By Edward Chaykovsky
Michael Koncz, adviser to WBO welterweight world champion Manny Pacquiao (59-6-2, 38KOs), is still very interested in doing a fight with former four division beltholder Adrien Broner (32-2, 24KOs).
A few months ago, Pacquiao's promoter Bob Arum of Top Rank had tried his best to secure Broner as the November 5th opponent at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas. Broner reportedly turned down $4 million and wanted a lot more.
Jessie Vargas would end up taking Broner's place and he was soundly defeated over twelve rounds by the Filipino superstar.
Arum claims they were only $100,000 apart on the financial terms, but then Broner made an unexpected counter-demand - of 50% more than the amount being discussed.
"Broner's out of his freaking mind. We offered the fight to Broner. I was dealing with [Broner's adviser] Al Haymon. Al wanted to make the fight. We offered him a really good purse. We were maybe 100,000 apart. And Broner then asked for 50% more than the purse we were talking about - which made it outlandish. Broner, there's something mentally wrong with him," Arum said.
Broner is scheduled to fight on February 11th against the Adrian Granados in a Showtime televised fight.
The first order of business for Koncz, and Pacquiao, is to secure a rematch with Floyd Mayweather Jr. (49-0, 26KOs). Mayweather, who retired from boxing last September, sat ringside for Pacquiao's win over Vargas - creating widespread speculation that a rematch was being pursued for next year.
If they are unable to lure Mayweather out of retirement, then Koncz views Broner as a very good secondary option.
“Hopefully Floyd thinks it (Pacquiao’s win over Jessie Vargas in Las Vegas) was good enough and if the fans want it, then we’ll do hopefully a rematch,” said Koncz to Tempo.ph.
“If not, then we have to wait and see. I would still like to do Broner because I think that’s a fight that would sell. Other than that, we don’t have any immediate plans.”
