With pound-for pound king and President of Mayweather Promotions Floyd “Money” Mayweather looking on, fighters competing on this weekend’s Premier Boxing Champions cards at MGM Grand, participated in a media workout Wednesday at Mayweather Boxing Club. Mayweather made the most of his time at the gym, staying for nearly two hours to talk with the media, give the fighters insight and advice and sign autographs for fans.
Fighters who worked out at the event that are featured on Saturday’s Premier Boxing Champions on NBC card included Adrien “The Problem” Broner (30-1, 22 KOs), “Showtime” Shawn Porter (25-1-1, 16 KOs) and Errol “The Truth” Spence Jr. (16-0, 13 KOs). Coverage on NBC begins at 8:30 p.m. ET/5:30 p.m. PT. Broner, who considers Mayweather a mentor and “big brother,” has trained at the Mayweather Boxing Club for weeks, per Mayweather’s suggestion.
Principle fighters who will be showcased on Sunday’s Premier Boxing Champions on CBS card were also in attendance as Rances Barthelemy (22-0, 13 KOs), Antonio DeMarco (31-4-1, 23 KOs), Sammy Vasquez (18-0, 13 KOs) and Wale Omotoso (25-1, 21 KOs) all worked out and signed autographs. Coverage begins on CBS Sports at 4 p.m. ET/1 p.m. PT.
Tickets for the Saturday’s event, which is promoted by Mayweather Promotions in association with TGB Promotions, are priced at $400, $300, $100 and $50, not including applicable service charges and taxes are on sale now. To charge by phone with a major credit card, call Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000. Tickets are also available at www.mgmgrand.com or www.ticketmaster.com.
Tickets for Sunday’s event, which is also promoted by Mayweather Promotions in association with TGB Promotions are priced at $100, $75, $50, and $25 not including applicable service charges and taxes are on sale now. To charge by phone with a major credit card, call Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000. Tickets are also available at www.mgmgrand.com or www.ticketmaster.com.
Here are what the workout participants had to say:
FLOYD MAYWEATHER, President of Mayweather Promotions
“You’ve got two guys this weekend in Adrien Broner and Shawn Porter who have the right teams around them. If they continue to win and we bring their personality out of them, we’ll see what happens.
“Shawn Porter has been a champion before. He only has one loss and Adrien only has one loss. So I think this is a good matchup.
“When I was getting ready for Robert Guerrero, who is a southpaw, the first guy I started looking to spar with was a southpaw and Errol (Spence Jr.) was giving me real good work. He pushed me and made me get in tip top condition, and once I was in tip top condition, I was ready and the best I could be. He’s a hell of a fighter.”
ADRIEN BRONER
“Porter can’t beat me, it’s not going to happen.
“I will not be the next Floyd Mayweather. I will be the first and only Adrien Broner.
“I don’t know why I would be terrified of Porter. I’m not terrified of anything. He can talk, it’s all okay.
“I’m going to give my dad a great Father’s Day present this weekend when I get that victory Saturday night.
“Everyone has to tune-in to see AB on NBC, it’s going to be a show just like every time I step into the ring.”
SHAWN PORTER
“I feel great. My weight is great and that’s all that matters. That’s the first small battle and the next battle will come on Saturday night.
“I think Broner thought that if he gets me drained it would be a problem for me, but it’s not going to be. That’s not the Porter way. We’ve done everything right to this point.
“Broner keeps saying that he hopes I’m ready to bring it, but I don’t really understand what he means because everyone knows I’m ready and everyone knows I always bring it. You don’t have to ask that of Shawn Porter.
“He’s a talker, he likes to run his mouth but it’s all good. We’re just going to do our thing on Saturday night.
“This is going to be a good one. Certainly a crowd pleaser. Old or new to boxing, this is going to be good for you. Broner has skills, but I have skills too. It’s going to be a magnificent fight on Saturday night.”
ERROL SPENCE JR.
“It’s been training camp as usual for us. We didn’t really do anything different, it was a little more intense but all the same things we do.
“I’m just ready to fight. I want to weigh-in, get some food in my stomach and get in that ring. I’m on weight already, it’s been a long, eight-week training camp so we’re 100 percent ready.
“I’m a boxer-puncher. I can come forward or I can box. I’m always looking for the knockout and I’m always bringing exciting fights.
“Fighting on NBC, on my biggest card to date, it’s really big for me and I have to perform so that I can get back on NBC and be the main event next time.”
RANCES BARTHELEMY
“I know DeMarco will be prepared and he’ll put a lot of pressure like Mexican fighters do. That’s the only way that he has a chance. We have a plan for how we’re going to fight.
“Moving to Las Vegas has made me more relaxed and comfortable. Now that I’m married and have my daughter, it’s been even more peaceful. I’m ready to go.
“Being on CBS where everybody in the U.S. can see me, it gives me even more inspiration. People will know who I am after this fight.”
ANTONIO DEMARCO
“I’m coming in ready to box, brawl or whatever it will take to get the victory on Sunday.
“I know my opponent is undefeated but he has not fought the same guys I have. My experience is better and it will show in the ring.
“We had a great training camp, all the hard work is done. It’s about going out on Sunday and putting on a show for everyone to see.”
SAMMY VASQUEZ
“This was probably the best sparring camp I’ve ever had. It was a little longer than I’m used to – about eight weeks – and we had some great sparring partners. I’m more ready than ever.
“The guys that Omotoso’s faced, he’s knocked out, so he’s been doing his job. He’s a power hitter so I know I can’t take him lightly. He dropped Jessie Vargas, but he’s not as quick of a fighter as I am.
“He can say what he wants, but he’s not going to knock me out. That’s what he’s supposed to say. Everything changes when you step into the ring. He’s going to find out pretty quickly that he hasn’t faced anyone like me.
“My game plan is to beat him and if I see the opportunity to knock him out then I will take it.
“I’m fighting for all my fans back in Pittsburgh, all my brothers and sister in the Armed Forces. I’ll be carrying them on my back as I enter the ring this Sunday.”
WALE OMOTOSO
“I’ve seen a few of Sammy’s fights. I think he has speed, but that’s the only thing that I see. I don’t think he has the power to knock me out.
“I’ve faced the tougher guys than him. In my last fight I floored Jessie Vargas, and I think Jessie is quicker than him.
“It doesn’t matter how quick he is, he’ll bring out the best in me.
“When I see a challenge I like to face it. I’m going to knock him out.”
