Manny Pacquiao has named his next opponent and it will be no other than Adrien Broner. Also, the Filipino boxing icon shared the possible date of the clash - either Jan. 12 or 19 in 2019.
Pacquiao made the revelation after he was named ambassador of International Sports Promotions Society (ISPS Handa) at the Makati Shangrila Hotel in Manila Wednesday night, Spin.ph said. This fight is expected to be the Pac-Man's warmup as he braces for a potential rematch with undefeated boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr. next year.
Pacquiao failed to mention where the fight would take place although it is likely to be held in the United States. The announcement also backs belief that the boxer-senator has signed up with the stable of Al Haymon, ironically the influential adviser of Mayweather, Manila Bulletin Sports said.
At stake will be the World Boxing Association 147-pound belt that Pacquiao won over now-retired Lucas Matthysse in Malaysia last July. Curiously, the Filipino also mentioned that Mayweather would be returning to the ring on Dec. 31 although it has yet to be known who he would be facing.
One name has popped up in the sports headlines in Khabib Nurmagomedov. While it hardly counts as a professional boxing match, it does serve as an appetizer of sorts to get Mayweather back into shape.
Nurmagomedov is one of the controversial names in the mixed martial arts right now following that unfortunate brawl that went down at UFC 229. After forcing Conor McGregor to a submission, the Russian fighter went over the cage and went at Dillon Dillashaw - something that triggered a chaotic scene at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
The sanctions on Nurmagomedov have yet to be handed out. Tony Fergusson was mentioned as a potential next opponent until that Instagram post from Leonard Ellerbe popped out.
"50-0 versus 27-0, two guys (who) never lose. Let's go, why not? Because in the jungle (there's) only one king. Only one king... of course, I'm the king. Because he cannot drop... McGregor but I drop him easily. That's why, let's go," said Nurmagomedov in a video shot at fight event in Russia.
Mayweather recently responded to Nurmagomedov, revealing that the fight will indeed happen but in the boxing ring. It remains to be seen if this will be the Dec. 31 fight Pacquiao is talking about as both iconic pugs try to warm up before an anticipated rematch which most hope will be action-packed compared to the disappointing first encounter.
"When I face Khabib, I’m getting a nine-figure payday. It’s more than the McGregor fight – probably $100 million more, guaranteed. It could be somewhere between $110 (million) and $200 million (more) guaranteed,” said Mayweather to MMA Junkie.
