By Edward Chaykovsky
Four division world champion Adrien "The Problem" Broner (31-2, 23 KOs) lashed out at the critis who believe he's easy pickings for Manny Pacquiao (57-6-2, 38 KOs).
Last week it was revealed that Broner was personally contacted by Pacquaio's adviser, Michael Koncz, regarding a potential fight on April 9th in Las Vegas. Pacquaio's next fight is being promoted as the final ring outing of his pro career.
In an earlier article on BoxingScene.com, Koncz confirmed that he reached out to Broner but also seemed annoyed that his phone call was disclosed to the press.
Pacquiao was scheduled to reveal his next opponent on December 11th. The opponent was expected to be WBO welterweight champion Timothy Bradley, who faced the Filipino star on two previous occasions. That announcement was pushed back by Pacquiao himself.
The other names in the running include WBO junior welterweight champion Terence Crawford and British star Amir Khan.
Broner's name came as a late entry, although a very unlikely candidate to secure the contest. The boxer is managed by Al Haymon, who is enemies with Pacquiao's promoter, Bob Arum of Top Rank.
Top Rank has an outstanding lawsuit against Haymon for millions of dollars. They allege the manager is engaging in unfair business practices with his Premier Boxing Champions project [PBC].
When news of the fight started leaking out, Pacquiao's fans were predicting the downfall of Broner across the net - and that prompted "The Problem" to respond.
"Who ever think this guy will beat me is a dam fool.... I don't lose to southpaws....#PointBlankPeriod," Broner wrote on the social networks.
The frontrunner to get Pacquiao is still being viewed as Bradley. The signs are all threre. Crawford is already lining up a return date on February 27th in New York and there is talk of Jessie Vargas and Sadam Ali facing off for the vacant WBO title in the first quarter of 2016 - indicating that Bradley is going to vacate his belt to face Pacquiao. Ali is Bradley's mandatory challenger and he was ordered to face him next. The only way he'll be able to fight Pacquiao for a third time is by vacating his belt or paying Ali a significant step-aside fee.