Analysis
FIGHT NIGHT
Pacquiao vs Broner prediction: How will the fight will be won and lost?
The Filipino legend returns to the ring at the age of 40 to defend his WBA crown against American star
MANNY PACQUIAO will make his 70th career ringwalk this Saturday - as he defends his WBA 'regular' welterweight title against Adrien Broner in Las Vegas.
Here SunSport explores the keys to victory for both fighters, and a final prediction in what could be a career defining night for Broner or an example to as why Pacquiao should not hang up the gloves.
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Keys to Victory
Pacquiao
PACQUIAO has made a career from winning fights due to his blitzing speed and footwork - though at 40 he has shown signs of slowing down.
Facing a counter-puncher like Broner, the Filipino must throw his shots in at least bursts of twos and threes, to break up his opponents flow and momentum.
When Pacman faced Floyd Mayweather, he neglected his combination punching, opting to throw single shots, allowing the American to win the exchanges due to his superior counter-punching.
Against Broner, Pacquiao cannot repeat this, he must use footwork to come in at different angles, stepping in and out of range with his speed.
Broner’s honey-shot is his lead straight right-hand, which against a southpaw is more effective, so Pacquiao has to move his head, as it could make his opponent hesitate before throwing.
The biggest key for Pacquiao is to be first, beating Broner to the punch - as that way, he’ll nullify Broner’s ability to get in a rhythm.
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BRONER
BRONER is an effective and well regarded counter-puncher, but equally as impressive, but not as well recognised for his brilliant combination punching.
The Cincinnati native can flurry in bunches, often going to both the head and body with uppercuts and hooks that steal him rounds.
However, Broner is always guilty of starting his good work too late - and against Pacquiao, you can simply not afford a slow start.
The American has to work his fast combination punching early, as it could force Pacquiao to take more risks down the stretch - and here Broner can implement his good counter-punching.
Though Broner is a great counter-puncher on the backfoot, I believe he must leave that to the later rounds and instead start more aggressively.
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PREDICTION
THESE ARE the fights boxing fans eagerly await - 50/50 bouts with no way of suggesting an obvious outcome.
I believe Broner has the ability to outwork a 40-year-old Pacman, however, he's had the tools to do that to most of his opponents.
Yet slow starts and neglecting his best assets, speed and volume punching, has meant Broner has lost or won unconvincingly.
They suggest, you are only as good as your last performance, in Broner’s case, against Jessie Vargas a familiar lethargic start meant his brilliant work down the stretch meant he could only muster a draw.
For Pacquiao, he knocked out Lucas Matthysse to win a world title, albeit a diluted version, but it showed at 40, and 69 fights old he can still outwork and devastated his opponents.
Broner has the ability and tools to suggest he can win, though, recent performances and results suggest Pacquiao will be too busy for the American.
For that reason, I predict a Majority-decision win for Pacquiao, with Broner’s late working causing the American to feel like he should have got the verdict.
- Verdict: Pacquiao via majority-decsion
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