WIKI describes his occupation among others as an athlete, politician and TV personality. The online encyclopaedia then describes his profession as a professional boxer (not a pro basketball player) and a business person.
At 40-years old, the multi-tasking boxer climbed the ring last Sunday for the 70th time, definitely not the last as I see it, against an opponent who’s eleven years younger and more known for his fights with the law. They’re about even size-wise but that’s about as far as comparisons go. The fighter who also goes by the very appropriate nickname “The Problem” was a four-division titlist but he was like a clueless piglet in a tiny pigsty when chased and pummelled by the athlete-politico known as Pacman, the sport’s only eight division title holder.
Yes, it was Adrien Broner versus Manny Pacquiao during Ati-Atihan and Sinulog lunchtime at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. Because of the alleged tax evasion charges, it’s been almost two years since Pacman had a fight in the US but still, Vegas oddsmakers had our fighter as the heavy favorite with a -300 and Broner at +240. This means that your $300 bet on Pacman only gives you $100 while your $100 bet on Broner wins you $240.
Boxing’s only full-time senator and a full colonel in the PH Army Reserves was once a devout Catholic. He used to wear the rosary around his neck on the way to the square ring and kneels and prays on the canvass prior to modifying opponents faces. Now, he has found true religion (not the ridiculously expensive jeans) and easily inserts bible verses between conversations.
We all knew of the result and Pacman reportedly was guaranteed to receive $20 million with Broner getting about $8 million, his biggest career paycheck. And like a child whose lollipop was snatched away from him, Broner ranted to whoever would care to believe and listen to him that he was robbed of victory. Yeah, right. Had that been a track meet, hands down he’s the winner.
While he was complaining and whining, the Pacman savoured the thrill of victory and went to Staples Center and watched the LA Lakers agonizing to the defeat by the ridiculously mighty Golden State Warriors. There, he again met and shook hands with frenemy Floyd Mayweather, Jr. who was on his usual courtside seat.
An interesting undercard on the Pacman-Broner would have been Cebuano Jahck Tepora had he not been disqualified for being overweight. Because he was 5 and a-half pounds above the limit, he was stripped of his interim WBA Welterweight World title belt. That would have been his first US fight and his third consecutive international fight following his victory over South African Lusanda Komanisi at London in September 2017 (KO, 2nd round) and recently last August in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia for the vacant interim WBA Featherweight title against Edivaldo Ortega of Mexico (TKO, 9th round), as an undercard for the Pacman – Mathysse mainer.
Under Pacman’s MP Promotions, the 25-year old Tepora is undefeated at 22-0 with 17 knockouts, including his last six fights. It would be better for him to move up to the next weight class as reportedly upon departure to Las Vegas, he was about 20 pounds overweight. There’s no way you can lose 20 pounds in a matter of days./PN
