Boxing bigmouth Adrien Broner has declared himself as the heir to Floyd Mayweather’s coveted pound-for-pound throne. One of boxing’s most outgoing and flashy characters, Broner has struck up a great rapport with the sweet science’s number one fighter, Mayweather, drawing comparisons in some quarters with the Las Vegas native, not only in his personality, but inside the ring as well.
The brash talking Broner, who polarities opinion amongst fight fans, is in little doubt, however, that he is boxing’s saving grace once Mayweather decides to hang up the gloves.
“I have a lot on my plate. Every boxer wants to be where I am right now.
“I am the person who is going to take over boxing after Floyd Mayweather. Everybody wants this position. So I don’t get mad when I hear that Keith Thurman [fighting on the undercard] wants to fight me – he’s supposed to. Who doesn’t want to be where I am.
“Maidana is a good fighter, a hell of a fighter, but he’s not on my level. My career is going to the rooftop. It’s going to skyrocket. But this is just the beginning. It starts here.”
Broner makes the first defense of his WBA crown after capturing it against Paulie Malignaggi in a split decision win last June.
He now faces a reputable puncher in Maidana, who has floored 31 opponents in his 34 victories. Yet, Broner is unconcerned believing he will knockout his 30-year-old foe if he makes even the slightest of errors.
“If he makes a mistake and I have a chance to get him out of there I’m going to get him out of there. If I just beat him to death, then I beat him to death.
“It’s going to be a hell of a fight. I don’t go for knockouts but I really feel I’m going to knock this guy out; I’m going to be his first stoppage. I’m going to stop this guy and we’re going to move on to the next one.
“He’s a very respectful guy so I have to respect him, but on December 14th I’m going to beat his ass. I’m going to beat his ass for sure. We can be friends after that.
“I don’t even think I’ve showed all of my abilities yet. Maidana is a different type of fighter and he might bring something else out of Adrien Broner that the world hasn’t seen yet. Or he might be a regular fighter after I make him look the way I make him look.
“You never know. Maybe I have to sit in there and brawl it out with this guy for 12 rounds. Maybe I mess him up in two. Maybe one.
“But who doesn’t want to see a young star on the rise like Adrien Broner fight a guy like Marcos Maidana, a hard puncher, a knockout artist with 31 knockouts? Who doesn’t want to see that? There’s always that ‘what if?’.”
Maidana scoffed at Broner’s claims that he would knock him out and his self perceived superstar status, declaring that he is sure it is his hand which will be raised come the end of the fight.
“I’m ready for this fight; I’ve trained hard and I’m certain I have what it takes to come out victorious on Saturday.
“They might say Broner is one of the best, but I don’t think he is. He’s definitely different to any other opponents I’ve fought, but I’m prepared. I’m ready for him.
“I’m going to hit him hard, very hard, with all I have and I’ll get busy with him. I hope he’s ready, because I am.
“This is the hardest fight of my life. I respect Broner, but I don’t underestimate him. On Saturday, I’ll do my part; I’ll do what I came here for – to fight with my heart and do my best.”
