By Edward Chaykovsky
Last Tuesday, lightweight contender Lydell Rhodes was on the receiving end of a controversial ten round unanimous decision in a showdown with Edner Cherry at the Sands Casino in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. The fight headlined Premier Boxing Champions on FS1, with many observers shocked at the official scores of 98-92, 98-92 and 97-93 for Cherry.
Currently there are rumors of a potential comeback by eight division world champion Manny Pacquiao. A date of October 15th has been reserved by Top Rank at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas.
Rhodes is very close with Pacquiao. The Filipino superstar has hired him numerous times as a sparring partner for training camp.
The opponent being mentioned for Pacquiao is another fighter that Rhodes is familiar with. Promoter Bob Arum, the CEO for Top Rank, says former four division world champion Adrien Broner is a frontrunner candidate for the contest - if Pacquiao decides to return to the ring.
"I hope it does [happen]. I’m real close with Manny and Broner is actually a cool guy when the cameras aren’t on him, but if I have to be honest, I see Manny tearing Adrien up. It’s not even a close fight," Rhodes told On The Ropes Boxing Radio.
While he expects Pacquiao to dominate the contest, Rhodes cautions that Broner is very durable and won't be an easy fighter to stop.
"I don’t know if I’d go that far, but there is a possibility of that. I would lean towards a decision because Broner is a tough guy, he lasted with Maidana who is a powerful puncher and he was coming on strong. Broner is no pushover and as much as people don’t like him, he does have the heart of a warrior and he’s going to stay in there," Rhodes said.
"I don’t know if I see Broner getting stopped but it is a real possibility when you’re in there with Manny, because Broner has never fought anyone like him. Maidana doesn’t have close to the work rate that Manny does."
