Manny Pacquiao Next Fight: Adrien Broner Open To Showdown With 'Pacman' in April 2016
World Boxing Association junior welterweight champion Adrien Broner is open to facing former world champion Manny Pacquiao next year.
Pacquiao's adviser, Michael Koncz, told Manila Bulletin last week that Pacquiao is considering facing Broner in April, which will likely be the farewell fight of the Filipino boxing icon.
Broner, who owns a 31-2 fight record with 23 knockout victories, confirmed reports about the possibility of facing Pacquiao. The 26-year-old told Fighthype that Koncz called him personally to discuss the possible showdown.
"I hear they want me to fight Pacquiao next," said Broner, who won the vacant WBA junior welterweight title via 12th-round knockout win against Khabib Allakhverdiev in October in Cincinnati. "Michael Koncz actually called me. We are waiting to hear from him."
If the showdown pushes through, Pacquiao is expected to be tagged as heavy favorite because of his experience. However, Broner is confident that he has the tools to defeat Pacquiao, who has not fought since taking a unanimous decision defeat to Floyd Mayweather in May.
Broner said that fight fans will love the proposed fight between him and Pacquiao. He added that he cannot wait to collide with the former eight division champion because he wants to send Pacquiao into retirement.
"I love fighting southpaws, man. Just check my record," Broner told BoxingScene. "He's a great guy. It would be a hell of a fight A young rising star against an elite Hall of Famer on his way out. I can't wait to send him home to the Philippines to go be Governor. You can't put it past nobody. This is boxing. It only takes one shot."
However, Mayweather, who is a good friend of Broner, told reporters that he has other plans for the Ohio native. The retired boxing superstar insisted that Broner will go up against 35-year-old Ashley Theophane in his next fight.
Aside from Broner, Pacquiao is reportedly considering facing reigning World Boxing Organization super lightweight champion Terence Crawford, British boxing star Amir Khan, and reigning WBO welterweight champion Timothy Bradley.
Crawford was previously considered as favorite to land the bout against Pacquiao, but a separate report from Manila Bulletin revealed that the 28-year-old is now out of picture. Previous reports indicated that Top Rank Promotions CEO Bob Arum is also not interested in pitting Pacquiao against Khan.
On the other hand, Bradley is still an option for Pacquiao. Bradley, who is coming off a 10th-round knockout triumph against Dierry Jean in October, scored a questionable split decision win against Pacquiao in June 2012, but the latter managed to avenge the defeat via a lopsided victory in April 2014.
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