Conversations with Adrien Broner: Why He Should Fight Floyd After His Court Battle
By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent
Saturday night I was home after the televised fights, writing and relaxing, when the telephone rang. It was a friend, an established boxing promoter on the other line, calling me from Washington D.C. All of a sudden, I heard a second voice saying hello on the other line.
Promoter X: “Hi Robert. I’m in Washington D.C. I just watched Adrien Broner stop Ashley Theophane at the DC Armory. Adrien is such a nice guy. He got me this hotel room. He’s right here with me now.”
Adrien Broner: “Hello Robert, this is Adrien Broner.”
Robert Brizel: “Hello Adrien, congratulations on your win tonight. You looked great.”
Adrien Broner: “Thanks.”
Robert Brizel: “What I didn’t understand is you were less than half a pound over the 140 pound limit for your World Boxing Association Super lightweight title defense. Why didn’t you hit the treadmill, run around the block, shave your hair and beard off, or just plain reweigh in later on?”
Adrien Broner: “We did all that. It didn’t work.”
Promoter X: “We are concerned about Adrien’s court appearance coming up. What do you think he should do?”
Robert Brizel: “The confrontation Adrien had does not appear to be a long running dispute, but rather, a onetime incident involving money. Adrien could plead not guilty and maybe later on he can buy his way out of the situation.”
Promoter X: “You have to understand why facing felony charges could affect someone’s concentration and state of mind before a fight. Adrien was just better off going in, doing his job and winning, doing what he had to do. He did.”
Robert Brizel: “With all that’s going on, maybe not making weight was a blessing, and a message you should be fighting at 147 (pounds). You are really serious? You want to fight Floyd Mayweather next? It certainly would be a great fight in terms of the payday. But aren’t you still under promotional contract with Floyd? The two of you seem at odds now. You feel you can beat Floyd? Why Floyd?”
Adrien Broner: “Me and Floyd aren’t like that (close like friends ) now. I want to fight Floyd Mayweather next. It would be a great fight. I know I can beat Floyd.”
Promoter X: “Adrien just left the room. He’s been talking Floyd. He wants him. I don’t know if Floyd wants to come out of retirement to do it.”
Robert Brizel: “Well, Adrien is a great talker and sells himself pretty good. Broner versus Mayweather would be a great fight. It’s an interesting proposal.”
Promoter X: “Yeah, but how is Adrien supposed to make that happen now-when he’s due in court in Cincinnati on Monday?”
Yesterday, Adrien Broner appeared in court in Cincinnati, Ohio, and pleaded not guilty to felonious assault and aggravated robbery in connection with a January 21 incident at Madison Bowl bowling alley. Broner posted one hundred thousand dollars bond (fifty thousand for each felony charge). Court documents indicate Broner pointed a handgun at a man during a betting dispute over $14,000, and then knocked him unconscious and took money from his pockets. The incident has also led to a lawsuit against Broner, who lives in Cincinnati. Broner and the other man were allegedly betting over high stakes games with each other at the bowling lanes. I’ve never seen gambling as a means to an end. Some do.
In my view, Broner should fight Floyd, and not necessarily for the money. Floyd would prefer to promote Broner rather than fight him. However, Mayweather and Broner has become something like Sylvester Stallone as Rocky versus Tommy Morrison as Tommy Gunn. Teacher versus protégé. The theme goes something like this: Adrien Broner wants to escape from Floyd’s shadow and establish himself on his own two feet as a separate entity.
The problem Adrien Broner has is like the one Jermain Taylor has. Broner faces some serious jail time if he is found guilty. Taylor pleaded guilty to reduced charges on all three matters he faced and avoided a trial. Broner still has decide what he wants to do. The good thing is Broner did not fire the gun, and did not shoot anybody.
The best advice for Broner is to do like Jermain Taylor did, work out a plea bargain deal, and try to settle the civil suit matter at the same time. Also, Broner should avoid bowling alleys and never go bowling again. Both Broner and Floyd have dealt with court issues involving domestic incidents of personal rage. Adrien needs to get a grip, put himself together and then try to put a bout with Floyd together when the timing is right.
Believe it or not, I believe Adrien Broner can and will beat Floyd Mayweather Jr., and that is the real reason Floyd does not want to fight Broner. It’s an internal challenge bigger than Floyd versus Manny Pacquiao. The public may love or hate Broner, but the controversy surrounding Broner could break the box office bank. Floyd is old, and even in top shape and form, he hasn’t been the vintage Floyd for years, and barely beat Marcos Rene Maidana in their first encounter.
Broner versus Floyd Mayweather Jr. is a major challenge for Adrien Broner. It represents a challenge to Broner to put himself together once and for all, and prove he is as great as he acts like he is. Broner versus Floyd is an electric avenue megabucks super fight the public wants, the modern day mother of super fights. Very promotable. The public can’t get enough of Broner. Adrien is correct after defeating Theophane that the timing is right to fight and beat Floyd at this moment in time. I got the impression from Adrien that short of fighting Floyd, he doesn’t want to get involved with Floyd on any other plane of possibility.
At present moment, legal troubles stand in the way of Floyd versus Broner, but also create a better chance of Floyd versus Broner. Strange but true. Broner has called Floyd out. Talk is cheap. Will it be 50-0 or 49-1 for Floyd? Is Floyd afraid to fight Broner? Floyd fought Oscar De La Hoya at 160 pounds, yet Floyd did not run to fight Gennady Golovkin or Canelo Alvarez at 154 or 160. Floyd is not running to fight Keith Thurman at 147. Floyd should run to fight Broner because the hate and controversy the crazy prefight hype would generate is unlike any fight in the history of the ring. That’s the truth. It translates to $$$$.
Broner versus Floyd might just be the super fight matchup boxing needs to put it back on the map. Broner will make it interesting. Like Muhammad Ali, I suspect long before the actual bout Broner will win it with his mouth. For now, in Cincinnati court, Broner must ‘Mayweather’ the storm and try to save and salvage his career. That battle will be uphill.
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