This is the fight capital of the world and it makes it an even more special moment to be here.

“I fought Rau’shee Warren in the amateurs, but I know in the pros it’s totally different. I know that I have progressed even more since I turned pro and am better than when we fought in the Olympics.

“Rau’shee is a good, smart and slick fighter, but I have the strategy for this win. I have the power that he lacks. I’m going to accomplish my American dream.

“I came here to win a world title, not look at the lights. People may not know me now, but after this fight, people will know my name and know I’m a world champion.”

JHACK TEPORA

“I’m ready for this fight and I’m thankful to Manny Pacquiao and my team for making this happen. I wish my opponent good luck and I’ll see you in the ring Saturday.

“I’m just excited for Saturday night and I can’t wait to step into the ring and show the world my abilities and what I can do.

“I don’t go into a fight expecting a knockout, but it comes automatically to me. The same thing will happen this Saturday. Knockout win.”

HUGO RUIZ

“I’m very emotional and I’m thankful for everyone who helped me get this opportunity. My team is a family and we’re here to take advantage of this opportunity.

“I have a big responsibility to come and put on a good fight for everyone in the arena and watching on SHOWTIME and all over the world.

“I’m tall enough and strong enough for this weight class and I’m coming to get another knockout on Saturday. I’m more experienced than Tepora and I believe that I know how to start fast and break my opponent down.

“I have won titles at bantamweight and super bantamweight and now I’m going to become champion at featherweight and continue to prove I am a great fighter.”

LEONARD ELLERBE, CEO of Mayweather Promotions

“This is a terrific undercard. I’ve promoted 14 PPV fights over the last 12 years, and hands down this is the best undercard thus far. It’s just a great night from top to bottom.

“Tepora vs. Ruiz will certainly be an all-action fight to open the telecast. Rau’shee Warren will enter trained by the renowned team of Barry Hunter and Patrice Harris, while Oubaali has the legend Roy Jones Jr. in his corner. I believe this all adds up to a war on Saturday.

“The co-main event could possible steal the show. Mayweather Promotions’ own Badou Jack will be taking on Marcus Browne, who’s a great fighter that is very hungry. Marcus feels like this is his time and he feels he’s going to prove it on Saturday.

“Words can’t express how I feel about Badou Jack. He’s my favorite fighter. He’s done so much for the sport in a short period of time. He’s looking to put on a great show come Saturday night.”

STEPHEN ESPINOZA, President Sports & Event Programming, Showtime Networks Inc.

“The combined record of these six fighters is 134 wins against just seven losses. You don’t see that level of quality top to bottom very often. These are also exciting all-action affairs.

“Tepora is coming off six straight knockouts, and 11 knockdowns in those fights. He’s looking to keep that streak going. If you’ve seen Hugo Ruiz fight, you’ve probably seen him in a Fight of the Year candidate, because that’s what he does.

“Rau’shee Warren and Nordine Oubaali are fighting in an Olympic rematch. Rau’shee is another fighter with high-quality fights on his resume, and Oubaali is aggressive himself, with five straight knockouts.

“Badou Jack vs. Marcus Browne is a matchup of two top-10 light heavyweights who were homegrown on SHOWTIME. This is Badou’s 13th appearance and Marcus 8th appearance on the network. Badou has one of the strongest resumes in boxing and is one of the underappreciated stars in the sport. He’s facing another great fighter in Marcus Browne, who’s looking to keep his unbeaten streak alive.

“Top to bottom this is a card worthy of your attention. We’re proud of what we put together and we’ll see you on Saturday night.”

# # #

ABOUT PACQUIAO VS. BRONER
Pacquiao vs. Broner is headlined by Senator Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao,boxing’s only eight-division world champion, ending his two-year hiatus from a U.S. boxing ring to defend his World Boxing Association Welterweight World Title against former four-division world champion and must-see attraction Adrien “The Problem” Broner Saturday, January 19 in the main event of a SHOWTIME PPV® event from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

The PPV begins at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT and will feature two-division world champion Badou Jack battling unbeaten top-rated contender Marcus Browne for the WBA Interim Light Heavyweight Title, former world champion Rau’shee Warren taking on France’s Nordine Oubaali for the vacant WBC Bantamweight World Championship and unbeaten WBA Interim Featherweight Champion Jhack Tepora defending against former world champion Hugo Ruiz.

For more information visit www.sho.com/sports and www.mgmgrand.com, follow on Twitter @MannyPacquiao, @AdrienBroner, @ShowtimeBoxing, @SHOSports, @MayweatherPromo, @TGBPromotions, @MGMGrand and @Swanson_Comm or become a fan on Facebook atwww.Facebook.com/SHOSports, www.facebook.com/MayweatherPromotions andwww.Facebook.com/MGMGrand.

LAS VEGAS (January 16, 2019) – Fighters competing on the PPV undercard portion of Saturday’s Pacquiao vs. Broner SHOWTIME PPV® event participated in a media workout at MGM Grand in Las Vegas Wednesday as they prepare to enter the ring January 19 from the MGM Grand Garden Arena.

In attendance at the workout and featured in action beginning at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT were two-division champion Badou Jack and unbeaten contender Marcus Browne, who meet for the WBA Interim Light Heavyweight Title, former champion Rau’shee Warren and unbeaten Nordine Oubaali, who battle for the vacant WBC Bantamweight World Championship, and WBC Interim Featherweight Champion Jhack Tepora and former champion Hugo Ruiz, who compete in a 12-round attraction.

In the main event, Senator Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao, boxing’s only eight-division world champion, will end his two-year hiatus from a U.S. boxing ring when he returns to Las Vegas to defend his World Boxing Association Welterweight World Title against former four-division world champion and must-see attraction Adrien “The Problem” Broner.

Tickets for the event, which is promoted by MP Promotions, Mayweather Promotions and TGB Promotions in association with About Billions Promotions, are on sale now and start at $100, not including applicable service charges, and can be purchased online through AXS.com, charge by phone at 866-740-7711 or in person at any MGM Resorts International box office.

Here is what the fighters had to say Wednesday:

BADOU JACK

“Training camp went great. It was my best camp, by far. I had a great nutritionist helping me with rehydration and recovery.

“Everybody knows me. I’m always gonna bring it. I’m gonna make it an explosive, exciting fight.

“All the focus is on Marcus Browne. I’ll fight all the champions, whoever pays me the best.

“[Browne’s] never been tested. He hasn’t been a big fight, but I expect a tough guy. He’s a tough contender, and you can’t take anybody lightly in boxing.

“I believe in my skills. I believe in myself. He’s a good fighter, he’s a good prospect. I respect everybody that steps into a boxing ring.

“It’s special to me because of how big the card is. I’m just in there to win. That’s all there is to it.”

MARCUS BROWNE

“His style fits my style, and it’s gonna make for an exciting fight. There’s fire here in these fists, and he’s gonna feel it.

“I just came from Colorado Springs, where I trained for five weeks. I’m in the best shape of my life. He says this fight is gonna go into deep waters. Well, I’m ready to swim because I’m a shark.

“This is a no-brainer. Of course I wanted this fight and I want to showcase my talent for the whole world to see. He’s not better than me. I do everything better in the ring. This is the biggest moment of my entire career. I respect Badou Jack, but I’m in the best shape of my life. I could go 15 rounds.”

RAU’SHEE WARREN

“It’s gonna definitely be a different outcome than when we fought the last time. That was the amateurs. I need that belt. I need it.

“It’s an honor [to fight Oubaali]. I’ve been thinking about this moment since they announced I’d be fighting on this card. I’m gonna call this a payback.

“I want everybody to tune in to the fight. It’s gonna be a show. Mentally, I’m ready. I’ve been in the gym since my last fight, working hard and staying mentally sharp. I put my heart on the line in training camp and it’s going to show come Saturday night.

“It’s going to mean a lot for not only me, but my weight class. Me winning the title is going to go a long way in gaining respect for the weight class in this country. There’s a lot of good fighters out there and I want my name to be in the mix. I’m ready to be a two-time world champion.

“Winning this fight will be huge for me. I want to face all the big names in the division. I’ve already accomplished a lot, winning a world championship, but I plan to do it again and that will bring my career to a whole different level.

“I’m ready to go to war. I’ve been through all of my preparations and I’m feeling great. I’m looking forward to winning this title and making sure our weight class gets some shine because we put in just as much work as everybody else. The heavyweight division is getting a lot of attention right now and I want my weight class to get that next.

“I’m going to take the fight as it comes to me. I’m going to set up my shots and stay patient. This is a 12-round war and one shot can end the fight. I’m going to do what I have to do and get the win and keep the belt in the United States.”

NORDINE OUBAALI

“It’s something Warren has said and he’s right: This fight will be completely different than when we fought at the Olympics. He can be sure I’ll bring back the belt to my home country. I will show the world who I am.

“Happy 50th birthday to my manager Roy Jones Jr. He’s really helped me and told me what it’s like to be fighting on the big stage.

“This is a dream come true for me, to be fighting on the Pacquiao-Broner undercard, it’s a dream come true. Roy’s endorsement is very important. He has so much experience, and it gives me extra energy. We’re very good friends… I’ve looked up to him since I was a boy.

“It’s super important to put on a show. We had the opportunity to take a fight in America before, but we wanted to wait and take the right fight.

“Being in America is special. It’s the capital of boxing. We want to put on a show. When we win, it’s going to be a huge party. No one will sleep that night.”

HUGO RUIZ

“I’m so excited to be fighting on this card and really and can’t believe all the attention it’s getting. This is my time to shine and show the world what I can do in the ring.

“I’m expecting Jhack Tepora’s power and not underestimating him at all. He’s a knockout artist and I know he will bring it. I’m prepared to go toe-to-toe and we’ll see how it goes.”

# # #

ABOUT PACQUIAO VS. BRONER

Pacquiao vs. Broner is headlined by Senator Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao, boxing’s only eight-division world champion, ending his two-year hiatus from a U.S. boxing ring to defend his World Boxing Association Welterweight World Title against former four-division world champion and must-see attraction Adrien “The Problem” Broner Saturday, January 19 in the main event of a SHOWTIME PPV® event from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

The PPV begins at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT and will feature two-division world champion Badou Jack battling unbeaten top-rated contender Marcus Browne for the WBA Interim Light Heavyweight Title, former world champion Rau’shee Warren taking on France’s Nordine Oubaali for the vacant WBC Bantamweight World Championship and unbeaten WBA Interim Featherweight Champion Jhack Tepora defending against former world champion Hugo Ruiz.

For more information visit www.sho.com/sports and www.mgmgrand.com, follow on Twitter @MannyPacquiao, @AdrienBroner, @ShowtimeBoxing, @SHOSports, @MayweatherPromo, @TGBPromotions, @MGMGrand and @Swanson_Comm or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/SHOSports, www.facebook.com/MayweatherPromotions and www.Facebook.com/MGMGrand.

Photos by Esther Lin / Showtime

Photos By Chris Farina / Mayweather promotions

Photos by Chris Farina

Photos by Ryan Hafey

LAS VEGAS – January 15, 2019 – Two of boxing biggest stars kicked off fight week in style on Tuesday as eight-division world champion Manny Pacquiao and four-division world champion Adrien Broner arrived at MGM Grand in Las Vegas to a throng of excited fans for this Saturday’s WBA Welterweight World Championship.

Pacquiao returns to defend his WBA title in his first fight on U.S. soil in more than two years against must-see attraction Adrien Broner live on SHOWTIME PPV (9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT) from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

Joining Pacquiao and Broner at Tuesday’s arrivals were the co-featured fighters featured in Saturday’s four-fight PPV telecast. Two-division world champion Badou Jack will face unbeaten top-rated contender Marcus Browne, while former world champion Rau’shee Warren will meet Nordine Oubaali for the vacant WBC Bantamweight World Championship. In the opening bout, unbeaten Jhack Tepora will defend his interim featherweight title against former world champion Hugo Ruiz.

Here’s what the fighters had to say on Tuesday.

Manny Pacquiao:

“People say I appear happier this fight. I am happy. I’m so excited to be back in the U.S. to fight again. Everyone has been so good to me here; it’s like a second home.

“I’m getting very excited for Saturday night, and I’m ready for Broner. Forty is just a number to me. My sparring partners are in their mid-20s.

“The fact that I worked so hard in training is an example for my passion for boxing. I am always looking for ways to improve. Now that I’m older I listen to my body. If I’m sore I will take an extra day to recover if I have to.

“Every day in training camp I have been strong, fresh and fast. I am not ready to retire; I am ready for my next fight.”

Adrien Broner:

“I’m just excited I’m the underdog and I know there are a lot of people that are here to see me lose. This is my second fight with my trainer Kevin Cunningham and we brought in strength and conditioning, so we good. You’ll see so on January 19.

“I don’t feel like I had to sacrifice around the holidays, because every day is a holiday for me. With all my friends, we can do whatever we want to do on any day. I just have to stay focused and I’m ready to put on a hell of a show on Saturday night.

“It’s great having a guy from Cincinnati like Rau’shee Warren on this card with me. Even though I’m at this stage in boxing, Rau’shee Warren is still like a big brother to me. That was the first person I looked up to when I came in the gym. He will be a champion again on Saturday night, and I will too.

“I’m so focused that I don’t feel any of this hype surrounding the fight. This just starts another chapter in my book. I’m still writing my story and it’s going to have a happy ending.”

ABOUT PACQUIAO VS. BRONER

Pacquiao vs. Broner is headlined by Senator Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao,boxing’s only eight-division world champion, ending his two-year hiatus from a U.S. boxing ring to defend his World Boxing Association Welterweight World Title against former four-division world champion and must-see attraction Adrien “The Problem” Broner Saturday, January 19 in the main event of a SHOWTIME PPV® event from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

Kelly Swanson

Thanks everyone for calling in for the Manny Pacquiao vs. Adrien Broner media conference call for their fight on January 19 live on SHOWTIME PPV® from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

I’m more than happy to introduce Leonard Ellerbe, Chief Executive Officer of Mayweather Promotions to begin our call. Leonard?

Leonard Ellerbe

Thank you Kelly. I would like to thank everyone for joining the call today. We’re nine days away from what I consider to be the biggest fight of 2019. These fighters are fresh off of two outstanding media day workouts yesterday in California. Both guys seem very focused. They are both in great shape.

We have an unbelievable fight coming next Saturday night. We’re really looking forward to it.

K. Swanson

At this time, I would like to introduce Stephen Espinoza, President of Sports and Event Programming for Showtime Networks Inc. Stephen?

Stephen Espinoza

Thanks Kelly and thanks Leonard. Look, all of you guys are very well-acquainted with Manny and Adrien, you’ve covered them for years. They’re two of the biggest names in the sport so I don’t need to tell you anything more about them.

What I will do is give you some brief programming updates. Episode 2 of “ALL ACCESS” premieres this Friday 9:30 ET/PT on SHOWTIME. That is immediately before ShoBox, which is a three-fight card headlined by Devin Haney.

Then, once we get into fight week — as has become our hallmark — we will be distributing a whole variety of premium content across social media platforms, on SHOWTIME and elsewhere.

We’ve got the four installments of “ALL ACCESS DAILY.” That’s a daily digital series throughout fight week on YouTube and Facebook. We’ve got a daily series created specifically for Snapchat that is going to start even earlier than Fight Week.

We’ll also have livestream coverage of the Wednesday press conference, the Thursday press conference, the Friday weigh-in, as well as the Countdown Live pre-fight show.

So, as we get into these last nine days before the event, there is a variety of content available to satisfy every boxing fan’s need.

Both SHOWTIME subscribers and non-subscribers alike can purchase and live stream this event directly through the SHOWTIME app on a variety of platforms — plus, of course on traditional pay-per-view distributors — making this event available virtually everywhere and anywhere sports fans want to consume their content.

K. Swanson

Now we’re going to hear from Manny Pacquiao and to introduce Manny Pacquiao we have Fred Sternburg. Fred?

Fred Sternburg

Thanks Kelly. Well, I think Stephen said it best, “No introduction needed for boxing’s only eight-division World Champion and the reigning Fighter of the Decade.” So, let me present to you Manny Pacquiao.

Manny Pacquiao

Hello everyone. Good morning. I feel so happy and excited for the fight on January 19 and we’re ready – it’s all set.

Q

Manny, you’ve been now a professional for 24 years and I wonder, as all the big fights that you’ve had, what it is that still motivates you to keep boxing?

M. Pacquiao

I’m still passionate about the sport of boxing and boxing is my passion and that’s why I’m still here continuing fighting. I really love boxing and that’s why I’m always excited and preparing for my fight to be settled on January 19.

Q

Are there any things particular that you still want to accomplish?

M. Pacquiao

Talking about accomplishments, I really have accomplished what I want to accomplish in life. What I want to do is to maintain and stay at this level.

Q

Manny, are there any concessions or changes that you’ve had to make due to your age?

M. Pacquiao

The routine of my training is the same. Jog in the morning and train in the afternoon. But we have a couple of adjustments in training specifically for recovery.

Because sometimes we push ourselves heavy in training in the day and then I we’ll see if overnight I can recover, and then we’ll push again.

But if I cannot recover then I let my body rest so that the following day it can push again and work hard.

Q

What was it that lead you to take fights away from the Unites States?

M. Pacquiao

I think it just happened that some promotors and some people are most of the people they wanted me to fight there to see me live in-person. So, that’s an opportunity for them that they can see my fight.

Q

I just got off the phone with Freddie Roach and he said he thinks that you have the old killer instinct back. Is there indeed the return of a killer instinct and do you have more of a mindset of going for the knockout in this fight?

M. Pacquiao

That’s true I still have that killer instinct and the fire in my eyes is still there. That aggressiveness, the interest in this career is still there 100%. The speed, the power are still there. I’m so thankful to God.

I’m not saying I’m going to predict for this fight. I will do my best and I look forward to this the same as the last fight. But no prediction, I will do my best with what we did in training camp.

Q

Would you tell us what you said to Floyd Mayweather when you saw him at the basketball game the other day?

M. Pacquiao

Surprisingly, I didn’t know that he was there at the game. I was invited on that Filipino Heritage Night at the Clippers’ game. I didn’t know that he was there and then when they were throwing t-shirts to the crowds I saw him. And then I just say, “Hello.” That’s it.

Q

Regarding the Floyd Mayweather fight whether or not it’s going to happen. Has it gotten to a point where you kind of feel a little annoyed with the question?

M. Pacquiao

You cannot avoid the people that will ask if there’s a rematch with Floyd Mayweather because I think they have a big question mark in their mind and also in their heart about that what happened in that fight.

I’m just answering them that I don’t have a plan yet. I’m very focused on this fight January 19 against Adrien Broner because Broner is a former champion and he’s the kind of fighter that you cannot underestimate or take him lightly.

Q

What did it feel like having Freddie Roach back in your corner helping you prepare for a fight?

M. Pacquiao

Freddie’s never out of Team Pacquiao it just happened that I wanted Buboy to experience being a head trainer in one fight.

But it’s a good thing that we’re working here again and I like to be back here in Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles and back again in Las Vegas for a fight. I think that it’s good for us to be united and focused for this coming fight next week.

Q

Was the talent at welterweight a bit of a motivating factor to sign with PBC and potentially get those types of dream matches and turning them into a reality?

M. Pacquiao

I think after this fight it’s easy to talk about my next opponent. That’s very easy but right now my plan is one at a time, because — as they said — I am 40 years old.

I’m focused for this fight against Adrien Broner. One at a time. After the fight on January 19 that night then we can talk about my next fight.

Q

Could you rank your top five opponents as far as preparing for the fight and degree of difficulty?

M. Pacquiao

I think my top opponents are Oscar De La Hoya, Juan Manuel Marquez, Marco Antonio Barrera, Miguel Cotto, Floyd Mayweather, Erik Morales and Ricky Hatton.

Q

What challenge does Adrien pose?

M. Pacquiao

We know already about his counter-punching. I know that he will wait for me and counter like Marquez did. I’m prepared for that and it will not happen again. I learned in the past and I have to correct my mistake.

Q

Can you talk a little bit about what you felt when you saw Mayweather fight on New Year’s Eve and is there any comparison between Adrien Broner and Floyd Mayweather?

M. Pacquiao

Adrien Broner is not a tune up fight. He’s a former champion. He’s fast, he moves fast and he’s a good boxer. And that’s why I don’t want to talk about my next fight until we finish this. I finish this business against Adrien Broner on January 19.

And about the exhibition of Floyd Mayweather in Japan, it’s my first time to see an exhibition that you knock your opponent out. Supposedly an exhibition is just to entertain people and nothing serious for three rounds. That’s what I understand about exhibitions.

Q

Do you have the desire to once again to be the undisputed Welterweight Champion?

M. Pacquiao

Let me take care of this January 19 and then I have to worry about who is my opponent next. I have no problem to fight anybody as long as there’s not a problem about negotiation. But my plan is just one at a time.

Q

What do you think of Adrien Broner as an opponent and as a person heading into January 19?

M. Pacquiao

It’s unfair to him that people are thinking that he’s not a serious challenge for me. No, Adrien Broner is a good boxer, he’s a high-caliber boxer. He’s a former champion and he’s the kind of fighter that you cannot underestimate or take him lightly.

K. Swanson

Thank you so much Manny, for answering those questions, we appreciate it. We’re so happy you’re back fighting in the United States for all of us to be able to come and watch you.

M. Pacquiao

Thank you, guys. Nice to be back here in the United States. Thank you, God bless.

K. Swanson

Thanks, Fred. Okay, now we’re going to transition over to Adrien Broner. I’d like to introduce Ravone Littlejohn. He’s the CEO of About Billions Promotion and he will make the introduction of Adrien Broner. Ravone?

Ravone Littlejohn

At About Billions Promotions we’re happy to be promoting this fight as the premier event that we’ve had in our infancy as a company. Adrien has trained very well and very hard. He’s more than ready for his opportunity. We’d like to thank all the promotional entities who are involved in this fight. And at this time I’ll go ahead and pass it over to Adrien.

Adrien Broner

What’s up with everyone? What’s good? Training camp’s been great. I’m training my ass off. I’ve been focused and I’m just ready to go out there and prove all the naysayers wrong.

Q

Adrien are you motivated by being am underdog in this fight?

A. Broner

It’s real motivating, but I don’t worry about it. I just don’t let it get to me. I just can’t wait for the bell to ring January 19.

Q

If you beat Manny Pacquiao how much would that erase any bad feelings or negativity associated with your losses?

A. Broner

It definitely would. In life they say you’re only as good as your last performance, so it’s definitely going to sweep a lot of things under the rug.

Q

What would it mean to you then to get that caliber of a victory? How big in the scheme of things would that be for you?

A. Broner

It’s going to be huge and I’m taking full advantage of it. I’m well-prepared and I’m just ready to go out there and perform.

Q

There’s there’s been some news reports about some of your legal issues. Has that in any way impacted your training or focus on this fight?

A. Broner

No, that’s just something I’ll take care of after the fight. Right now I’m 100% focused on this fight and I’m just ready to come to the ring January 19 and get a victory.

Q

My question is for Stephen Espinoza. Hey, Stephen, how are you? Just briefly, this event is a SHOWTIME PPV event on January 19. Do you have any comments on specifically Eddie Hearn and Oscar De La Hoya saying that PPV is dead in boxing?

And furthermore, do you think on a microeconomic level that PPV and American professional sports is dead?

S. Espinoza

Sure, I’m happy to. Look, on the concept of PPV we’ve consistently said that it’s a useful tool when it’s necessary, when you have a premium event. If you’ve got a filet mignon event, you’re going to have filet mignon prices. You don’t get filet mignon at the price of ground beef.

I think a lot of the blowback and the negativity around PPV comes when networks are trying to sell people PPVs that don’t belong there.

I didn’t hear too many people saying that Wilder versus Fury was not a premium event, a special event, a Heavyweight Title fight, an International Worldwide Title fight that deserved to be PPV

Likewise, on January 19 you have two of the biggest stars in the sport. Manny has a long history on PPV and the way this event was able to happen was through that tool. So these two events, plus Mayweather and McGregor, are the only PPVs we’ve done in the last three years.

So, I understand what Eddie Hearn and Oscar De La Hoya are saying. It’s a great marketing ploy and that’s really all it is is just a catchphrase because both of those guys rely on PPV and have relied on it as an integral part of their business in the past.

Eddie on one hand will say that they’re are terrible thing and they’re dead, but if we look at his U.K. business it’s basically all built on PPV.

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Oscar himself while he’s saying that boxing PPVs are dead is simultaneously selling an MMA PPV. So, the reality is, it’s a useful tool. It rewards the fighters for taking tough fights and it allows some fights to happen that wouldn’t otherwise happen without that tool. But it should be used sparingly.

Q

Adrien, has that been frustrating for you that some people may not be taking you seriously?

A. Broner

No disrespect but I don’t care at all about Mayweather and Pacquiao or any other fights people are talking about. I’m focused on Adrien Broner and Pacquiao. I’m focused on getting this victory. And then I’m going to go to the drawing board with my team and make bigger moves.

Q

Did you get a chance to see Pacquiao’s last fight against Lucas Matthysse? And if so, what do you think of Pacquiao and how his skills have sort of translated now being 40?

A. Broner

Pacquiao’s a legend. He’ll always go down as one of the best in the boxing business. But I just feel like it’s my time to take over this sport and I’m coming to take the throne from Pacquiao.

Q

I just asked Manny on the previous call what his top five fights were in terms of preparation and degree of difficulty. He listed about six or seven and the top one was Oscar De La Hoya. You weren’t on the list. What do you think that says about him and do you think he’s in for a rude awakening?

A. Broner

I’m just focusing. I’m just ready to go in there and have a hell of a night and start a new chapter in my career.

Q

Do you think that your counter-punching ability is the antidote to his style of speed, jumping in, being aggressive?

A. Broner

It’ll definitely play a big part but we’ve got more in store to beat Pacquiao and I will show that January 19.

Q

What is the difference between the Adrien Broner who lost three fights and the one who is going into this fight?

A. Broner

My dedication to the sport. People who have seen me would 100% vouch for me. I know what’s at stake. A win over Pacquiao could take my career somewhere that I can only dream of. So I’ve got to take it seriously and I just really feel like it’s my time.

Q

What are the things you’re looking at in camp that gives you the confidence that you can knock Manny out?

A. Broner

The knockout is good but I’m definitely just going for the win. I just want to win, pointblank, period. Everybody goes into a fight wanting to knockout. Who doesn’t want to knock someone out? But, you know, things will unravel on January 19.

Q

Do you think that this is a must-win fight for you?

A. Broner

At the end of the day, if you’re a boxer, every fight is a must-win fight. You don’t ever want to go to a fight trying to lose.

As a competitor, as an athlete, when I prepare, I go in to win. I’m trying to win. It’s always a must-win situation.

Q

I’m wondering what you perceive the stakes to be when you ponder this and say to yourself, “Okay, I’m going to beat Manny Pacquiao.”

A. Broner

I don’t look at that. Boxing is a sport where you’ve got to go a fight at a time. So, I’m focused on Manny Pacquiao and after that we’ll look at other things and other avenues.

Q

Can you speak to the fact that you say this fight is for the ‘hood and how important it is to you to come out victorious?

A. Broner

Where I come from, man, we barely have seen someone to come out and be at the top level where I am today. So that’s why I’m doing this for the ‘hood to give back hope and show the young kids that they can follow their dreams.

That motivates me to just go in there and do my best. We’re going to go in there and get the victory.

By Norm Frauenheim-

Manny Pacquiao is back in America amid a mix of inevitable questions faced by any boxer about to fight for the first time since turning 40. It’s an old face. Yet a fresh one, too, perhaps because he really is renewed or maybe because we’ve just missed him.

During an era ruled by noisy narcissism Pacquiao has been missed for everything he doesn’t say, which has always been a lot. Everybody flexes their mouth these days. Even LeBron James is calling himself the greatest (lower case intended).

After a couple of decades that have included titles at eight weights and political titles in two Filipino houses, however, the former Congressman and current Senator leaves over-the-top exaggeration to somebody else.

For the next week-and-a-half, that somebody happens to be Adrien Broner, who gets headlines more for what he does outside of his boxing career. Only Broner’s warrants are outstanding.

Broner loves the bully pulpit, and he figures to use it loudly and profanely before his last chance for welterweight relevance on Jan. 19 against Pacquiao at Las Vegas’ MGM Grand in a Showtime pay-per-view bout.

Standing in a striking contrast, there’s Pacquiao, a few years older than he was in his last American visit, yet as modest as ever.

“My journey in this sport is still continuing,’’ Pacquiao said Wednesday to the assembled media at trainer Freddie Roach’s Wild Card Gym. “I’ve accomplished everything I’ve wanted to, but I also want to continue to keep my name at the top.

“Even at 40-years-old, I can still show the best of Manny Pacquiao. I’m going to give the fans the speed and power that they’re used to seeing.’’

That’s boilerplate Manny. Five years ago, it would have sounded naïve, more moments of Manny uttering platitudes. But today there something comforting about those familiar words. At one level, at least, he’s the same guy. Only at opening bell will we know whether he’s the same within those ropes. But that unchanged modesty is a sure sign that at least some of the physical skills are still intact. Bragging is a symptom of insecurity and there has never been sign of that in the quiet poise still evident in Pacquiao.

Can Broner test him? Beat him? Yes and yes. Broner’s right-handed counter is dangerous enough to put a premature end to Pacquiao’s comeback. But will he? It says here he won’t for reasons already seen. Broner’s defining fight was a 2013 loss to Marcos Maidana. It was damning then and Broner has yet to prove he isn’t the guy who shrunk in retreat under Maidana’s furious rate of punches during a long night in San Antonio.

Video of Pacquiao at a media workout this week indicated he’s in terrific condition, good enough to at least rain down successive punches onto Broner during the early moments. Guess here is that Pacquiao’s power is still very much there. Let’s just say it’s as genuine as that modest streak. If Broner feels it a couple of times, he’ll use his speed in much the same way he did against Maidana more than five years ago. He’ll retreat, straight into another defeat.

That would spark intense speculation about what – who – is next for Pacquiao. It also would set up talk about a rematch with you-know-who. Fact is, there’s already talk about a rematch with Floyd Mayweather Jr.

In history-repeats-itself, Pacquiao ran into Mayweather at another NBA game this week, this time at a Clippers game at Los Angeles’ Staples Center. The immediate and inevitable parallel was their meeting at a Miami Heat game, a key encounter that finally led to the disappointing Mayweather decision over Pacquiao in 2015. For a lot of fans, I suspect, a sequel would be more of a historical redundancy than a good rematch.

“My plan is to take it one fight at a time,” Pacquiao said. “I can’t talk about future fights until I do what I have to on January 19. You can ask me again after this one.’’

Trite, true and good enough for me. Welcome back, Manny.

– photo credit : Chris Farina –
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Photos By Chris Farina / ChrisFarina.com

NEW YORK – December 28, 2018 – SHOWTIME Sports will chronicle the buildup to the welterweight world championship between Senator Manny Pacquiao and must-see attraction Adrien Broner with a new installment of the Emmy Award-winning series ALLACCESS. The multi-part series premieres Friday, January 4 at 10:30 p.m. ET/PT on SHOWTIME and airs on consecutive Fridays leading into the January 19 SHOWTIME PPV® from MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

ALL ACCESS: PACQUIAO VS. BRONER will peel back the curtain as Pacquiao transitions from the final days of Senate in his native Philippines to training camp in Los Angeles for his first fight in America in more than two years. The immersive series will document Broner, one of boxing’s most colorful personalities, as the four-division champion prepares for a chance to become a two-time titlist in boxing’s glamour division.

Episode two of ALL ACCESS: PACQUIAO VS. BRONER will premiere Friday, January 11 at 9:30 p.m. ET/PT. ALL ACCESS EPILOGUE, which spotlights the immediate buildup to fight night and the solemn aftermath of world championship prizefighting, will premiere on Saturday, January 26.

The acclaimed SHOWTIME Sports original series will be accompanied by digital features released throughout fight week on the networks’ social media channels. ALL ACCESS DAILY will deliver the same intimate access and signature storytelling as the intensity builds toward fight night. New installments of the digital series will be available each day beginning Wednesday, January 16 on the SHOWTIME Sports YouTube channel and SHOWTIME Boxing Facebook page.

Filming for the series is underway as Pacquiao recently begun phase two of his camp in Los Angeles under the legendary Freddie Roach. Cincinnati’s Broner, the second-youngest four-division champion in history, is in the midst of training camp in West Palm Beach, Fla., under the tutelage of Kevin Cunningham.

HOLLYWOOD, CALIF. (December 28, 2018) – What would a Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao training camp be without a few bons mots from World-Famous Freddie Roach, the seven-time BWAA Trainer of the Year?

Upon hearing the news that Pacquiao’s opponent Adrien “The Problem” Broner had been arrested on Sunday in Broward County, Florida, on a bench warrant for failure to appear in court (https://www.tmz.com/2018/12/26/adrien-broner-arrested-mug-shot-smiling-christmas-florida/?vtest=100), a seemingly chronic issue for the four-division world champion, Roach had this to say:

“Sounds like Adrien should change his ring name from ‘The Problem’ to ‘The Fugitive.’ This may be the first time I face a corner that includes a bail bondsman!”

Hailed as a national treasure by his fellow Filipinos, boxer laureate Pacquiao (60-7-2, 39 KOs), boxing’s only eight-division world champion, a member of the Philippines Senate, and the BWAA’s reigning Fighter of the Decade, is in his most intense phase of training as he prepares for his WBA welterweight world title defense against Broner (33-3-1, 24 KOs), of Cincinnati. Pacquiao vs. Broner takes place on Saturday, January 19, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. It will be produced and distributed live by SHOWTIME PPV® and presented by Premier Boxing Champions beginning at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT.

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A three-time Fighter of the Year, Pacquiao, who hails from Sarangani Province in the Philippines, is the only sitting Congressman and Senator to win a world title. After serving two terms as Congressman, Pacquiao was elected to a Philippine Senate seat in May 2016, capturing over 16 million votes nationally. Pacquiao’s boxing resume features victories over at least seven current and future Hall of Famers, including Oscar De La Hoya, Ricky Hatton, Marco Antonio Barrera, Erik Morales, Miguel Cotto, Shane Mosley, and Juan Manuel Marquez. In his last fight, with Philippine President Rodrigo R. Duterte and Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad in attendance (the first time two heads of state attended a championship boxing event), Pacquaio regained the welterweight title for a fourth time with a vintage performance on July 15 at Axiata Arena in Kuala Lampur, Malaysia, by knocking out defending WBA champion Lucas Matthyssee in the seventh round.

Promoted by MP Promotions, Mayweather Promotions and TGB Promotions in association with About Billions Promotions, remaining tickets to the Pacquiao vs. Broner welterweight world championship event are priced from at $100, not including applicable service charges, and can be purchased online through AXS.com, charge by phone at 866-740-7711 or in person at any MGM Resorts International box office.

LOS ANGELES (December 21, 2018) — MANNY IS BACK!  Senator Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao (60-7-2, 39 KOs), the Philippines’ national treasure and boxing’s only eight-division world champion, returns for his first U.S.-based training camp in over two years on Saturday.  The Pacman Express is scheduled to deliver the reigning WBA welterweight world champion and his team to LAX’s Tom Bradley International Terminal at 6:15 p.m. PT via Philippine Airlines flight PR 102.

            What a whirlwind journey it has been for the Amazin’ Manny.  After knocking out defending WBA welterweight world champion Lucas Matthyssee in the seventh round of  their July 15 bout which took place at Axiata Arena in Kuala Lampur, Malaysia, there has been no down time for Manny, a schedule that keeps the international icon thriving.  Manny has traveled to the United Kingdom at the invitations of the prestigious Oxford Union and Cambridge Union to speak about his life and answer questions from the student members on consecutive days.  He embarked on a coast-to-coast U.S. media tour to announce his title defense against four-division world champion Adrien “The Problem” Broner (33-3-1, 24 KOs), from Cincinnati, followed by an immediate flight back to Manila where he gave a speech to the plenary to further push his Senate Bill 1599 seeking to raise the excise tax on tobacco products.

            Then it was 14 to 16-hour days divided into two-part rigorous training sessions and a full work day dedicated to his senatorial duties. Once the Philippine Senate session ended on December 12, Team Pacquiao returned home to General Santos City to focus on training — with one exception — his 40th birthday celebration.  He began his birthday celebration one day early, as he has traditionally done, by donating and handing out 2,000 bags of groceries to residents of Barangay Tinoto in Maasim, Sarangani.  The following day, it was a gala celebration that filled the KCC Convention Center.  Friends, family, celebrities and government dignitaries of the highest order, including President Duterte,  joined together  to wish Manny a happy 40th birthday   But typical of Manny, he was the one who was giving the gifts, which included the raffling of major prizes, featuring four automobiles, 58 motorcycles, and two dozen large screen LED televisions.

            “Life begins at 40,” exclaimed Manny at his gala.  “Physically, I still feel like I am 25, but with the benefit of the wisdom that comes from the added years of my life experience.  I still have a lot I want to accomplish as an athlete, a public servant, and a father, husband and son.  I look forward to adding more chapters to my life story.”

            Now it’s off to Hollywood, California and his second home, Wild Card Boxing Club,  where Manny will endure the most intensive part of his training in preparation for his title defense against Broner.  Holidays will be work days for this training camp, which will begin on Christmas Eve. Manny and his team have taken a vow to leave no stone unturned as they prepare for the battle with Broner.

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            The Pacquiao vs. Broner world championship event will take place Saturday, January 19 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.  Pacquiao vs. Broner and its co-main event fights will be produced and distributed live by SHOWTIME PPV® and presented by Premier Boxing Champions beginning at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT.

Promoted by MP Promotions, Mayweather Promotions and TGB Promotions in association with About Billions Promotions, remaining tickets to the Pacquiao vs. Broner welterweight world championship event are priced from at $100, not including applicable service charges, and can be purchased online through AXS.com, charge by phone at 866-740-7711 or in person at any MGM Resorts International box office.

By Norm Frauenheim-

Manny Pacquiao’s return to the United States this week has a nostalgic feel. He stopped in New York. Then, Los Angeles. It was fun to see him.

That shy, enigmatic smile is still in place. His reunion with trainer Freddie Roach for a Jan 19 fight with Adrien Broner was the perfect touch, especially on Thanksgiving week. The family is back together. But I’m not sure it’ll mean much in a couple of months.

Does he beat Broner? Maybe. He’ll be 40 in a few weeks – Dec. 17. It’s tough to hazard a guess on how any 40-year-old fighter will do. Broner has speed and an overall skillset that Pacquiao didn’t see against Jeff Horn or a shot Lucas Matthysse.

But Broner also has shown – again and again – that he bails out at the first sign of adversity. Power is the last thing to go in any aging fighter. Pacquiao probably still has enough of that to force Broner into surrender or a hasty retreat into a scorecard defeat.

Then what? The widely-reported plan is for Pacquiao to then fight Floyd Mayweather Jr. in a rematch of their revenue record-setting bout in May 2015. Could it happen? Of course.

For Mayweather, celebrity and legacy are like T-shirts and caps. They are commodities, transactional in every way. He won’t turn away from a chance to cash in all over again. Reportedly, that’s what he and Pacquiao talked about weeks ago, supposedly in a chance meeting in Tokyo, where Mayweather’s on-again, off-again New Year’s Eve date with an unknown kick boxer is apparently on again.

By all accounts, Pacquiao is again in need of money. He reportedly earned between $160 million and $180 million for his decision loss to Mayweather in 2015. It’s anybody’s guess where all that money went within three-plus years. Bob Arum, Pacquiao’s ex-promoter, once said that the Filipino Senator was the Pacific Island nation’s only social welfare system.

To wit: He gives it away, apparently at such a rate he can’t even write a lot of it off. He has fought in the U.S for two years because of a reported IRS bill. Apparently, the IRS problem has been resolved. His spending habits, however, are still enough of question to wonder if he won’t still be fighting at 50.

Above all, there are reasons to think he and Mayweather have overestimated the market’s appetite for a rematch. It’s not as if the under-whelming first fight would ever sell a rematch anyway.

The other issue is that the overall market has changed. HBO is exiting after this Saturday’s telecast of Dmitry Bivol-Jean Pascal in Atlantic City. HBO, a key to Pacquiao’s international celebrity and huge purses, is leaving within two months of Pacquiao’s return. Gone are the nine-figure paydays.

Consider this: Terence Crawford, the best welterweight of the day, is earning between $3.0 and $3.5 million for each of his bouts under his current deal with Top Rank and ESPN. If that’s the new pay scale, Pacquiao can forget $160 million or $180 million. He has name recognition, but would anybody rank him among today’s five best welterweights?

On this list, Crawford is at No. 1, Errol Spence No. 2, Keith Thurman No. 3 and Shawn Porter No. 4. You could put Pacquiao at No. 5, but that would put him ahead of Horn, who beat him in a controversial decision. It also would put him ahead of Mickey Garcia, who is jumping two weight classes – from light to welter – to challenge Spence on March 16.

Garcia, who now has to considered at welterweight, never even mentioned Pacquiao as a possibility early in his dangerous pursuit of Spence. It’s not clear Pacquiao would have agreed to a date with Garcia anyway. But Garcia’s decision to bypass any consideration of the Filipino might say it all about what the market place thinks about Pacquiao’s value these days.

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. – November 20, 2018 – Boxing’s only eight-division world champion Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao and former four-division champ Adrien “The Problem” Broner were all business on Tuesday as they concluded their two-city press tour in Los Angeles announcing their Saturday, January 19 showdown for Pacquiao’s WBA Welterweight World Title. The event will be produced and distributed live by SHOWTIME PPV (9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT) from MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas and presented by Premier Boxing Champions.

Promoted by MP Promotions, Mayweather Promotions and TGB Promotions in association with About Billions Promotions, tickets to the Pacquiao vs. Broner welterweight world championship event will go on sale on Saturday, November 24. Tickets are priced at $1,500, $1,000, $750, $500, $300, $200, $100, not including applicable service charges, and can be purchased online through AXS.com, charge by phone at 866-740-7711 or in person at any MGM Resorts International box office.

Here are what the fighters and executives had to say on Tuesday.

MANNY PACQUIAO:

“This fight is going to be a good fight. I have to pass through him before fighting Floyd Mayweather. I want to prove to the boxing fans that Manny Pacquiao is still in the pack. You will see more fights with Manny Pacquiao here in the United States.

“He’s young and he’s fast – and he’s fast with his mouth. There will be more action in the ring – we know what the people want. It’s going to be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see a fight you will never forget.

“I continue my career as a boxer because boxing is my passion. When I hung up my gloves once, I felt sad not being in the ring and giving inspiration to people in the Philippines and boxing fans.”

On potentially fighting Floyd Mayweather again:

“I don’t think Adrien will agree with that, because I need to pass through him. This is not an easy fight.”

On working with Al Haymon:

“I have only good things to say about Top Rank – they helped me a lot. But I’m really thankful to be partnered with Al Haymon and have a chance to work with him.”

“[Broner’s] a funny guy. I think after his boxing career, he could have another career as a comedian. I don’t get upset about the jokes. I can’t help but laugh when I look at his face.”

Will the Mayweather rematch be next?

“I can’t give you an answer, but if you ask me, it would be good for me to have that fight.”

ADRIEN BRONER:

“January 19, I am coming to win. Screw the money, I’m going to be victorious. They keep talking about a Pacquiao-Mayweather 2, but I’m going to mess those plans up. I just don’t see Manny Pacquiao beating me.

“He’s still in great condition. He’s trained his ass off. I have to keep my composure and stay focused on my game plan. But I’m not going to tell you what that plan is.

“Hope isn’t my strategy – there will be no luck. I feel like he can’t beat me. Look at my resume – what do I do to southpaws? I stop them. Going into this fight, I’m very confident. I’m going to do what I always do to southpaws and dismantle him.”

STEPHEN ESPINOZA, President Sports & Event Programming, Showtime Networks Inc.

“These two fighters have resumes that you’re all familiar with. On the surface they seem very different, but they’re more similar than you’d think.

“They’re two of the most entertaining and popular fighters in the sport. They are also two fighters who are all heart. We’ve seen them in tough fights, and there’s one thing you know you’re going to get out of Manny Pacquiao and AB, and that’s 100 percent effort throughout the fight.

“When Adrien Broner and Manny Pacquiao fight, it’s a huge event. Add in Mayweather Promotions and MGM Grand and Las Vegas, and it’s one of the biggest fights of the year. There’s a lot at stake – this will be an all action fight. It will be a special weekend, and we can’t wait.”

JOE RAMOS, Head of MP Promotions

“We all know Adrien is hungry, but he’s fighting boxing’s only eight-division champion. Manny will show the world that he’s the best fighter on the planet come January 19. Don’t miss a chance to be part of history.”

LEONARD ELLERBE, CEO of Mayweather Promotions

“We know we have a great fight come Jan. 19. You’ll see a future Hall of Famer in Manny Pacquiao, and a guy in Adrien Broner who has never backed down from a challenge. He knows he has to be at his best to beat Manny Pacquiao. The style matchup with these two guys is very intriguing. I promise you this will be a great fight.”

RAVONE LITTLEJOHN, Co-Head of About Billions Promotions

“It’s going to be a great fight. If my man AB hits the right shot, it could be a short night. We’ve never been down for the count, and we’re not going to start now. We know the position we’re in. It’s a pleasure to fight a legend like Manny Pacquiao.”

RICHARD STRUM, President of Las Vegas Live Entertainment and Sports

“This fight kicks off another tremendous year of entertainment for MGM. I’d like to welcome Manny Pacquiao and Adrien Broner, two of the sport’s most iconic fighters, back to MGM Grand and Las Vegas.”