Four-division world champion Adrien “The Problem” Broner and 140-pound contender Ashley “The Treasure” Theophane went face-to-face Wednesday for the first time since their heated press conference in February as they near their Premier Boxing Champions on Spike world title showdown taking place Friday, April 1 at the DC Armory in Washington, D.C.
Also in attendance Wednesday was unbeaten rising star Robert Easter Jr. and his opponent, former world champion Algenis Mendez, who meet in a 10-round lightweight battle, plus rising undefeated prospect Gervonta “The One” Davis and his opponent, Mexico’s Guillermo Avila, who discussed their 10-round super featherweight battle that opens PBC on Spike coverage at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT.
Additionally, local lightweight contender Anthony Peterson and 168-pound contender J’Leon Love were on hand ahead of their respective bouts taking place Friday night.
Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by About Billions Promotions and Mayweather Promotions in association with HeadBangers Promotions, are priced at $200, $100, $50 and $25, and are on sale now. To purchase tickets visitwww.ticketmaster.com, Ticketmaster locations or call (800) 745-3000.
Here is what the fighters had to say Wednesday:
ADRIEN BRONER
“Anything is tough when you have a lot of things coming your way. I have tunnel vision. It’s fight time. I’m locked-in until I get the job done.
“Right now I have to focus on this fight. I’m keeping my mind in the right state. I’m not just doing this for me. It’s for my family. It’s bigger than just me.
“There’s no beef between me and Floyd. I do my thing. At the end of the day, I’m just being me. I do this in front of Floyd. Me up there saying ‘Hateweather Promotions,’ I’m just having fun. I hope no one takes it personally. At the end of the day, me and Floyd are close.
“The relationship that me and Floyd have, it is obvious that we wear our feelings on our sleeves, anything we say about each other, we don’t care who hears it. At the end of the day it doesn’t affect anything.
“I will be putting on a show on Friday night. And I’ll go again on Saturday night if you want to get up and do it again.
“Friday night is going to be a big night. I’m going to keep my promise. I will stop Ashley Theophane. I don’t care which round it is, but I will stop this man.
“I love DC. The crowd and the love on Friday night is going to be crazy. I took this camp to the max. I am going to exploit and showcase all of my talent.
“This is a big night for my little brother and protégé, Robert Easter Jr. He doesn things that amaze me. I know what he’s capable of. I’m happy for him to get this chance against a former world champion. It’s going to be a heated matchup. This whole card is stacked from the top to the bottom.
“I stepped up early in my career. I stepped up earlier than others. When I fought (Daniel) Ponce De Leon, I was 19 and I fought in front of a crowd of 12,500 against me.
“I just want to get home to Cincinnati and hold my baby daughter for the first time. I want to hold and hug my kids and be the family guy. Right now I’m at work. I have to do what I have to do, but after pain its pleasure.”
ASHLEY THEOPHANE
“It’s been a journey. But we’re here now. Just two days away. We’ve got two days and then the champ and me are going to go to war.
“I’m here to make this happen. Broner can play games, it’s all good. I’m here on a mission.
“I’m ready. We’re so close and I really just can’t wait to hear that bell.
“Adrien says he’s going to stop me. I don’t think he has the attributes to do that. But it does mean it’s going to be a great fight. I’m looking forward to it.
“The hard work is done. We’ve been training for months. My trainer Nate Jones has helped to get me into great shape. We have a great game plan and we’re ready to go.
“I want this man to live up to his words that he’s going to stop me before round four. Because that means he will be standing and fighting instead of running around the ring.
“A win means everything to me. It changes my life. This is my boyhood dream. This could lead me to all the other big names.
“I’ve trained for 12 hard rounds. We’re going to do this.”
ROBERT EASTER JR.
“Everyone should be ready for a lot of action. I’m going to keep this speech short, just like the fight will be.
“He’s a former world champion and a big test for me. I feel like I’m supposed to be here. He has a big head, so I’m not planning on missing at all. It’s going to be a short fight. I hope he’s prepared to go to sleep.
“I know it’s a big step up. I just hope he’s trained hard for this one. I’m aiming to stop him. Most of my fights are short and that’s what I’m looking for.
“I’m going to use all my skills, my ability and my brains to get this win. I’m not going for the knockout, but it’s going to happen. We trained so hard for this fight.
“I feel like this is where I should be. As the co-main event of a world champion, my big brother Adrien Broner. This is what I was born for. It’s only getting bigger from here.
“My whole team has pushed me so hard for this fight. This is going to be a quick fight. He’s going ‘night night.’”
ALGENIS MENDEZ
“Robert Easter has not faced the same kind of competition that I have. I’m very confident heading into this fight. I was very happy when I got the call about this fight.
“This is going to be the kind of fight that the fans will really enjoy. We wish Easter well and I hope everyone is ready for Friday night.”
GERVONTA DAVIS
“I’m happy to be fighting at home. I know I’ve got a strong opponent. He’s a great fighter who’s going to be ready to fight from the first bell.
“I don’t want to rush in there. That’s how you lose. We’re going to work out jab. Go in and out and execute a game plan.
“It means a lot to fight at the DC Armory because I had my first professional fight there. I’m looking forward to getting in the ring again.
“I’m ready to put on a show April 1. My team is strong and ready to great things in this sport.
“This has been a really good camp. We’ve been working very hard. I started in Washington, D.C. at HeadBangers and finished up at home in Baltimore. It’s another day out here in the lights.
“I know my opponent is strong and will be ready. This is another step on the way to a world title. April 1 will be an epic night.”
GUILLERMO AVILA
“This training camp has been very good and we did the best work that we could. I am a warrior in the ring. I’ve faced very tough fighters and I’m ready for this.
“I’ve been waiting for this fight for a very long time and I’m ready for a war.”
ANTHONY PETERSON
“I have phenomenal genetics. A lot of guys tend to move up in weight, but I’m a natural lightweight. I have big plans for this division.
“I had some injuries that really held me back from doing what I wanted to do. But now I’m completely healed and Friday night I’m going to show everyone that this the best Anthony Peterson ever.”
J’LEON LOVE
“This is a great card and I’m blessed to be on it. I’m looking to put on a good performance and make a splash in this great fight city.
“I feel like the way I’ve been training, my talent will take over and be the difference. I’m hungry to make a statement.
“I’m versatile. I can go forward and I can box. I won’t limit myself to one style. We have a great game plan and we’re focused on doing what we need to do to get the victory.”
