Manny Pacquiao vs. Keith Thurman Jr. Welterweight Title Fight Set for July 20
May 11, 2019
Philippine boxing icon Manny Pacquiao poses for photos during a press conference shortly after arriving at the international airport in Manila on January 24, 2019, days after defeating US boxer Adrien Broner in Las Vegas. (Photo by TED ALJIBE / AFP) (Photo credit should read TED ALJIBE/AFP/Getty Images)
It turns out the rumors about Manny Pacquiao not fighting Keith Thurman Jr. were false.
Premier Boxing Champions announced Saturday that Pacquiao will square off with Thurman on July 20 for the WBA world welterweight championship.
— Premier Boxing Champions (@premierboxing) May 12, 2019
Earlier this week, Sean Gibbons, an adviser to Pacquiao, disputed reports an agreement had been made for this fight, per ESPN.com's Dan Rafael:
"July 13 or July 20 is possible. The Senator is still working out his political duties here before making a final decision but is looking to returning to the ring in July. After the May 13 elections, the Senator will get in serious conversations to move to close a fight. Until he gets done with elections he is not committed to anything."
Pacquiao (61-7, two draws) must have felt confident about where things stand with the upcoming election in the Philippines to officially sign the contract.
July 20 will mark Pacquiao's first appearance since a unanimous-decision win over Adrien Broner in January to retain the WBA welterweight title. Pac-Man is just 7-4 in his last 11 fights dating back to 2012.
Thurman (29-0, one no-contest) defeated Josesito Lopez by majority decision on Jan. 26. It was his first match in nearly two years due to various injuries, including undergoing elbow surgery in May 2017.
Terence Crawford vs. Amir Khan: Fight Odds, Time, Date, Live Stream and TV Info
Apr 18, 2019
WBO welterweight champion Terence "Bud" Crawford (34-0, 25 KOs) makes his 2019 debut on Saturday, putting his title on the line against Amir Khan (33-4, 20 KOs) at the legendary Madison Square Garden in New York City.
Crawford, 31, is considered one of the best pound-for-pound boxers in the sport, if not the best. This is his third fight at welterweight, arguably boxing's most talent-laden division, and the one in which he aims to stake his claim as an all-time great. He ran out of opponents in the lightweight and junior welterweight ranks, unifying all four major titles in the latter division in 2017.
Known for his elite hand speed, Khan is a former world titleholder at light welterweight, and he has been a top contender at welterweight as well.
Before he had a chance to win a world title at 147 pounds, he moved up to middleweight to challenge Saul "Canelo" Alvarez in 2016, a fight that saw him knocked out in devastating fashion in the sixth round.
After nearly two years away from the sport, the ever-popular Khan returned in 2018 to beat two opponents to set up a date with Crawford.
For Crawford, it's a chance to bring his impeccable craft to a much wider audience. For Khan, it's an opportunity to breathe new life into his career.
TV: Cable/satellite providers or ESPN Pay Per View, BT Sport Box Office (UK, pay-per-view)
Odds:Crawford -1,200 ( bet $1,200 to win $100), Khan +900 (bet $100 to win $900)
Crawford might lack the wider name recognition of a pay-per-view star, but he has the talent. A complete fighter, the Omaha, Nebraska, native has power in both hands, impeccable footwork—he can box out of both stances but favors southpaw these days—and is masterful at disrupting his opponent's rhythm and timing.
He tends to starts out slow, but what he's doing is gathering information, figuring out his opponent's strategy, tactics and what punches they want to establish. Once he has the other boxer figured out, he pummels them into submission.
Last time out, against Jose Benavidez Jr. in October, was a good example of what Bud tends to do. He steadily ramped up the pressure against his opponent, picking him apart before finishing him off in the 12th round, as Top Rank Boxing shared:
If a fighter is overmatched, Crawford won't waste his time. He knocked out Julius Indongo in the third round of their 2017 junior welterweight unification bout.
If you want more proof of his ability to vanquish fighters of any style and background, you can watch him dissect the slick, speedy Yuriorkis Gamboa in 2014 or overwhelm the lanky, crafty Viktor Postol in 2016.
Crawford credits his chameleon-like skills in the ring to both nature and nurture, per ESPN.com's Steve Kim and Anthony Olivieri:
"I was naturally gifted with an ability to move, but my coaches brought it out of me as an amateur. The power came a bit later. A complete fighter can fight going forward or backward, counter, move well and take a punch. I put in a lot of work to learn multiple styles."
Khan is far removed from his glory days, when he was beating up on the likes of Zab Judah and Marcos Maidana at junior welterweight. Back-to-back losses to Lamont Peterson and Danny Garcia derailed his run at 140 pounds, leading to him to move up to 147 pounds.
The 32-year-old found some success there, winning the WBA international welterweight title and the WBC Silver welterweight strap, but it all went out the window when he lost to Alvarez.
Khan's speed has always given fighters trouble. Alvarez was not immune to this, with the Englishman buzzing him for a few rounds and making life difficult. Once Canelo locked in, his size and strength advantage took over, though, leading to one of the cleanest knockouts you will ever see.
That led to some time away from the sport, but Khan has come back with a vengeance. He destroyed Phil Lo Greco last year in his return bout, beating him in 39 seconds. He then dominated Samuel Vargas in September, winning by unanimous decision despite suffering an early knockdown.
And Khan's chin will likely lead to his demise on Saturday. He clearly still has plenty left in the tank, but his body just might not be capable of holding up over 12 rounds. Three of his four career losses have come by knockout.
Crawford is plenty powerful and a better puncher than the vast majority of Khan's opponents. If he can survive the Brit's early pace and aggression, a knockout win is a distinct possibility here.
"For those people, and even Crawford if he's thinking this way, that are thinking it's going to be an easy fight for him because they're taking me from the last fight against Vargas, I think I'm going to shock the world, definitely. If they're thinking I'm going to be the same fighter as that fight, they'll be in for a big shock."
If Khan wins, he can have just about any fight he wants at 147 pounds A loss, and his best bet at a final big payday would be making a fight against Kell Brook, a match British fans have wanted to see for a long time. There's no shame in losing to Crawford, assuming there's no particularly grisly knockout defeat.
As for Crawford, a win will likely force him to fight one of the other champions at welterweight. Manny Pacquiao, Keith Thurman and perhaps the best of the bunch, Errol Spence Jr., would all make for event television.
This is the next logical step for Crawford, the only real criticism of whom is the lack of big-name opponents on his ledger. Fixing that problem starts with beating Khan on Saturday.
Odds according to Oddschecker and updated as of Thursday, Apr. 18 at 7 a.m. ET.
Errol Spence Jr. Dominates Mikey Garcia via Decision, Retains Welterweight Title
Mar 17, 2019
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 16: Errol Spence and Mikey Garcia wave to the crowd during the Errol Spence v Mikey Garcia Press Conference at Microsoft Theater on February 16, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Joe Scarnici/Getty Images)
Errol Spence Jr. (25-0, 21 KOs) made a difficult sport look all too easy on Saturday night, defending his IBF world welterweight title for the fourth time with a shutout, unanimous-decision win over Mikey Garcia (39-1, 30 KOs) at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
Fox Sports' Mike Coppinger has the cards:
SCORES: Errol Spence Jr. defeats Mikey Garcia via unanimous decision: 120-107, 120-108, 120-108. Shutout on all three cards. One judge scored a 10-8 round #SpenceGarcia
Spence showed off his brilliance. His jab was powerful, he mixed up shots to the head and body and he used quick, smart footwork to keep Garcia off-balance for the entire fight.
After the bout, Spence brought Manny Pacquiao into the ring and said "it would be an honor" to fight him next, per the pay-per-view broadcast. Pacquiao was diplomatic in response, and it seems like a fight that could happen.
It was a humbling night for Garcia, the first loss of his career. The 31-year-old had made the bold decision to move up two weight classes and challenge Spence for his IBF title. The move garnered both praise and heavy skepticism. It's difficult enough making the leap in weight class; doing it against a highly skilled, undefeated champion like Spence is clearly something even great fighters like Garcia should think twice about.
The steps to Spence's success were pretty simple, according to Yahoo Sports' Kevin Iole:
Combination by Spence. In, land, out, repeat. Story of this fight
The numbers confirmed what everyone saw in the ring. By the end of the fight, Spence had landed 345 punches to Garcia's 75, according to the broadcast. It took Spence a few rounds to ramp up to his preferred speed, but once he was there, it was cruise control.
For a guy accustomed to bringing pressure early and often, it was somewhat of a subdued start for Spence. He clearly respected Garcia's reputation as a tricky, technical boxer and needed some time for his feints and combinations to start working. After a tense first two frames, the third round clearly belonged to Spence. The champion did well to get Garcia guessing on which route his hands would take, alternating straight lefts with hooks around the guard. Sporting News' Andreas Hale didn't like what he saw from the contender:
Bad round for Garcia. He allowed Spence to do whatever the hell he wanted. And he’s not really sitting on his punches…yet.
Garcia had trouble getting his jab going, stymied by Spence's longer reach. Without a way to make inroads, he looked tentative and altogether confused. His hesitation provided several opportunities for Spence to work two-punch combos without fear of reprisal.
Needing a spark, Garcia opted to open up the floodgates to begin the fifth, per Rappler's Ryan Songalia:
Garcia going for broke to begin round 5, rocks Spence with a right but can’t land anything in the follow up. Spence now back on his right jab #SpenceGarcia
Spence got over the initial shock and was able to re-establish control by the end of the round. By the midway point, The Truth was sweating but otherwise spotless, while the punishment Garcia had taken to this point was etched into his face in a few spots.
The sixth saw Spence really get the home-state crowd going. He was in complete control, making Garcia miss and following up with some thudding right hooks. A couple of them got Garcia to stumble, but to his credit, he never backed down.
CBS Sports' Brian Campbell felt Spence's footwork and ring sense were helping him just as much as his power punches:
Spence is always in perfect position to duck away from counter shots. This is a brilliant performance so far. 7-0 Spence.
The last few rounds were simply an exhibition for Spence. Garcia refused to quit, and the 29-year-old Texan made him pay for it, battering him with powerful combinations right up until the final bell.
Spence made a big statement with the shutout win, though it will come with the caveat that Garcia clearly wasn't made to fight well at 147 pounds.
Pacquiao would be another great pay-per-view opportunity for Spence, who likely has his sights set on conquering a star-studded welterweight division that also features the likes of Terence Crawford, Keith Thurman and Shawn Porter.
Errol Spence Jr. vs. Mikey Garcia: Fight Odds, Time, Date, Live Stream, TV Info
Mar 14, 2019
Mikey Garcia is making his move. The pride of Oxnard, California, is recognized by boxing fans as one of the best in the business, but widespread fame eludes him.
In a bid for greatness, Garcia (39-0, 30 KOs) is taking a risk rarely seen in modern boxing, moving up two weight classes to challenge Errol Spence Jr. (24-0, 21 KOs) for the latter's IBF world welterweight title on Saturday night at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
Garcia isn't just fighting in Spence's territory when it comes to weight class. Spence grew up in Texas, and he is sure to have the crowd behind him for the pay-per-view card.
It will be a defining fight for both men. They are both undefeated and ranked in Ring'stop-10 for pound-for-pound fighters.
Expectations from fans are sky high. Garcia has won titles in four weight classes, while Spence holds a world title at welterweight, boxing's most talent-laden division. Losing a belt at 147 pounds means you will have to beat a great fighter to get one back.
Can Garcia's speed and technique propel him to an upset win against Spence's power and intelligence? Saturday night we will find out. Here's how to watch.
Spence Jr. vs Garcia Fight Info
When: Saturday, Mar. 16 at 9 p.m. ET
Where: AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas
TV: Fox pay-per-view ($74.95), ITV4 (UK only, free)
Odds: Spence -1100 (bet $1,100 to win $100) Garcia +650 (bet $100 to win $650)
Garcia heard the warnings, but he didn't care.
"My father and I were against it at first," said Robert Garcia, a former boxer and Mikey's older brother, per Ring's Ron Borges. "We told Mikey there were so many other fights he could take and still make a lot of money."
Perhaps money, but not prestige. Garcia had already beaten the likes of Robert Easter Jr, Adrien Broner and Dejan Zlaticanin. With contracts and TV obligations shuttering any chances for a megafight with Vasiliy Lomachenko at lightweight (for now), the 31-year-old Garcia got it in his head to do something radical.
Forget fighting at 135 pounds, 140 pounds. Put it all on the line. Welterweight is where all the big names are at, so Garcia landed on Spence, a southpaw who hasn't gone to the scorecards in nearly five years.
"No one else is willing to do what I'm doing. After this fight, everybody will really recognize me as the top fighter. My dad and brother wanted me to take someone else, but anyone else coming off a loss or a has-been doesn't do it for me," said Garcia, per Borges.
Spence is certainly no has-been. He's very much right now, in his athletic prime at 29 years old and looking to defend his IBF title for the fourth time. His last three opponents, Carlos Ocampo, Lamont Peterson and Kell Brook, are all skilled boxers who were unable to survive to the final bell. Spence mixes up his punches, works the head and body, wearing people down until they cave from pressure or are flat up against the canvas.
"I think I'm a passive-aggressive fighter," Spence told DMagazine.com's Matt Goodman. "I kind of mentally break down my opponents, and physically, so if you're not 100 percent there, if you're not willing to quote-unquote ‘die in there,' then it's going to reveal itself."
When the two step in the ring on Saturday, Spence is going to have a formidable size and strength advantage. He's the natural welterweight and has a bigger frame, 5'9½", with a 72-inch reach, per BoxRec. Garcia is much smaller, 5'6" with a 68-inch reach. He started his career fighting under 130 pounds.
Knowing he will need to do something truly special to win—Spence is a huge favorite among bettors—Garcia decided to change up his normal training regimen.
Per ESPN.com's Steve Kim, Garcia has enlisted the help of Victor Conte, the infamous athletic trainer who spent time in prison for his role in the BALCO steroids scandal of the early 2000s.
According to Kim, a reformed Conte and Garcia have been focusing on modern training techniques:
"During one particular training session at the SNAC gym, Garcia hit the heavy bag, something he has done thousands of time before in his life. This time, however, he did so while wearing a mask that was hooked up to a hypoxicator, which pumped air with a level of 14.5 percent oxygen into Garcia's system. Mike Bazzel, one of the staff trainers, explained that a normal level of oxygen at sea level is about 20.9 percent, with the mask simulating a much lower percentage, along the lines of what would exist at high altitude."
This training approach suggests Garcia is going to try to use stamina and speed to outwit Spence. It's the right approach given he will be putting himself in immense danger if he tries to go toe-to-toe with "The Truth."
Garcia will likely have to win this fight by moving around, jabbing and countering when appropriate. For Spence, landing some good power shots to the body early will sap Garcia's legs and lungs. There's no training that can save a fighter from a good assault to the midsection.
For Spence, a win over Garcia on his headliner pay-per-view debut will only make it harder for the other welterweight stars to ignore him. Keith Thurman or Terence Crawford would likely be the next names on the docket.
If Garcia defies the odds and pulls out the win, well, he might just step into Spence's role and get the fights the latter has been clamoring for the past couple of years. Or maybe he will slim down again and chase Lomachenko. It would be a fairly historic upset, and one might hope it encourages other fighters to imitate his refreshing bravery.
Odds are courtesy of OddsShark and updated as of Thursday, Mar. 14, at 7 a.m. ET.
Keith Thurman vs. Josesito Lopez: Fight Odds, Time, Date, Live Stream, TV Info
Jan 24, 2019
Keith "One Time" Thurman (28-0, 22 KOs) will make his long-awaited return to the ring on Saturday, defending his WBA "super world" welterweight title against Josesito Lopez (36-7, 19 KOs) at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.
Thurman last fought in March 2017, beating Danny Garcia by a split decision. Injuries have kept him away from the ring since then. The long absence forced him to relinquish his WBC welterweight title, leaving him with just the WBA strap.
He will be looking to shake off the ring rust against Lopez, a veteran boxer who routinely puts in a good shift. Thurman should be able to win this fight handily, but Lopez will keep him honest.
Odds: Thurman -10000 (bet $10,000 to win $100), Lopez +1600 (bet $100 to win $1,600)
When we last saw Thurman, he looked primed to rule the welterweight division. Coming off hugely entertaining wins against Garcia and Shawn Porter, both of them at Barclays, Thurman had put himself in position for just about any high-profile fight he wanted.
His body didn't play along, unfortunately, and now he's 30 years old and in a necessary tune-up fight. Thurman knows he needs the work, and he is honest about what kind of fighter fans can expect to see on Saturday, per the Los Angeles Times' Lance Pugmire:
“Injuries, layoffs—you don't come back better, my man. This will not be the best Keith Thurman you will see ... but you also won't be saying, 'That doesn't look like Keith Thurman, doesn't look like a world champion,' or saying, 'Those other fighters will beat Keith later this year.'"
Even a Thurman operating at 75-80 percent capacity should have no trouble winning on Saturday.
Lopez's last fight of note was a TKO loss to Andre Berto in March 2015. He's won his last three fights, but those all came against no-name boxers.
The 34-year-old from Riverside, California, is far removed from the days when he mixed it up with the likes of Victor Ortiz, Canelo Alvarez, Jessie Vargas and Marcos Maidana. Even then, those were mostly losing efforts.
Thurman might need a couple of rounds to get going, and considering how long he's been away, he should welcome the work. He's entirely capable of ending things in a flash with a single, well-timed punch, but a steady escalation of punishment seems more likely.
Assuming there are no setbacks for Thurman after Saturday's fight, he will be eager to schedule a big-name opponent.
One potential scrap is against the legendary Manny Pacquiao, who, even at 40 years old, is still dangerous.
Pacquiao had little trouble beating Adrien Broner on Jan. 19, and he holds the WBA "regular" welterweight title that became available in Thurman's absence.
For Thurman, it would be a dream come true to fight Pac Man, per Pugmire:
“He's the last living legend at 147 [pounds]. There isn't another fighter left in the sport with his credentials. It'd be an honor to share the ring with the likes of Manny Pacquiao. It's hard for older fighters to compete against younger guys, but strength doesn't go away until you're 50."
Aside from Pacquiao, Terence Crawford and Errol Spence Jr. are potential opponents down the line, though the latter two have big fights to take care of in the coming months.
No problem, though. If Thurman's above theory about strength is true, then he has plenty of time to make use of his prodigious power. He may have missed part of his prime, but he's still one of the best talents in the sport and is looking at a future with plenty of big fights.
Odds are courtesy of OddsShark and updated as of Thursday, Jan. 24 at 7 a.m. ET.
Pacquiao vs. Broner Weigh-In: Results and Twitter Reaction for Pre-Fight Event
Jan 18, 2019
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JANUARY 16: WBA welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao (L) and Adrien Broner face off during a news conference at MGM Grand Hotel & Casino on January 16, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Pacquiao will defend his title against Broner on January 19 at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
Champion Manny Pacquiao and challenger Adrien Broner both made weight Friday ahead of their WBA welterweight title fight Saturday night at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
It's Pac-Man's first title defense since defeating Lucas Matthysse for the belt in July 2018. Meanwhile, The Problem is seeking his first victory since February 2017 after a loss to Mikey Garcia and a draw with Jessie Vargas in his last two bouts.
Here's a look at the weigh-in results (via the Sporting News' Andreas Hale):
Pacquiao continues to compete at boxing's highest levels despite hitting 40 years old in December and serving as a senator in his native Philippines. His seventh-round knockout of Matthysse quickly halted questions about his competitive future.
The Filipino southpaw said Thursday he'll look to make another statement against Broner.
"This is a challenge because it is my first fight as a 40-year-old," Pacquiao told reporters. "I have something to prove to everyone about what that means. Age is just a number. What matters is how you prepare and that you're working hard."
He added: "These days I don't only train my body but also my mind. I'm a senator, so my mind is very busy. I also play chess regularly and read books to keep my mind sharp."
On the flip side, Broner is looking for a much-needed high-impact win of his own.
The 29-year-old American is 6-3-1 over his past 10 fights after a 27-0 start to his pro career. None of those fights were against opponents with Pac-Man's track record either, which adds to the challenge.
"I'm in shape and ready to go," Broner told reporters Monday. "I could have made weight weeks ago. We're prepared to go out and execute. I've been here before, and even though I haven't been in a fight of exactly this magnitude, I'm just treating it like any other fight. He's another opponent."
Dan Rafael of ESPN reported Pacquiao will receive $10 million and Broner gets $2.5 million from the guaranteed purse. Both fighters will also earn a percentage of the event profits.
Pac-Man is a heavy favorite (-325, bet $325 to win $100), per OddsShark, to win the championship clash.
Manny Pacquiao vs. Adrien Broner: Fight Odds, Time, Date, Live Stream, TV Info
Jan 17, 2019
Nearly a quarter-century after he first turned pro, Manny Pacquiao is still stepping between the ropes.
The legendary boxer could have retired years ago with an ironclad reputation as an all-time great, but at 40 years old and with his best years and biggest fights well behind him, he soldiers on. He just became a champion again, so of course he has to defend the title, right?
Pacquiao (60-7-2, 39 KOs) will put his WBA world welterweight title on the line against Adrien Broner (33-3-1, 24 KOs) on pay-per-view Saturday night at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
Pacquiao won the belt with a seventh-round TKO win over Lucas Matthysse in July 2018, one year after a controversial loss to Australia's Jeff Horn.
The Filipino has more than lived up to his potential as a pro, winning titles across eight divisions, taking on the best in the world and beating nearly all of them.
Broner, on the other hand, is a study in wasted potential or undeserved hype, depending on your point of view. The former four-division world titleholder was once tipped to be one of the sport's biggest stars, but he's lost to top-notch opponents now on three separate occasions (Mikey Garcia, Shawn Porter and Marcos Maidana).
He's also coming off a majority draw with Jessie Vargas, and at age 29—and with several brushes with the law and other controversies on his resume—does not have many opportunities left to prove himself. A win over Pacquiao, even one well past his prime, would be huge for Broner's career.
It's a fight that would have been a much bigger deal roughly six years ago, but it does still have the potential to be an entertaining fight.
Odds: Pacquiao -300 (bet $300 to win $100), Broner +230
Broner is 11 years younger than Pacquiao, stands a shade taller and has a two-inch reach advantage (69" to 67"). He has the physical advantages, but that might not matter on Saturday night. The reason Pacquiao, a sitting senator in the Philippines, is still fighting at his age might be the simplest one: it doesn't feel like work.
"Here's the thing," Pacquiao said, per SportingNews.com's Mark Ortega. "While in training, I am enjoying doing that every day. I'm not tired."
Pacquiao is loving the work, and he's still getting the results. Since losing the megafight to Floyd Mayweather Jr. in 2015, Pac Man is 3-1.
The only loss is the one to Horn, in which the naturally bigger Australian tried to rough up and brawl with Pacquiao for 12 rounds in his hometown of Brisbane. The judges gave him the fight, even though many felt Pacquiao did the better boxing (the numbers back him up, too).
The loss stung, but Pacquiao came back with his first stoppage since a TKO-win over Miguel Cotto in 2009. Matthysse had no answer for Pacquiao and was done within seven.
Pacquiao is not quite the whirling, windmilling puncher he was in his heyday, but he still packs some pop. Broner will have to be mindful of his power, even as he has plans of his own to knock out the champion.
"Every fighter is different, but I know if I touch him flush, I'll put him out. It's no secret, he's been to sleep before," said Broner, per Bad Left Hook's Scott Christ.
Broner is no doubt referencing Pacquiao's knockout loss to Juan Manuel Marquez in 2012, which saw the Filipino prizefighter splayed out, motionless, on the mat after a vicious punch from Marquez.
To pull off the same feat as Marquez, Broner will have to harness his talents and focus. He's been working with a no-nonsense trainer in Kevin Cunningham, but even his tutelage couldn't get Broner a win over a fading Vargas.
Broner also likely won't have many friends in the Las Vegas crowd, not with Pacquiao in the opposite corner and with video of his racist comments directed toward Pacquiao and his fans at Thursday's press conference.
Broner certainly is no stranger to playing the villain, but that won't help if he ends up in a close fight and the crowd is amplifying everything Pacquiao lands.
There's a factor that may come into Broner's favor, one that moves in silence. Time is not on Pacquiao's side, and eventually, his body won't let him keep up with younger, talented opponents.
In many sports, you can watch an athlete decline gracefully, but boxers take off so much time between bouts that the end can often come as a shock. The flame snuffs out quietly in the interim, away from the cameras and competition.
Last time out, Pacquiao showed that his talents can still burn brightly. It's why he's the favorite against Broner and one of the best ever. As long as he still has it in him, he should win, but there's always a chance the end of a fighter's career comes before they are ready.
Odds are courtesy of OddsShark and updated as of Thursday, Jan. 17 at 7 a.m. ET.
