It’s homecoming time for Cincinnati favorite Adrien “The Problem” Broner.
Former three-division world champion Broner and super lightweight contender Emanuel “Tranzformer” Taylor held a media workout on Wednesday to kick-off fight week for this Saturday’s SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® tripleheader on Saturday, Sept. 6 at U.S. Bank Arena in Cincinnati.
Broner (28-1, 22 KOs) and Taylor (18-2, 12 KOs) will meet in the 12-round super lightweight main event. Broner spoke to his fans in attendance at Fountain Square Plaza and then opted to work out at a local gym rather than the sweltering outdoors in downtown Cincy.
In the co-feature, former WBA Super Lightweight World Champion Lucas Matthysse (35-3, 33 KOs) will square off with Mexico’s highly touted Roberto “Massa” Ortiz (31-0-1, 24 KOs) in a 12-round bout for Ortiz’s WBC Silver Super Lightweight Title. Opening the telecast will be the return of former welterweight world champion Andre Berto (28-3, 22 KOs) against Steve Upsher (24-3-1, 6 KOs) in a 10-round welterweight bout.
Tickets, priced at $128, $78, $53 and $28, are available by calling Ticketmaster at 800-745-3000 or online at www.ticketmaster.com. Tickets will also be available at the U.S. Bank Arena Box Office.
Here’s what the fighters had to say at Wednesday’s event.
ADRIEN BRONER, Former Three-Division World Champion:
“It means a lot to fight back here in Cincy. There’s no time like SHOWTIME. It’s just fight time right now and we’re winding down. It’s going to be an epic night and we’re going to have fun.
“He’s going to come to fight. When people fight an Adrien Broner or a Floyd Mayweather they’re going to come to fight. I’m sure he trained to his best, he’s in tip-top shape and he’s ready to go.
“I learned I need to stay in shape. Before the Maidana fight it felt like I was unstoppable, I could do anything. I could just go back in the ring and everything would be normal. But after the fight I realized I have to slow down. I can still be me and have fun, but I can’t be beating up my body. I have no more flaws. I put down everything. Now I just have fun, I stay in shape and I keep positive people around.
“I’m still AB, I’ll give him an ass beating for sure. I didn’t come to play any games. I’m here to kick his ass. I’m not playing around. If I feel like dancing, I’m going to dance. But I’m going to get the job done and it won’t be going to a decision.
“I’m not just going to fake work out for three minutes and be finished. I invite everyone out here to my workout session at the rec center so everyone can watch me give a real workout.
“You have guys that give you a weak workout sometimes for the fans. I want everyone to know that I will never give you a fake workout. If you want to see a real workout you can just come to the gym.”
EMANUEL TAYLOR, Super Lightweight Contender:
“He’s definitely understating me. He’s going to be in for a rude awakening.
“I don’t mind fighting in his hometown. All the pressure is on him, none of it is on me. I just need to do what I have to do to get the victory.
“He was blasted out when he fought Marcos Maidana, and he didn’t look that good against (Carlos) Molina. He stands right there to get hit and doesn’t move around on his feet. I’m a hard hitter, so if I catch him a couple of times it’s going to be night, night for him.
“Boxing can expect an underdog coming from out of the ground into the bright lights of boxing. It’s going to be a tremendous fight for me. You’re not going to see the last of me after this fight.”
LUCAS MATTHYSSE, Former WBA Super Lightweight World Champion
“I think I’m a better fighter than I was when I fought (Danny) Garcia.
On going down twice against John Molina:
“Those things happen in boxing. You can be a great champion, but sometimes you go against someone with a lot of power. You just get up and brush it off, and that’s what I did. I brushed it off and got the win.
“We’re expecting a very tough. He’s a Mexican like all the Mexican warriors. We’re expecting a good fight.
“After I win this I want Danny Garcia. If he’s too scared of me, I’ll have to find someone else to fight for a world title.
ROBERTO “MASSA” ORTIZ, WBC Silver Super Lightweight Champion
“I don’t think Matthysse is the same fighter after the Danny Garcia fight. And he showed that in his last fight against John Molina that he wasn’t the same. He’s still a good fighter at 140 pounds, but not the same that he used to be.
“But that doesn’t mean I’m taking him lightly. He’s still a great fighter and I’ll be prepared for whatever happens on Saturday.
“I understand he’s a bigger name than me, especially here in the U.S. But it’s my job to come out here and let the people know who I am and make history.
“I know Lucas is strong, but I’m very strong as well. I’m going to come out there and look for the knockout.”
ANDRE BERTO, Former Welterweight World Champion
“I’m feeling good. I’ve been out for a full year working on rehab and it’s been one of the toughest roads I’ve ever been on. But my shoulder is feeling good and I’m ready to go. I’m excited to be here and I’m just excited to be back.
“Working with Virgil (Hunter) has definitely helped my game a lot. The first fight we had together we only had six weeks with each other. You can’t do too much in that short period of time.
“I’ve been out training with him for about five months now and he’s been working me out of a lot of bad habits. We’re still a work in progress but he’s definitely one of the sharpest coaches I’ve ever seen in boxing.
“People in boxing only grade your last performance. But it’s something that I can’t get upset at because I haven’t performed up to standards in my last few fights. So I’m looking forward to doing this for me and for the people.
“I’m back, I’m happy to be back and we’re going to kick this thing off right.”
