MANNY Pacquiao is monikered “The PacMan” and Adrien Broner “The Problem.” Pacquiao earned that tag for his happy habit of collecting world boxing titles and global division records. Amazing.
But for Broner, “The Problem” was for his propensity to amass problems. For himself. Nauseating.
For the record, Pacquiao is the only boxer with eight world division crowns tucked under his belt, ranging from flyweight to welterweight plums. Incredible.
The PacMan also owns 11 world championships, the last one came when he knocked out Argentine Lucas Matthysse only last July.
That was Pacquiao’s first knockout victory since stopping Puerto Rico’s legendary Miguel Cotto in 2009. And, incredibly, Pacquiao was pushing 40 already when he dethroned Matthysse.
One month later, still feeling so humiliated by the debacle, Matthysse hung up his gloves for good.
In contrast, Broner is a pathetic picture of ups and downs—mostly downs.
While he prides himself in having won four world titles, Broner’s record off the ring is crime-laden.
Since 2007, he’s had brushes with the law, ranging from street/domestic violence to sexual assault.
In 2008 alone, he missed the Beijing Olympics due to his 14-month jail sentence on battery and armed robbery.
Recently, Broner (33-3-2, 24 knockouts) was arrested for non-appearances in court for driving without a license and speeding.
He posted bail for his temporary freedom and, afterwards, Pacquiao (60-7-2, 37 KOs) doused speculations Broner would not show up in their Jan. 20 (PHL time) title fight in Las Vegas.
In most of Broner’s off-the-ring problems, he was bailed out by his influential handlers, including, at one time, Floyd Mayweather. Broner, from Cincinnati, Ohio, calls the Michigan-born Mayweather, “my big brother.”
But “The Problem” continued to be hounded by the ghosts of a past that also includes a statement he told reporters: “Every killer wants a celebrity on their [sic] list.” How will “The PacMan” solve “The Problem” on fight night? Or, how can Broner solve a problem as gargantuan as “The PacMan?” Interesting.
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