Former four-division world champion Adrien “The Problem” Broner (33-4-1, 24 KOs) previews Saturday’s showdown with Jovanie Santiago (14-0-1, 10 KOs) in a 12-round super lightweight bout on Showtime from Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut.
On his matchup with Jovanie Santiago…
“Santiago is hungry. He’s still undefeated and he definitely doesn’t want to lose. It’s going to be a great fight. He’s definitely going to come to fight. Anybody that has a chance to fight an Adrien Broner to put their career up another step, they’re going to bring their A-game. I’m just training my hardest and I’m going to come in and be ready on February 20.
“He’s a hell of a fighter. He’s got great skills. But I just think I’m on a different level. February 20 people are going to see that I’m still the Adrien Broner who can take over the sport. In boxing I’ve learned that it only takes one performance to bring everybody back. All I have to do is go out there and perform and everybody will be back on the bandwagon.
On his motivations for this fight…
“Even if I didn’t have these pending court cases against me, I’d still be working my ass off to come back and make a fortune. That has nothing to do with my motivation. God gave me a blessing and gifted me with some great talent and I’m not going to let it go to waste. The motivation is that I miss the sport. I miss being on top. I miss being champion and I’m going to take another run at being champion.
“I’ve found my love for boxing again. I gave myself some time to miss boxing and I’m ready to go in there and win some more world titles. My children are what fuel me now.
On how he plans to stay on track after this fight…
“I just need to go back to the gym after the fight. I’m trying to stay out of as much trouble as possible, stay out of jail and just work my ass off. I’m going to dedicate these last three to five years to straight boxing. I’m going to get as much as I can out of boxing and then retire and watch my kids grow up. I’ve matured a lot. I’ve been through a lot. It’s just time to get to business, make my money and do what I do best, and that’s box.
On getting back into fighting shape…
“I had to lose the 35 pounds and it was tough. I’ve put in the work. After this fight I’m going to stay on track and get right back to the gym. The goal is to become the five-time world champion, and then the sixth and the seventh time after that. I’m just working. I was so out of shape. I had to be gritty and I had to dig deep. Being out that long, I was overweight. I had to wake up and run miles and work my body back. It was tough.
“I’ve just had to change everything, change the lifestyle mostly. What would I tell a younger fighter? Just stay in the gym as much as possible. Don’t be blinded by the money and the lights and the girls and the partying life. I’m not saying don’t live your life. You can’t just box, box, box your whole life. You just have to stay relaxed.
On fighting at 140 pounds…
“I feel like 140 pounds is the weight that I want to be at. You can’t really say I made by bread and butter at 147. I’ve been a champion at 147 pounds but I’ve also been a champion at 140, 135 and 130 pounds. I think any fight at whatever weight Adrien Broner is at is a big fight. That’s the main thing. I want to fight where I feel the most comfortable right now in my career, and right now, I think 140 is the best for me.
On his legacy as a boxer…
“My career speaks for itself, honestly. A four-weight class world champion. I was one of the youngest to ever do it. And I’m going to be a five-time world champion soon. I’m just going to keep putting in the work and I’m going to stay focused.
“People forget that I’m only 31 years old. They sometimes look at me like an old head. It’s crazy. I have been around for a long time – about 11 years now. But I’m only 31 and I have a lot more in the tank. With my resume, I just feel like I have a lot more to do. I’m going to put the work in and I’m going to get it done. Of course, I think about the Hall of Fame. I think I’ve done enough already. I was one of the youngest to ever become a four-time world champion in four weight classes. But I’m going to go win some more titles and do what I do to seal the deal.”
Jovanie Santiago seems like a solid undefeated opponent for AB. Has good fundamentals, short sharp punches. But has a padded record and seems a bit small stature for AB. You can bet your rent/mortgage we’ll be in place watching no matter how much AB bashing you see on this thread 🙂
LOL, yes, Broner seems to attract attention for viewers even when we smack him to pieces by us keyboard warriors. Until the Broner era is truly over, I guess we will all be watching him since controversy follows him. Have a great day today.
What
AB has to start winning fights if he wants to still make big money…. For some reason I doubt that he’ll have any problems against his next opponent… BUT, if he loses this upcoming fight, he better start thinking of doing something else as a profession… what else can he do… ???
I don’t think there’s much he can do outside of boxing. He lacks discipline, I can’t see him training fighters.
Jovanie Santiago is ranked 15th in the WBA while the other organizations have him unranked. He’s had soft opposition but all he needs is to land one good shot before Adrien starts to fold. If Broner wins he may say he beat the best in the division lol
#ProveUsWrongAB
I haven’t seen much of Santiago, but he looks fairly basic to me. He has a decent punch and activity, but outside of an old Chop Chop Corley, I don’t really recognize any of the names he’s been in with. The way you beat Broner has always been the same – withstand his early burst and start hitting him – he’ll eventually start to worry about protecting himself more and, essentially, stop throwing punches and that’ll be that, but I don’t know if Santiago can do that. However, after 2 years and a month away from the ring, it does seem likely that Broner won’t be at his best, so maybe…. I’ll be watching
Many moons ago, the world has ceased giving Broner the benefit of the doubt; and the professional burden of proof is on Broner. Therefore, in a series of future fights, Broner must perform as a mature, true professional in/around the ring and outside the ring.
It’s concerning that Broner has to verbalize that he will try his best to “stay out of trouble and out of jail”….
Like that’s not what a motivated, inspired, mature, and financial stable fighter should be worried about.
Best of luck to him.
He has more natural talent than many fighters, but we all know talent is only a part of the equation.
Staying out of trouble and out of jail doesn’t exactly sound like a lofty goal, but it would be a step in the right direction for Broner. Apparently it’s not that easy for people who grew up in a certain environment to become model citizens, even after having “made it”. Good for him that he’s at least trying to straighten his life out. It’s completely understandable that some don’t like him, because it seems he’s gone out of his way to be a douche in public at times, but I wish him the best on turning his life around. Hate seeing anybody squander financial security, especially a guy like Broner, who may not have any other way of achieving that once he’s done with boxing. Hopefully he realizes how important the next couple years will be for him.
For those who remember Mitch Green, do a YouTube search on him. You won’t believe it’s the same guy. Completely turned his life around, and he seemed as much of a lost cause as Broner back in the day. Not too late for Broner.
I’ll have to look up Mitch green. Last I saw him, he came out in Best Damn Sports Show and he was as obnoxious as can be.
Hoping the best for this trobled kid, I expect he is meaning about boxing and not troubles what he says he has a lot more in the tank. Santiago is in the right place and in the right moment to cause a massive upset, being the results of this fight at the hands of both men, I am going to watch this fight.
I didn’t even have to read the article. He’s in great shape, feels great, is rededicating himself to boxing, blah blah blah. He never changes.
When this fool speaks I lose interest after about the first 4 or 5 words he says. He absolutely SUCKS. How this bearded lady won 4 belts is a testament to the comical state of bogus alphabet titles up for grabs.
Today anyone can be a champion. I remember back when Arguello and Duran struggled trying to win a 4th world title in as many divisions, back then it really meant something it was just very difficult. Broner comes around and does it without ever fighting anyone worthy and every time he steps up the competition he gets his ass kicked. The excuses are always the same “he didn’t let his hands go”… bla bla bla. He don’t let his hands go cause if he did he gets knocked out plain and simple there’s a reason he doesn’t let his hands go.
Back in the day Broner would have probably been a journeyman at best. I’d pick Gene Hatcher, Livingstone Bramble and Saul Mamby to have schooled this clown let alone Pryor or Arguello who would have absolutely kicked the royal crap out of him.
Lol you “lose interests” and yet you always tune in so what’s the difference. What was the point in stating the obvious? Of course he can’t compete with Pryor or Arguello. Most can’t compete with them.
Easily one of the most unlikeable guys in boxing in quite some time. I loved watching Maidana and Pacquiao cave his head in. He will win this fight, claim he’s going to win another title, then end up beating some woman half to death because she stepped on his shoes in the club Hahha. After boxing this clown will end up where he truly belongs, prison.
let see it. so far, No
Breaking news: julio cesar chavez jr also says he has a lot more in the tank.
in crying laughing
Against a nobody?
According to an article on ESPN, Broner owes $855,682.03 in some kind of settlement. Also, according to the same article, Wells Fargo says that Broner has no funds available. Wow. No room for error for him now if he expects to have a comfortable retirement after boxing.
Broner seems to be saying the right things. Hopefully his actions match his words.
That’s just what I was going to reference. He needs the money. He mentioned it twice and then brought up his kids. Wasted too much money on the fast life, we here this all too often in sports, but he’ll still go the distance with all the top guys at 140 and lose more than win against the likes of Taylor, Ramirez, Prograis, Zepeda and Hooker.
When i see it, i will believe it
Doubtful..
Well Broner, I sincerely hope you mean it this time! Leave the arrogance and stupidity behind, being humble has never been one of your attributes but it can be if you let it. Good Luck! Plz no more humping on an opponent, that’s just ignorant and makes you look dumb and we know you are not dumb at all. Don’t take your God given talent for granted!