Adrian Broner has been “The Problem” for a long time.
Although he began branding his company as About Billions, his mentality was still mired in Cincinnati poverty that was recently alleviated.
Until it wasn’t anymore.
Now winless since his 2017 split decision victory over Adrian Granados, Broner says he wants to have the fight game in his palm again.
But do you believe him?
“I went through a lot of things, honestly, ” said Broner at this week’s press conference. “One day, I just woke and said, ‘I’m done.’ In order to change, you’ve got to make change or you’ll steady get caught up doing the same thing. I cut a lot of stuff, I stopped doing a lot of stuff and I got myself together. It was a long road to get to where I’m at today and now I’m here.
“Listen, if you got a belt, just hold on to it. I’m coming to sweep it all up; WBA, WBO, WBC, IBF. I’m coming to get them all.”
Broner (33-4-1, 24 KOs), made himself popular through otherworldly natural ability and by the age of 26 had captured world titles at 130, 135, 140 and 147 pounds.
However, his many other interests took him slowly say from the career promise fans, media, and the industry felt about him. This Saturday, he ends his two-year hiatus from boxing and continue his quest for a fifth world title to face the unbeaten Jovanie Santiago (14-0-1, 10 KOs) in a now 12-round welterweight bout; the two fighters scrapped original the junior welterweight 140lb limit last minute.
The bout is the main event of a tripleheader on Showtime (9 p.m. ET) at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut.
“I’ve had so many great performances and I’m looking forward to another great performance Saturday night. I know he’s coming to fight, he’s undefeated and he’s hungry.
“Anybody who fights a name like Adrien Broner is going to always train to their best ability so I’m not looking at this as a fight where I just go in and destroy this guy. I’m just going to go to do what I have to do to get the victory – look good inside and outside the ring.”
The fight is Broner’s first since his loss to boxing legend and Filipino Senator, Manny Pacquiao. Broner was outclassed and barely threw any punches in the January 2019 bout but left disgruntled with the catchphrase, “y’all know I beat that boy!”
However, his legal troubles have been the real problem.
Broner has a huge settlement to pay, $856,000, after a failure to show in court for a case where he sexually assaulted a woman at a nightclub in Cleveland in June 2018.
Broner previously pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor assault and unlawful restraint charge in the criminal case related to the incident.
“From the time I was six years old, I never took a break from boxing. So that’s what I did. Now, I’m missing boxing again, I’m back in it and we’re back to it on Saturday night.
“It’s been a hell of a training camp. Maybe one of the toughest because I had to get back in rhythm, coming back and losing all that weight and working as hard as I do. I didn’t want an easy fight so I picked a guy like Jovanie Santiago because I know he’s going to push me and bring the best out of me. That’s what I know about him. He’s a good fighter, an undefeated fighter, and he’s not here to lose.”
WATCH: Pacquiao vs. Broner Post-Fight Interviews | SHOWTIME PPV
In the fight business, consistency and determination is key and Broner has lacked both recently.
“I have to stay on my A-game. I’m going in to get the victory – whatever presents itself. If the knockout presents itself, I’m taking it. You don’t get paid for overtime but I’m definitely coming to get my win.
“The overall goal is to get past this fight first. In boxing, you can’t look past no opponent. I don’t care how everything looks on paper. In boxing, you’re only one punch away from a knockout and that’s on both ends.”
