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Pacquiao announced Thursday in a news
conference in Manila that he wants to defend his secondary
welterweight world title in January. The fight against Broner,
which Pacquiao indicated is "90 percent" done, is expected to be
held in Las Vegas on either Jan. 12 or Jan. 19, according to
ESPN.
"It is almost final but it is not yet there," Pacquiao (60-7-2,
39 KOs) said at a charity function. Set to turn 40 in December,
he wants Broner to be his next knockout victim, saying, "If I
can finish it earlier than seven rounds, why not."
A fight likely wouldn't be made official until Pacquiao settles
tax issues with the U.S. government after racking up an
eight-figure debt to the Internal Revenue Service.
By defeating Broner, the fight possibly could set up a rematch
with Floyd Mayweather next spring. About two weeks ago, Pacquiao
signed with Premier Boxing Champions founder Al Haymon to become
his adviser. Haymon's fighters include Broner plus world
champions Errol Spence Jr., Shawn Porter and Keith Thurman.
Pacquiao lost a decision to Mayweather in their welterweight
title unification bout in 2015. The two talked in September
regarding a rematch.
The most recent fight for Pacquiao in the U.S. was in Las Vegas
in November 2016, when he won by a decision against Jessie
Vargas to earn a welterweight world title. Pacquiao is the only
boxer to win world titles in eight weight classes.
Broner, 29, a Cincinnati fighter who has compiled a 33-3-1
record with 24 KOs and world titles in four weight classes, lost
a decision to Mikey Garcia in July 2017, then fought to a draw
with Vargas in April.
--Field Level Media
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