BROOKLYN (June 19, 2017) – Four-division world champion Adrien “The Problem” Broner and three-division world champion Mikey Garcia went face-to-face for the first time Monday before they battle in one of the premier matchups of the summer that headlines SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING Saturday, July 29 live on SHOWTIME. Broner vs. Garcia is presented by Premier Boxing Champions at Barclays Center, the home of BROOKLYN BOXING®.

Tickets to the event, which is promoted by Mayweather Promotions and DiBella Entertainment, are priced at $950, $750, $350, $300, $250, $150, $75, and $50 (not including applicable fees), are on sale now, and can be purchased at ticketmaster.com, barclayscenter.com or by calling 800-745-3000. Tickets can also be purchased at the American Express Box Office at Barclays Center. Group discounts are available by calling 844-BKLYN-GP.

The fighters spoke to media at Dream Hotel Downtown in Manhattan to discuss their 140-pound clash that will headline an exciting night of action later this summer.

Here is what the participants had to say Monday:

ADRIEN BRONER

“I want to thank everyone who showed up today. I’ve been in some crazy situations and I’m blessed to be here. To get a fight like this is huge. Boxing is going back to the old days where the best fight the best. Mikey is definitely one of the best out there today.

“This can take our careers to the next level. I’m taking this seriously. I’ve been training in Colorado Springs. The weight will not be a problem. This gives me a reason to make 140. I’m not paying a man to put hands on me.

“I’m training hard and I think this will be one of the best performances of my career. This will take me to the superstar level where I need to be. I heard Mikey is a big favorite – they aren’t giving me much of a chance. I hope no one puts their house against me on this fight, because it won’t work out well for you.

“This fight will definitely bring the best out of me, because Mikey isn’t a sloppy fighter, he isn’t an awkward fighter. Don’t get me wrong, he’s a Mexican, but he boxes like an African American. We’re going to have a nice fight and I can’t wait to put on a show.

“When you’ve got two athletic fighters that have skills, it can only bring the best out of each other. And the cream always comes to the top.

“I’m more focused this training camp. There are so many distractions in Cincinnati or D.C. There is nothing to do in Colorado but look at the mountains and box.

“It’s going to be a great fight. Robert Garcia is a great trainer for his little brother. We’re both undefeated at 140-pounds and under. Something has to break. I want everyone to tune in on July 29. You will see a real serious Adrien Broner in the ring. It might get ugly for Mikey on July 29.”

MIKEY GARCIA

“I’m very thankful for this opportunity. I can’t stress the importance of this fight enough. It’s the biggest fight that I could have. There are other names that are out there, but nothing made more sense than facing Adrien Broner.

“Adrien has accomplished a lot and when he’s at his best, he’s really great. That’s what I expect on July 29. I see that he’s taking this seriously by moving camp to Colorado. I expect him to bring the best out of me and give the fans the best fight possible.

“The fans here in New York have always treated me well and it’s a fan base that just really loves boxing. The fans are what make me a world champion. I owe it to them to perform to the best of my abilities. I’m going to come ready on July 29 so that this fight is remembered as one of the best of the year.

“I think he is motivated because it’s a big fight, one where he can try to get his career back on track and try to be a superstar like he has been in past big fights. He didn’t perform so well in his past fight against [Adrian] Granados and this is an opportunity for him to jump back and be a superstar again. And I think that’s what’s motivating him for this fight.

“The weight makes sense to me for this type of fight. 135-pounds is probably my best division, but I don’t think this will be much different. I’ll make weight a little more comfortably and still keep my speed and power.

“I’ll do whatever it takes to win this fight. I’m more of a boxer-puncher but if I need to press the fight and put pressure on, I’m going to be ready to do that.

“I know that we definitely have to be in the best shape possible. I am not going to take this lightly. I am not thinking it’s going to be an easy win for me. I think it’s going to be a tough fight. I believe he’s going to be ready 100% and that’s going to make it a tough fight for me but overall I think I’m the better fighter, better boxer and I’ll have enough tools to bring in the ring with me.

“Adrien is going to come to beat me and I’m coming 100 percent to beat him. The fans will be the winner on fight night, but my hand will be raised.”

MIKE STAFFORD, Broner’s Trainer

“These are two really talented fighters and they’re going to put on a big show. We know Mikey is going to be prepared so we are going to do everything we can to be ready.

“Being in Colorado for training is like home for me and Adrien. This is what we’ve done since he was 18-years-old. Expect the same thing as every time before when he comes focused and prepared.

“Adrien is going to win and win real big. It’s going to be a tough fight, but we’ll be victorious when that final bell rings.”

ROBERT GARCIA, Garcia’s Brother & Trainer

“Every time Mikey and I come to New York we get nothing but love. We know Adrien is very talented and that’s why Mikey said yes to this fight. It took less than 30 seconds for him to agree.

“Mikey wants nothing else but big fights and we have one here. Expect a hell of a fight on July 29. I know we’re both going to be in great shape on fight night.”

LOU DIBELLA, President of DiBella Entertainment

“I love this fight. This is why we do this job. We want to make sensational fights like this for the fans to enjoy.

“Adrien Broner has spent a lot of time at the top of the sport while Mikey Garcia has made his way back to that top tier emphatically since returning last year.

“Mikey has insane amounts of talent. He’s a tremendous ambassador for the sport and he can do everything in the ring.

“Adrien Broner is a star. He’s ‘The Problem’ and sometimes he’s his own biggest problem. He’s an entertainer. People hate him but they pay to see him. He gets a lot of love and he gets a lot of hate. That’s worked for a lot of guys in this sport over the years. People care about him.”

STEPHEN ESPINOZA, Executive VP & GM, SHOWTIME Sports

“The bar has been set so high when you look at this year in boxing. It’s a high bar to get a main event at Barclays Center. The standard is very high and this fight certainly satisfies it. Two of boxing’s brightest young stars, both under 30 years old matching up against each other.

“This is the 19th live boxing event on SHOWTIME this year. Three world title unification, three world title rematches and six times where a top five fighter has fought another top five fighter in the division. We’re proud to bring you these two fighters on SHOWTIME. I give the fighters all the credit in the world for taking this fight. These guys are ready for big fights and they are proving it.”

BRETT YORMARK, CEO, Brooklyn Sports & Entertainment

“On July 29, Barclays Center will host its fourth major card of 2017. There is a great heritage of boxing in New York and I’m proud that Barclays Center is the number one boxing venue in the country. It has become a destination for the sport’s best talent, with Adrien and Mikey being two prime examples of that.

“I’m looking forward to one of the year’s most talked about fights. Adrien won a world title at Barclays Center and Mikey made his comeback there just last year. July 29 will be a special night not just for Brooklyn boxing, but for all boxing fans.

“Fights fans everywhere have already circled July 29 on their calendars and I look forward to seeing everyone next month.”
# # #

ABOUT BRONER vs. GARCIA
Adrien Broner vs. Mikey Garcia is a 12-round super lightweight showdown that headlines SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING Saturday, July 29 live on SHOWTIME. Broner vs. Garcia is presented by Premier Boxing Champions at Barclays Center, the home of BROOKLYN BOXING®.

For more information visit www.SHO.com/Sports,www.PremierBoxingChampions.com, follow on Twitter @ShowtimeBoxing, @PremierBoxing, @MikeyGarcia, @AdrienBroner, @MayweatherPromo, @LouDiBella, or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/SHOBoxing, , www.facebook.com/MayweatherPromotions and www.Facebook.com/DiBellaEntertainmentPBC is sponsored by Corona, La Cerveza Mas Fina.

BROOKLYN (June 13, 2017) -Four-division world champion Adrien “The Problem” Broner and three-division world champion Mikey Garcia square off in a blockbuster matchup in the main event of SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING®, Saturday, July 29, live on SHOWTIME, presented by Premier Boxing Champions at Barclays Center, the home of BROOKLYN BOXING™.

Tickets to the event, which is promoted by Mayweather Promotions and DiBella Entertainment, are priced at $950, $750, $350, $300, $250, $150, $75, and $50 (not including applicable fees), and will go on sale on Thursday, June 15 at 10 a.m. ET, and can be purchased at ticketmaster.com, barclayscenter.com or by calling 800-745-3000. Tickets can also be purchased at the American Express Box Office at Barclays Center starting Friday, June 16 at noon (if tickets are still available). Group discounts are available by calling 844-BKLYN-GP.

“Broner vs. Garcia is one of the year’s biggest matchups in boxing and we anticipate an electric atmosphere at Barclays Center,” said Brett Yormark, CEO of Brooklyn Sports & Entertainment. “This will be our fourth major card in 2017 as BROOKLYN BOXING continues to deliver dramatic moments, competitive fights, and many of the sport’s biggest names to fight fans.”

Broner and Garcia, two world-class fighters in their prime, meet at a critical time in their respective careers in one of the most intriguing matches in boxing. Both Broner and Garcia have had spectacular victories at Barclays Center in Brooklyn during their careers. Broner successfully defended his welterweight title against Paulie Malignaggi at Barclays Center on June 22, 2013, and Garcia, coming off a lengthy layoff, defeated Elio Rojas via fifth-round TKO at the arena on July 30, 2016.

Broner, a three-division world champion by the age of 23, and one of the youngest four-division world champions in boxing history, remains one of the most accomplished and popular athletes in the sport today. Among the top 140-pounders in the world, Broner is undefeated at or below 140 pounds with his only two losses coming against welterweight world champions Marcos Maidana and Shawn Porter. At just 27 years old, Broner (33-2, 24 KOs) still believes he is the future of the sport and looks to prove it against Garcia on Saturday, July 29.

Hailing from Cincinnati, Ohio, Broner has achieved more in his young career than most fighters can hope for in a lifetime. After earning world titles at 130, 135 and 147 pounds, Broner won a belt in a fourth weight division – 140 pounds – in October 2015 when he defeated Khabib Allakhverdiev via 12th round stoppage to become the second youngest four-division champion in boxing history at 26 (behind Oscar De La Hoya, 24). Broner will turn 28 years old on July 28, the day before his bout with Garcia.

Garcia, 29 years old and undefeated (36-0, 30 KOs), is a recently crowned lightweight champion and one of the best pound-for-pound boxers in the sport. He will move up in weight for the second time in just three fights to challenge Broner. Garcia is a member of a renowned boxing family, and is noted for his sportsmanship and his commanding presence in the ring, honed by his brother and acclaimed trainer Robert Garcia. He has held world titles at 126, 130 and 135 pounds, but has never fought above 138.

Garcia, of Moreno Valley by way of Oxnard, Calif., returned to the ring after a two-and-half-year layoff in July 2016 without missing a beat. After defeating Rojas, Garcia became a three-division champion by beating previously undefeated lightweight world champion Dejan Zlaticanin with a vicious third-round knockout this January. Garcia has stopped 19 of his last 21 opponents including Roman “Rocky” Martinez, Juan Manuel Lopez, Orlando Salido and Bernabe Concepcion.

For more information visit www.SHO.com/Sports, www.PremierBoxingChampions.com, follow on Twitter @ShowtimeBoxing, @PremierBoxing, @MikeyGarcia, @AdrienBroner, @MayweatherPromo, @LouDiBella, or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/SHOBoxing, , www.facebook.com/MayweatherPromotions and www.Facebook.com/DiBellaEntertainment PBC is sponsored by Corona, La Cerveza Mas Fina.

NEW YORK – Two of the world’s best 140-pound boxers in the sport – Adrien Broner and Mikey Garcia – participated in a media conference call on Thursday to discuss the news that they would square off against one another on Saturday, July 29, on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING®.

A three-division world champion at the age of 23, and one of the youngest four-division world champions in boxing history, Broner remains one of the most accomplished and popular athletes – and perhaps the most polarizing – in the sport today. Broner (33-2, 24 KOs) is unbeaten at or below 140 pounds with his only two losses coming against welterweight world champions Marcos Maidana and Shawn Porter.

The 29-year-old Mikey Garcia is undefeated (36-0, 30 KOs) and coming off a WBC lightweight world title he won in January. Garcia is moving up in weight for the second time in just three fights to challenge Broner.

Adrien Broner vs. Mikey Garcia is presented by Premier Boxing Champions. A venue has yet to be determined for the highly anticipated matchup.

Also joining the call was Stephen Espinoza, Executive Vice President & General Manager of SHOWTIME Sports.

Here is what the principals had to say on the call on Thursday:

ADRIEN BRONER
“I mean, I’ve done a lot. I’ve done a lot in the sport already at a young age. I’ve watched Mikey Garcia come up before and at the same time I came up. I always want to fight the best. The best fight the best and that’s what’s going on today. This fight is going to be a tremendous fight and I’m bringing my A-game. I know a lot of people are probably counting me out.”

Q: Can you give me your perspective of how this fight was brought to your attention? How easy was the fight to make?
A: “I just see two fighters that got chips on their shoulders and I’m ready to put on another great show of boxing. I’m tired of sitting around and watching everybody else fight each other. I want to fight the best too, so let’s do it.”

Q: Can you just give me your impressions on what it will take to make 140 pounds and to do it so you’re competitive and strong at that weight against Mikey, who’s going to put on a couple of pounds?
A: “Making the weight is not going to be a problem. My last fight is coming from 180-plus. I’ve kept my weight down and I’ve actually been trying to fight somebody earlier than July. But since it’s July, I’ve kept my body in okay shape and I won’t have a problem making the weight.”

Q: Do you see you being more experienced against bigger guys as an advantage for you going into a fight that most people would consider a pretty tough fight?
A: “I don’t look at this fight like that. Mikey is a great opponent and a great fighter. As long as I’m at my A-game, I’ll be okay. That’s just how I feel. I’m taking my career more seriously and I’m just ready to put on a great show.”

Q: Were there discussions about the fight being contested at a higher weight?
A: “I have no problem with making the weight. I have a reason. This fight gives me a reason to make 140 pounds. I will make the weight, no problem. Just like when I fought for the title, I made the weight easy.”

Q: What have you seen from Mikey Garcia as far as his development goes since coming back?
A: “A kid who’s still growing in boxing just like me. We all make our mistakes and we try to get better every fight. You have two men that are in their prime and at the highest level of their career and they want to fight each other. So, let’s do it”

Q: Do you feel that having fought at a higher weight in the past is an advantage for you? Does it help you in any way?
A: “I’m not coming into this fight looking at having an advantage because I’ve fought at a higher weight. At the end of the day, I’ve got to be 100 hundred percent and that’s all I’m worried about.”

Q: Does a challenge like this motivate you more?
A: “I love it. I’ve faced adversity so many times in this game. Sometimes I fell short, but I got right back up and kept fighting.”

Q: How much credit do you sense you’re getting for embracing this fight?
A: “Honestly, in all due respect to every reporter out there, I feel like I really don’t get as much respect as I should because of my last fight…the guy that I fought [Adrian Granados], he was a guy a lot of people skipped past…and I’m like, ‘You know what, I’m going to fight him.’ Everybody felt like I wasn’t taking a tough fight. I knew he was tough and I fought him and beat him and now I’m taking another tough fight after that in Mikey Garcia.”

Q: How important was it for you to take a tough fight like this?
A: “I want to fight them all. In the beginning of my career I was very anxious to fight everybody and as I’ve gotten older I’ve learned to just take my time and roll down the hill slow and get them all… And this is where it starts.”

Q: Do you feel like fighting [Garcia’s] style is going to require a lot of patience on your part?
A: “If you ask me, I’m the guy that’s very defensive. I really don’t get hit that much. Only when I decide to stand in the middle, but I’m very hard to hit myself. I think this fight is going to be two boxers with high IQ’s who are going to put on a great show of boxing.”

Q: Is it going to be a fight determined by footwork and ring generalship, would you agree with that?
A: “I wouldn’t say all of that. Everybody doesn’t fight the same every night when they go in the ring. Once I get in there and make my adjustments and once he gets in there and tries to make his adjustments, we’re going to let the fight play out.”

Q: Do you feel like Mikey is a stiff puncher and is that something that you have to be careful of with his punching power?
A: “Anybody is a puncher whether… It all hurts. I’m one to tell the truth. I don’t want to get hit by nobody. I don’t care if it’s Paulie Malignaggi…I don’t want to feel none of their punches.”

Q: “What do you say about your power at this weight when you get the proper training in and you’re on weight and you’re on target?
A: “Just check my record. I’m undefeated. There’s only a couple literally, where people lasted. Everybody knows in the boxing game: Once Adrien Broner is focused and I’m on track and doing everything correctly, nobody will beat me. Only I beat myself and I’m tired of coming up short and selling myself short.”

Q: If you are focused for this fight and you get down to 140, can you just talk about how you’ll feel when that happens and what you feel your power is when you do that?
A: “Independence day in July. I’m bringing fireworks.”

Q: Realistically, how difficult will it be for you to make weight at 140 pounds and do you think Garcia has the upper hand or advantage?
A: “No, I’ll make weight easy. Honestly, there is no disadvantage or advantages in this fight. This fight will come down to the best prepared boxer.”

Q: What is it about the sport of boxing that has put a chip on your shoulder? What are some of the things about the sport and the business side of it that you don’t like and that you’d like to see change?
A: “It’s really not the business side because the business is going good. I love Stephen to death, that’s my uncle. But as far as the sport, I just feel like they don’t put enough respect on my name. With all of my accomplishments in this game, I’m the one the kids want to be now. Because coming up, everyone wanted to be like Floyd and now coming up all the kids want to be like Adrian Broner. It’s okay though, this fight is just to show people that I’m still here and that I still got what it takes to take over the game of boxing after Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao.”

Q: You’re boxing a lot more than you did in the last year, has anything changed for you?

A: “A lot changed, I’ve gotten older. I’m getting wiser, more mature. This next half of my career, I’m just focused on doing things the correct way. The first half I tried to do things my way and it worked but I could have done better, but I want to try and do everything correct.”

Q: Will you be training in Colorado as usual?
A: “Colorado Springs. My last four fights I haven’t been in Colorado. The last fight I’ve done in Colorado was the Maidana fight. I’ve been in DC. I’m going back to where I can focus on just strictly boxing because I want this to be one of the best performance of my career. I feel like my back is against the wall and it’s time to fight out.”

Closing comment: “Get some cameras my way, I’m ready to perform.”

MIKEY GARCIA
Q: Tell us why you took this fight at 140 and what your plans are on July 29.
A: “It is the biggest fight available for me right now. Originally my plan was to unify at 135. If that was not available I would look at a big name to defend my title at lightweight but that wasn’t quite available. Adrien Broner is a much bigger name and a bigger star who has accomplished a lot in the sport. So, it just made more sense to go and pursue the Adrien Broner fight than a regular title defense.”

Q: Is the move up to 140 a temporary stop? Do you want to come back to 135 to defend title or do you just figure there are bigger names at that [140] weight class?
A: “I would like to come back down to lightweight and unify the titles or defend my title before making a permanent move up. But, because this fight was available right now and it’s a much bigger fight than anything else at the lightweight division—like I mentioned earlier, that’s why we’re moving up to 140. If unification matches are available at 135 later this year, then that’s what I’m going to go after.”

Q: Did you think to yourself ‘I’d like to fight Adrien Broner’? Was it brought to your attention or did you maybe mention it to one of your people? How was it brought to your attention?
A: “We had already talked about a possible matchup between us two, but later in the year. When we couldn’t find anything else available that made sense, nothing big enough at lightweight, then we looked at the 140-pound division or someone that could possibly make a big name. And, Adrien Broner’s name came up along with Stephen [Espinoza] who had also brought it up to me, we were able to look into Adrien Broner and gladly everything worked out. His team accepted and I think this is the biggest fight that we can both get right now in our careers.”

Q: Did your team try to get the weight at even lower than 140 or they bring it to you at higher than 140 and you were able to settle on the division weight limit? How did the discussion of what weight would this would be at go?
A: “I made it clear that I’m still a lightweight and my best division right now is at 135. So, I would not go any higher than 140 pounds for this fight with Adrien. I made that very clear from the beginning, that if there was any discussion or talks about a fight with Adrien Broner it would not be anything higher than 140 pounds. I’m glad Adrien Broner and his team agreed to that weight.”

Q: Was there any hesitation from Broner’s team about that weight?
A: “Not that I’m aware of because I had heard that he also stated that he was coming back to 140 pounds.”

Q: What weight do you think Broner has been best at?
A: “Everything changes as the body grows and matures. When he was at 130 and 135 he was very strong, very fast. Then, at welterweight he made that big jump to welterweight and also looked very, very good. But in recent fights he’s had some other issues outside the ring, distractions and stuff that might be cause for some of the lack-luster performances on some of his fights. But, the skills are there and the talent is still there. So, I can’t comment on a specific weight class and he’s also fighting bigger men in bigger fights at welterweight and 140 pounds, and that’s also maybe some of the reason why he’s unable to finish the guys or look tremendous like he used to. But, you can’t deny the talent.”

Q: Where do you think your advantage comes in this fight? What area do you think you’re clearly better than he is?
A: “I just think I’m a skilled fighter with very good power as well and I think it’s a pretty even fight, pretty even match. But, I feel that I have a slight edge when I comes to just natural boxing skills, technique, the ring generalship; the timing and the distance-range where I control the range of the distance of a fight.”

Q: What makes Broner the “big fight”?
A: “I haven’t fought anybody else that’s been champion in four divisions. So, that’s going to be an accomplishment in itself there and that’s what I mean. There’s no one else available that has that resume.”

Q: Do you feel that you coming up in weight is an advantage or disadvantage in this fight?
A: “I don’t know that it’s an advantage or disadvantage. I think it’ll be a new to see Broner at 140 because that’s probably a better weight for him and that will actually allow me to perform better too. But, I don’t see myself as having an advantage because the fight is at 140. I feel that I should still be at 135 and I still plan on coming down to 135 pounds but we’ll just have to see on the 29th and see how I feel there.”

Q: How excited are you that a big fight like this is finally here?
A: “It’s exciting to be able to dictate and guide my career in a way that I want and I’m able to secure this fight without having much resistance on either party. So, that makes it easy and I look forward to securing bigger fights after this also.”

Q: Any concern that Broner is not going to make weight for the fight?
A: “There is some concern and that’s why I made it clear that I wouldn’t go any higher than 140. But, he agreed, his team agreed, and it seems like he’s confident that he’s able to make 140. I think last time he didn’t make it, maybe he wasn’t taking it as serious. Maybe, he was coming from some personal issues and problems. So, I think now, he’s probably more focused and ready to regain control of his career and make a big name again. He should be taking it very serious and if he feels confident in making 140, then that’s great. That only makes for a much better fight. If he’s going to be training better and preparing himself better to make the weight, it’ll just make for a bigger fight.”

Q: If he doesn’t make the weight, is the fight still something that you would consider?
A: “We would have to consider options and consider other factors to see if it’s still something that benefits me. Right now, we targeted 140 pounds, he agreed on 140, so that’s what I’m looking at. If later, before the fight, something does come up with issues than I’ll make a decision at that point.”

Q: Where were you, as far as making unification fights, before the Broner fight became a realistic possibility? Have fights with Linares or Flanagan been very difficult to make at that point? Or were you hoping that those fights could’ve been made this summer?
A: “I still hope we can get something like that before the end of the year but it just wasn’t happening this summer. Linares’ team said that they would like maybe a voluntary title defense of his titles just like the WBC had already agreed that it was okay for either one of us to take a voluntary title defense. With Flanagan, I heard it was a very good possibility to get done but I think he’s also got a fight with Verdejo, possibly as a mandatory and that’s something that we would have to wait for results for. So, it was a little more complicated to be waiting and to try to get those unification matches. But the Adrien Broner fight came up and it was a lot easier to get that than anything else.”

Q: At 140, tell us how you think your power will translate?
A: “I think the power is still there. It just depends on how well my opponent can take a punch. I am fighting a bigger guy with Adrien Broner, who has fought at welterweight and faced some of the better welterweights there, so the power may not show because he might be able to take a better punch. But, I moved up from featherweight all the way to lightweight and I still carried punch. My last victory as everybody knows, I knocked out Dejan Zlaticanin who had never been dropped and who was undefeated. I dropped him cold. The power is there it just depends on how well a guy can take a punch.”

Q: How comfortable are you at this weight? Do you walk around heavier than this or is this a big cut for you?
A: “It’s not a big cut honestly. It’s actually a very simple weight cut. But I think what I’m going to be working on is not necessarily just focusing on power but I’m going to continue working on my footwork, having my speed, my reflexes, so that I can carry that. The power, I believe is going to be there regardless but I want to make sure that I carry my speed and I don’t want the weight to affect me in any way and slow me down.”

Q: Is he going to be the best boxer you’ve faced?
A: “On paper he has the biggest resume, he’s the most accomplished fighter that I’ve faced. But as far as the better boxer, I’m just going to have to wait and see on the 29th and see how good of a fighter he really is because he’s definitely got the talent and the skills. Let me see what I can do on July 29th.

Q: How do you expect the fight to play out?
A: “It’s going to be a good, competitive fight, a very close fight because like I said, you can’t deny his skills, you can’t deny his accomplishments. But at the end of the night I feel that I am a slightly better boxer. Just a little bit better than he is and I’ve just got to prove it on the 29th. I did tell you that he loses, he’s lost and I don’t lose. That’s where I have that confidence. I don’t believe anybody around my division can beat me right now and I don’t think Adrien Broner is going to be one to give me those kinds of problems. We’re going to obviously train hard and prepare. We can’t take him lightly but I still believe very, very strongly that I’m the better fighter.”

STEPHEN ESPINOZA, Executive Vice President & General Manager SHOWTIME Sports
“It’s been a great year for boxing. More specifically, it’s really been a great year for SHOWTIME boxing. Boxing is enjoying a rejuvenation, a reinvigoration. The sport has a lot of momentum and SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING has been the primary engine for that. Through this weekend, when we’ll be featuring Adonis Stevenson vs. Andrzej Fonfara, SHOWTIME will have telecasted 18 live boxing events this year alone. That includes 14 world title fights. The fight we’re talking about today will be the 19th live telecast on SHOWTIME this year.

“Broner vs. Garcia will be the sixth time that we’ve featured a consensus top-5 fighter versus another consensus top-5 fighter. It’s really undisputable – this year the best are fighting the best and they’re doing it on SHOWTIME. In a year filled with memorable fights on SHOWTIME, I think July 29th could be among the most eagerly anticipated fights on the schedule. Two of the most talented, most well-known, most popular fighters in the sport today facing each other in the primes of their respective careers.

“On a personal note, this was a very easy fight to make. The conversation started roughly a week ago about the same time all of these rumors became public. And here we are a week later, including a holiday weekend, announcing a fight. And I’m proud to say that both of these very talented fighters showed no hesitation whatsoever in doing this.

“In the short time since this fight has been rumored and announced, there’s something I’ve seen that I think that’s unique in my experience in this position. There are large groups of people on each side of this fight that think it’s an easy fight. A lot of people say, ‘easy fight for AB.’ There’s an equally large group of people on the Mikey Garcia side that say ‘easy fight’ and I’ve never seen that on a fight before. That’s what makes this such an intriguing matchup.”

Q: “Did all of the other successful fights contribute to you being able to get this particular fight done.”
A: “These fighters are top-tier athletes. And they don’t get to this level of accomplishment without being competitors. We saw it with Shawn Porter at Errol’s fight. When these guys see these big fights happening, their juices get flowing and they get salivating. More than anything, it’s really the fighters. The fighters are the ones who are taking these tough fights and in many cases asking for the tough fights. Originally, we were looking for scheduling a fight for Mikey and a fight for Adrien at some point this summer. And then at a certain point, we realized that for either of them at 135 or 140, there wasn’t a bigger fight than fighting each other. Once everyone understood that, everything clicked. This is the biggest fight that each of them can make right now realistically and that’s really what got it done and made all the other issues: weight, money, all that other stuff melted away because these are two world class competitors who want to do the biggest fight possible.”

# # #

For more information visit www.SHO.com/Sports follow on Twitter @ShowtimeBoxing or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/SHOBoxing. To become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/SHOBoxing.

By Norm Frauenheim-

They are dangerous men moving in opposite directions. It was inevitable perhaps that their paths would cross in a fight with no title at stake, yet everything else at risk.

“This was a very easy fight to make,’’ Showtime executive vice-president Stephen Espinoza said Thursday in announcing Mikey Garcia-versus-Adrien Broner on July 29 at a venue still undetermined.

It was easy for all kinds of reasons. In a bid to enhance his pound-for-pound credentials, Garcia was looking to unify his lightweight title, maybe against Jorge Linares or Terry Flanagan. But they had other ideas. There were no options. But there was Broner.

“I haven’t fought anybody else who has been champion in four divisions,” Garcia (36-0, 30 KOs) said during a conference call after the junior-welterweight bout was announced. “That’s a big accomplishment in itself there. That’s what I mean. There is no one else available who has that resume.’’

Broner was — is – at a point of no return in a quest to regain relevance. He has won titles at super featherweight, lightweight, super lightweight and welterweight, but his recent record includes criminal charges and jail time.

“I’ve gotten older and I’m getting more wise,” Broner said. “I’m more mature. This next half of my career, I’m just focusing more on doing everything the correct way. The first half, I tried to do everything my way. It worked, but I could have been better.

“So, I want to try to do everything correctly.”

That Broner will attempt to do that in the ring instead of the Department of Corrections is an acknowledgement that his career – his life — is at a crossroads.

Against Garcia, however, he has taken on a steep challenge. Broner’s identity as the self-proclaimed “Problem’’ began to come apart in the wake of a crushing loss to Marcos Maidana in 2013. Maidana’s relentless aggression and power fractured the noisy confidence in a fighter who liked to say that his initials, AB, meant About Billions. About Bail, too.

The bragging and insults are gone. At least, they were Thursday. A quiet Broner was quick to praise Garcia, whose star has been ascending ever since his scary knockout of Dejan Zlaticanin on Jan. 28 in Las Vegas.

“Everybody is a puncher,’’ Broner said. “It all hurts. I don’t want to be hit, and I don’t care if it’s Paulie Malignaggi or Marcos Maidana.’’

At his best, Broner figures to be a lot harder to hit than a Zlaticanin ever was. What’s more, Broner is bigger. He fought as a welterweight. Broner’s size and athleticism promise to be a challenge for Garcia, who will be fighting at 140 for the first time. Yet, there are questions about whether Broner can in fact make the weight.

Broner lost his junior-welterweight belt on the scale before facing Ashley Theophane 14 months ago. He failed to make weight and went on to win by TKO.

In his last fight, Broner a split-decision winner at welterweight against Adrian Granados on Feb. 18. The weight was increased to 147 pounds a couple of weeks before opening bell because Broner was having trouble cutting weight.

Espinoza said Thursday that the deal included penalties for not making weight. But he would not divulge details. Don’t worry, said Broner, who promised to make the contracted weight.

“This fight gives me a reason to make 140 pounds,’’ he said. “I’ll make the weight no problem, just like when I fought for the title. I’ll make the weight easy.”

Making weight, however, might be his only victory, said Garcia, whose chances at facing Vasyl Lomachenko in an eventual pound-for-pound showdown might be determined by how he does against Broner (33-2, 24 KOs).

“He loses,’’ the unbeaten Garcia said. “He has lost. I don’t lose. I don’t believe anyone around my division can beat me. I believe I’m the better fighter.”

NEW YORK (June 1, 2017) – Today, SHOWTIME Sports® announced a blockbuster matchup between two of boxing’s biggest stars as three-division world champion Mikey Garcia moves up in weight to 140 pounds to face four-division champion Adrien “The Problem” Broner in the main event of SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING®, Saturday, July 29, live on SHOWTIME. Adrien Broner vs. Mikey Garcia is presented by Premier Boxing Champions.

In yet another significant main event matchup on SHOWTIME, these world-class fighters will meet at a critical time in their respective careers. A three-division world champion at the age of 23, and one of the youngest four-division world champions in boxing history, the flamboyant Broner remains one of the most accomplished and popular athletes – and perhaps the most polarizing – in the sport today. Among the top 140-pounders in the world, Broner is undefeated at or below 140 pounds with his only two losses coming against welterweight world champions Marcos Maidana and Shawn Porter. An experienced fighter at just 27 years old, Broner (33-2, 24 KOs) still believes he is the future of the sport and promises to prove it against Garcia on July 29.

Mikey Garcia, 29 years old and undefeated (36-0, 30 KOs), is a recently crowned lightweight champion on a self-appointed journey to become a household name in the sport of boxing. Garcia will move up in weight for the second time in just three fights to challenge Broner. Garcia represents a boxing family developing legendary status in the modern era of the sport. He is renowned for his sportsmanship and his commanding presence in the ring, honed by his brother and acclaimed trainer Robert Garcia. Mikey has held world titles at 126, 130 and 135 pounds, but has never fought north of 138.

Saturday, July 29 will be the 19th live boxing event on SHOWTIME this year. The main event bout will be a WBC 12-round special attraction.

“SHOWTIME Sports continues to deliver the most anticipated matchups, the most important events and the most thrilling fights in boxing,” said Stephen Espinoza, Executive Vice President and General Manager, SHOWTIME Sports. “We consistently feature top-rated champions and challengers. The best are fighting the best and the results have been spectacular. Adrien Broner vs. Mikey Garcia is a fight that fight fans have dreamed of—an undefeated, young star facing one of the best 140-pound fighters in the sport, both men in the prime of their respective careers. July 29 promises to be a memorable night in a year already full of memorable boxing events.”

Broner, of Cincinnati, Ohio, has achieved more in his young career than most fighters can hope for in a lifetime. After earning world titles at 130, 135 and 147 pounds, Broner won a belt in a fourth weight division – 140 pounds – in October 2015 when he defeated Khabib Allakhverdiev via 12th round stoppage to become the second youngest four-division champion in boxing history at 26 (behind Oscar De La Hoya, 24). As an amateur, Broner compiled a record of 300 wins, 19 losses under the guidance of his trainer Mike Stafford, who has remained in Broner’s corner throughout his entire career. Broner will turn 28 years old on July 28, the day before his bout with Garcia.

Once considered one of the top young pound-for-pound boxers in the world, Mikey Garcia, of Moreno Valley by way of Oxnard, Calif., returned to the ring after a two-and-half-year layoff in July 2016 without missing a beat. He scored a dominant fifth-round stoppage over former world champion Elio Rojas in his first fight back. Then, Garcia became a three-division champion by beating previously undefeated lightweight world champion Dejan Zlaticanin with a vicious third-round knockout last January. Garcia has stopped 19 of his last 21 opponents including Roman “Rocky” Martinez, Juan Manuel Lopez, Orlando Salido and Bernabe Concepcion.

For more information visit www.SHO.com/Sports, www.PremierBoxingChampions.com, follow on Twitter @ShowtimeBoxing, @PremierBoxing, @MikeyGarcia, @AdrienBroner, or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/SHOBoxing.

About Showtime Networks Inc.
Showtime Networks Inc. (SNI), a wholly-owned subsidiary of CBS Corporation, owns and operates the premium television networks SHOWTIME®, THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ and FLIX®, and also offers SHOWTIME ON DEMAND®, THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ ON DEMAND and FLIX ON DEMAND®, and the network’s authentication service SHOWTIME ANYTIME®. Showtime Digital Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of SNI, operates the stand-alone streaming service SHOWTIME®. SHOWTIME is currently available to subscribers via cable, DBS and telco providers, and as a stand-alone streaming service through Apple®, Roku®, Amazon, Google and Samsung. Consumers can also subscribe to SHOWTIME via Hulu, YouTube TV, Sling TV, Sony PlayStation® Vue and Amazon Channels. SNI also manages Smithsonian Networks™, a joint venture between SNI and the Smithsonian Institution, which offers Smithsonian Channel™, and offers Smithsonian Earth™ through SN Digital LLC. SNI markets and distributes sports and entertainment events for exhibition to subscribers on a pay-per-view basis through SHOWTIME PPV®. For more information, go to www.SHO.com

Four division champion, Adrien Broner was arrested on Thursday after an SUV he was passenger was riddled with Bullet’s, according to Dan Rafael of espn.com.

Broner was arrested on an open warrant and booked into the Kenton County Detention Center in Covington, Kentucky, just outside of his hometown of Cincinnati, on Thursday, though he was released a few hours later after posting a $503 bond.

According to police, Broner told them someone shot at the car after following him from a bar in Cincinnati. Broner was not injured.

Covington police then arrested him on an open warrant from 2014 for public intoxication and disorderly conduct charges and the SUV was seized. Broner, 27, is scheduled for a court appearance on April 27.

By Jimmy Tobin-

Saturday night, at the Cintas Center in Cincinnati Ohio, Adrien “The Problem” Broner won a split decision over Adrian “El Tigre” Granados, in a fight whose outcome reflected what talent, yes, but also what geography and promotional favor were at play. If you were looking for something approximating a level playing field, Broner-Granados, like many a main event, left you wanting. What you got instead was a ten-round match at the welterweight limit because Broner was unable to make the contracted weight of 142 pounds and because Granados, understanding his role in the proceedings, dare not protest. The fight was, however, live streamed on Twitter, thereby sparing many an aficionado of having to beat back a swarm of pop ups to see the action.

Whatever the merits of Saturday night’s main event, it has been three years since Broner gave a memorable performance. That night, Broner danced into the ring in the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas, got humiliated by Marcos Maidana, then hurried woozily out of the spotlight. For many, Broner’s appeal to that point lay primarily in seeing him humbled, that it came at the hands of an affable killer like Maidana only made it sweeter. Having scared Broner out of the welterweight division, Maidana parlayed his victory into a fight with Floyd Mayweather, that fight into a rematch, and ultimately, an early retirement. He gave Mayweather hell in their first fight, yet it was his solving of “The Problem” that Maidana will be remembered best for. And that speaks to the kind of presence Broner has.

That presence is a little difficult to explain. At lightweight, Broner treated his invariably overmatched opposition as a professional should: walking them down and whacking them away with left hooks and a particularly evil rear uppercut. For a time, there was something compelling about seeing him terrorize opponents if only because, his clownish behaviour aside, Broner was merciless when the bell rang. There was something endearing about his ambition too—however much it smacked also of poor discipline—when he moved directly to welterweight in pursuing his ten-digit dreams. Broner commanded attention then, with thousands of words being devoted to him, his future, his similarities to his sometime-friend and mentor.

But all that attention seems foolish now because really, there is nothing remarkable about Broner. Still glacial in his transitions between offense and defense, Broner now resorts to little more than holding and pot shotting, and however much the commentary team may have lauded him for landing the harder punches (whatever that means) Broner hurt Granados no more than Granados hurt him. Gone too, like the opponents he could bully, is his penchant for bullying, the redeeming element in Broner’s earlier violence.

He was done no favors Saturday, having to follow Lamont Peterson, who whittled his way to a victory over David Avanesyan on the undercard. At welterweight Peterson is even less a puncher than Broner, but he compensates for that middling firepower with volume proportional to proximity. Peterson demands you fight; there is real craft in his angles, his head movement, and in the combinations he pistons home. There is too, in Peterson’s dogged efforts to hammer out his fortune three minutes at a time, a reason to watch.

Except people do not turn in to see Peterson like they do Broner, a fact that must baffle and frustrate the latter’s remaining detractors. And such detractors remain, though they number far less than they did before Broner was thrashed against the ceiling of his potential by the beloved “Chino.” How to explain a fighter who so many found repellant becoming endearing? How does a fighter whose greatest appeal once lay in his eventual comeuppance enjoy a greater popularity since that supposedly ruinous defeat?

Perhaps it is because this version of Broner often makes better fights than he is credited with. No, he is not facing the more celebrated names in Haymon’s stable, but his efforts against Maidana and Shawn Porter are a glimpse into why. Broner’s name may have some star quality to it, but the fighter that owns it is hardly stellar. He is, however, especially considering his standing within Haymon’s universe, relatively well-matched, and in those matches, he comports himself respectably.

When he was turning the lights out on sympathetic characters like Antonio DeMarco or failing to make weight against Vicente Escobedo, forcing the already dwarfed fighter to either accept being further disadvantaged or walk away from a payday, Broner’s antics were more likely to offend. Now, however, with a pair of telling losses and some less than glossy wins on his ledger, with all that made him exceptional forfeited to the scale, and with him fixed at least a tier below the fighters he was supposed to separate himself from, Broner is too mediocre to be upsetting. The fighter who for years appeared to take neither himself nor his profession particularly seriously is undeserving of even the most complimentary enmity. When ya boy AB is just doing AB people are chuckling or yawning, not screwing up their faces.

His recent about-face is not the product of some awakened duty to be a role model or any other more noble rationale: it is born of Broner’s recognition that he cannot reconcile his words and deeds. A high profile win or two would surely see a return of “The Problem.”

So, gone forever, then?

By Bart Barry

Saturday on Twitter @ShowtimeBoxing American bronerweight silver titlist Adrien Broner decisioned Adrian Granados by majority scores at Cintas Center in Broner’s hometown of Cincinnati whose crowd leavened Broner’s acts with applause enough to sway judges to give the hometown man a nod in a decision that was not egregious – as hometown nods go. Granados applied heat and humidity and Broner did not wilt and the fight was very good, marking consecutive weeks of broadcasting excellence for Showtime, double the PBC’s mark in 2016.

Adrien Broner is what we’ve got now and it behooves us to enjoy him and appreciate him best we can. Whither this new, sporting approach? Why, it’s not like anyone with access to YouTube from a codger aficionado to a teenage boxing naif could mistake this era for a great one; we no longer need to write disclaimers round the shabbiness of one’s competition – it’s baked in. It’d be graceless anymore to insist someone like Granados is a c-level guy who probably’d not’ve made it out the amateurs 30 years ago much less to a 10-round main with a “former four-division world champion” like Broner who at age 27 is in his physical prime and still going relief-by-scorecards with an opponent who couldn’t’ve gotten in the fourth round with a 2009 version of Manny Pacquiao or been kept out the hospital after confronting even a one-eyed Antonio Margarito.

Broner is not an elite fighter, however many world titles Richard Schaefer and HBO once conspired to win him; Broner is a gifted athlete with some elite offensive moves who’s plied the craft of leathering since childhood and learned some tricks thereby. Had his body and lifestyle allowed him to stay at 130 pounds or even lightweight, though, he’d be esteemed today more highly than Gennady Golovkin for a breathtaking streak of chloroforming every man in fewer than 10 minutes easy. But Broner took illconsidered chances and rose upwards to larger weights and purses and got exposed in the fairest sense of the word (as would Golovkin, truth be told) – or did you think it accidental nobody noticed Broner’s footwork was embarassing and his infighting consisted of forearms and tackling exclusively when AB dashed through Jason Litzau (28-2), Eloy Perez (23-0-2) and Antonio DeMarco (28-2-1)? Until Broner was made to retreat, in other words, nobody knew Broner didn’t know how to retreat and until Broner was unable to tremble an opponent with a single punch nobody knew Broner’s commitment to one combination took so much from him he’d need 15 seconds of breather when finished.

Perhaps Paulie Malignaggi knew it before he proved it in 2013, but Malignaggi has always had an elite-level eye whatever he is as a prizefighter.

Writing of whom, Malignaggi is good a place as any to start a reconsideration of Showtime in February of 2017. While HBO alternately hibernates, schedules starryeyed spectacles, and employs more Soviets than the Trump administration, Showtime quietly strung together two excellent main events in two weeks, which, given the current state of matchmaking, puts Showtime’s Feb. 11-18 in the running for Boxing Week of the Decade. Showtime did it on a budget, too, and did it on Twitter and announced, get this, future live streaming of sports – a technological hurdle most American broadcasters still claim insurmountable even while Brazilian models approach their third decade of webcamming. How in the hell Showtime will monetize Saturday’s online broadcasting excursion is anyone’s guess – I watched the match on my phone’s Twitter app, sitting in my car outside a coffeeshop, using a 4G connection – but then, aside from those aforementioned webcam models, who really has monetized an online service (as opposed to selling ads)?

Had Saturday’s match happened in Granados’ native Illinois before a partisan-Latino crowd Granados’ performance would’ve gotten him a majority decision which wouldn’t’ve changed his career trajectory or Broner’s more than a degree or two. Too many words and other resources are already committed to the Broner mythos to make him a welterweight gatekeeper yet, and too much evidence already has accrued on Granados’ resume to promote him as greater than one.

The match was there for Granados’ taking in the final rounds but he didn’t take it and showed fatigue enough to embolden Broner to finish effectively enough to deserve another go at a junior welterweight title if he can make 140. Broner may not finish fights effectively as he sometimes begins them but he does finish fights much better than his socialmedia persona anticipates: loud boorishness tends to crinkle when things get harder than incredibly easy, and Broner does not. Broner nearly came back on Chino Maidana in his first loss, and Broner dropped Showtime Shawn in round 12 of his other loss, and whatever badfaith kept Saturday’s match at 10 rounds while not-keeping it at 142 pounds, Broner brought every bit as much fighting spirit to round 10 as his lesstalented opponent.

To paraphrase Malignaggi in the closing rounds, say what you will about Broner, but he’s never in a bad fight. However that happens it’s good that it does – and may it continue.

Bart Barry can be reached via Twitter @bartbarry

Adrien Broner took a 10-round split decision from Adrian Granados in an entertaining welterweight bout in Cincinnati.

It was a tough with Broner and Granados trading shots.  Both guys were cut in the fight.  The contest was close as they went down the stretch.  Both guys took cards at 97-93, while Broner took a deciding card at 96-94.

Broner, 146.5 lbs of Cincinnati is 33-2.  Granados, 146.5 lbs of Chicago is 18-5-2.

“I knew that Adrian Granados was going to come tough,” Broner said. “At the end of the day, I was beating him up. This was an easy one for me. I feel good.

“Adrian Granados is a world class fighter, a lot of guys duck him but I wanted to fight him because that’s what I’m about. Inside this ring it’s business. Granados is a great friend of mine. It’s nothing personal.

“I’m taking my career more seriously and being more positive. I want to apologize to everyone who looks up to me and has seen the foolish things I’ve done. I’m ready to be a better role model, a better father figure and a better star for everyone. ”

“I knew it wasn’t a pretty fight but I’m thankful to my team,” Granados said. “You already know, there were all types of games that they played with me. We had to change the weights. We had to change the scale. They are just playing all kind of games. I just want to be treated fairly.

“I understand, I don’t have a perfect record, but I can beat any of these guys. You have seen the scorecards. Split decision. Come on. Give me another one. Let’s do it again. I can’t wait to watch this fight, because I know I won.

“Come to my house. He fought smart and did his thing. If he thinks he did it this time, let’s do it again. Let’s do it in my house. Come to Chicago

Lamont Peterson wrestled a version of the WBA Welterweight title with a 12-round unanimous decision over David Avanesyan.

Avanesyan was cut over the right eye in round three.  It was a grueling inside battle with a lot of hard body work, and Peterson got the nod 116-112 twice and 115-113 twice.

Peterson, 146.5 lbs of Washington, DC is 35-3-1.  Avanesyan, 147 lbs of Pyatigorsk, RUS is 22-2-1.

“I was expecting to pick up where I left off,” Peterson said of his 16-month layoff. “That may seem like a long time, but if you’re in the gym it’s not a long time. I took some steps forward tonight. We’re looking to get back in camp and keep moving.

“I expected to put pressure on him the way he did. I didn’t think he would fight back as hard as he did. He showed he’s a champion and shows he’s at this level. I want to fight anyone in the welterweight division now.”

“I thought that I was landing my punches more cleanly while his punches were being blocked,” Avanesyan said. “Lamont is very good but I thought the judges were impressed with his movement, but I had the power.”

Marcus Browne remained undefeated with a 6th round stoppage over Thomas Williams in a scheduled 10-round light heavyweight bout.

In round two, Browne landed a straight left to the head that sent Williams to knee.  Unfortunately for Browne, he walked in and drilled Williams with a left to the back of the head while Williams was on the canvas. For that, Browne was deducted a point.  In round four, it was another straight left that sent Williams to the deck for the 2nd time in the fight.  In round six, Browne drilled Williams with a left hand that sent him to the canvas and Williams could not beat the 10-count at 42 seconds.

Browne, 174.5 lbs of Staten Island, NY is now 19-0 with knockouts.  Williams, 174.5 lbs of Baltimore is 20-3.

“He didn’t’ look like he went down, so I made sure he went down,” Browne said of the incident in the second round. “He was trying to stand up in the squat position so I pushed him down a bit more. He was in a squat – I didn’t see his gloves. I’m sorry. I wasn’t being dirty.”

Follow all the action as former 4-division world champion Adrien Broner takes on Adrian Granados in a welterweight bout.  The action starts at 9 PM ET / 8 PM Chicago time/ 6 PM Pacific with a light heavyweight bout between Marcus Browne and Thomas Williams, Jr.  Also on the card is the WBA Welterweight title bout between David Avanesyan and Lamont Peterson.

No Browser Refresh needed–The page wtll update automatically

Round 1: Combination from Granados..Nice right..body work..Jab from Broner..Uppercut on inside..check left hook..Left..Broner bleeding from Nostrils..

Round 2 Counter left from Broner…Counter..Nice combinations..Right from Granados..Right uppercut from Granados..Right..right to body..left

Round 3 Right from Granados..Blood on nose of Granados..Sharp jab from Broner,,left hook from Granados…Big right from Broner,,Nice left hook…

Round 4 Broner lands 2 hard shots…Jab to the body..left hook..jab to body,,Good right from Granados..body shot..

Round 5 Lead right for Broner..Right uppercut from Broner..uppercut from Granados..left hand–right uppercut and jab from Broner..Chopping right from Granados

Round 6 Right hand from Broner..Right hook from Granados…Left and right from Broner..2 uppercuts from Granados…Right from Broner,,left uppercut from Granados..

Round 7 Left hook from Broner..Left hook to body from Granados..right from Broner..Right..Good combination from Granados…body from Broner..Good combination from Granados..

Round 8 Good right from Broner…Another hard right..Right uppercut from Broner…Broner jabs to the body

Round 9  Right uppercut from Granados on the inside..body work..left hook from Broner..right uppercut..right from Granados,,Right uppercut from Broner and another…right…Hard left hook..uppercut from Granados..

Round 10 Left from Broner..Right from Granados..Short right uppercut from Broner..Good right and combination

97-93 Broner…97-93 Granados..96-94 Broner

Round 1

Round 2 Good left hook to body from Avanesyan..Left hook to body..counter right..Right to body from Peterson..Left hook – Right to head from Avanesyan

Round 3 Avanesyan cut over right eye…Exchanging uppercuts..Nice left hook to body from Avanesyan…Cuffing right to the head..Left hook to body

Round 4 Nice right from Avanesyan..Nice combination…

Round 5 Nice body shot from Avanesyan..Check hook from Peterson

Round 6:  Uppercut lands for Peterson..Left hook fro Avanesyan..Right uppercut..Left..Right uppercut from Peterson..Double left from Avanesyan

Round 7:  triple left hook to body from Peterson..Left hook from Avanesyan..Left hook to body from Peterson..Hook from Avanesyan..Right uppercut..

Round 8 3 left hooks and right from Avanesyan..Right hand over the top..Left hook to body from Peterson..Right from Avanesyan..

Round 9 Right from Avanesyan..4 punches from Peterson…Left hook from Avanesyan..Left from Peterson..Combination from Avansyan..2 rights from Peterson

Round 10 2 left hooks from Avanesyan….Peterson rips a left to the body..

Round 11 left from Peterson backs Avanesyan to the ropes..Left hook to the body..hard jab backs Avanesyan up..Right uppercut

Round 12 Good counter right from Peterson..left hook to the body…trading uppercuts..Right hand from Avanesyan..Peterson lands a right..Left from Avanesyan..Peterson landing hard body shots

115-113, 116-112 twice for the NEW CHAMPION LAMONT PETERSON

Round 1 Combination to body from Browne..Jab..Jab to body..

Round 2:  Right hook from Williams..JAB AND DOWN GOES BROWNE…BROWNE HIT HIM IN BACK OF HEAD WHILE IS DOWN…DEDUCTED A POINT..Big left from Browne..

Round 3 Right hook to body from Williams..Counter right hook..Uppercut on inside…right hook to body from Browne

Round 4:  Big to the temple from Browne…Right hook to the face..straight left..Counter LEFT AND DOWN GOES WILLIAMS..Double jab from Williams…Body work.

Round 5 Good left to the body and 2 jabs from Browne..Right hook to jaw from Williams..Right hook from Browne..Good right..1-2..

Round 6 Big left AND DOWN GOES WILLIAMS…HE DOES NOT BEAT THE COUNT…..42 seconds

NEW YORK (Feb. 17, 2017) – SHOWTIME Sports will live-stream the first ever boxing event on Twitter this Saturday, offering fans the opportunity to watch and join the conversation during the SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING tripleheader headlined by popular four-division world champion Adrien Broner versus upset-minded Adrian Granados.

The unique collaboration with Twitter is an extension of the SHOWTIME Free Preview Weekend during which the premium network will be available to more than 73 million television households nationwide from Friday, February 17 through Monday, February 20.

Twitter’s live stream of Saturday’s SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecast will be available for free to logged-in and logged-out users on Twitter and connected devices in the United States and Canada. Access to the live stream will be available at showtimeboxing.twitter.com, in Twitter’s explore tab and on @ShowtimeBoxing.

“We are in the midst of an unrivaled run of seven live boxing events over an eight-week span on SHOWTIME and CBS,” said Stephen Espinoza, Executive Vice President & General Manager, SHOWTIME Sports. “The sport of boxing is on the rise again, and the best and most meaningful fights are on SHOWTIME. With this unprecedented live stream on Twitter, we have the opportunity to reach boxing fans and casual observers everywhere with the industry-leading boxing programming we deliver to our subscribers on a consistent basis.”

“Twitter is where fans go to for live conversations about boxing,” said Anthony Noto, COO at Twitter. “Our collaboration with SHOWTIME Sports will provide fans access to the live video stream of Saturday night’s best-in-class championship boxing coverage and the live conversation all on one screen.”

Saturday’s SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING presentation of Broner vs. Granados airs live at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT. In the main event, former four-division world champion Adrien Broner will face the hard-charging Adrian Granados in a 10-round welterweight showdown. In co-featured bouts, WBA Welterweight Champion David Avanesyan will defend his belt against former two-time champ Lamont Peterson, while 175-pound contenders Marcus Browne and Thomas Williams square off in a 10-round light heavyweight bout.

About Showtime Networks Inc.
Showtime Networks Inc. (SNI), a wholly-owned subsidiary of CBS Corporation, owns and operates the premium television networks SHOWTIME®, THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ and FLIX®, and also offers SHOWTIME ON DEMAND®, THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ ON DEMAND and FLIX ON DEMAND®, and the network’s authentication service SHOWTIME ANYTIME®. Showtime Digital Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of SNI, operates the stand-alone streaming service SHOWTIME®. SHOWTIME is currently available to subscribers via cable, DBS and telco providers, and as a stand-alone streaming service through Apple®, Roku®, Amazon and Google. Consumers can also subscribe to SHOWTIME via Hulu, Sony PlayStation Vue and Amazon Channels. SNI also manages Smithsonian Networks™, a joint venture between SNI and the Smithsonian Institution, which offers Smithsonian Channel™, and offers Smithsonian Earth™ through SN Digital LLC. SNI markets and distributes sports and entertainment events for exhibition to subscribers on a pay-per-view basis through SHOWTIME PPV. For more information, go to www.SHO.com.

About Twitter
Twitter, Inc. (NYSE: TWTR) is the best and fastest place to see what’s happening and what people are talking about all around the world. From breaking news and entertainment to sports and politics, from big events to everyday interests. If it’s happening anywhere, it’s happening first on Twitter. Twitter is where the full story unfolds with all the live commentary and where live events come to life unlike anywhere else. Twitter is available in more than 40 languages around the world. The service can be accessed at twitter.com, on a variety of mobile devices and via SMS. For more information, visit about.twitter.com or follow @twitter.

LONDON (17 February) – Adrien Broner says he has turned over a new leaf and is no longer a “sh*t talker anymore”.

The normally brash and outlandish Broner cut a new figure ahead of his ring return against Mexican-American Adrian Granados this Saturday night, exclusively live on BoxNation.

Taking place in Broner’s home city of Cincinnati, Ohio, the 27-year-old will be back in action following over 10 months out of the ring due to personal problems and now insists he is a changed man ready to do the business in front of his local fans.

“I know everyone is used to me coming up and being boastful. That’s not me anymore. I have a lot of respect for Adrian Granados and he’s a great fighter,” said Broner.

“A businessman that can fight. That’s what I am nowadays. I’m not a sh*t talker anymore. I’m a businessman that knows how to fight.

“I just want to put on a great performance for everyone in Cincinnati. It’s going to be a special atmosphere and I want to give them their money’s worth.

“I’ve had an amazing training camp and I feel great right now. I’m very thankful to my team who have helped me get to this point in my career,” Broner said.

Fighting at welterweight, 27-year-old Granados goes into the fight as the underdog but an impressive string of wins, which includes victory over the highly-touted prospect Amir Imam, gives him confidence to shock Broner.

“I’m excited for this weekend. I’m ready to go. I’ve been through a lot but we’re ready. I’m not here to lay down. I’m here to take home a victory for Chicago and for my people,” Granados said.

“People that think I’m an underdog don’t know me. They don’t know the tricks I have up my sleeve. I plan on thriving in the underdog position. Saturday I’m expecting a great fight. It is going to be a kill or be killed-type of fight. It is going to be a very exciting night for all of us.

“I’ve watched Adrien fight live on TV and in the arena many times. Spending eight weeks with him [in camp], I think I know him more than most people. I plan on winning in a stoppage or a unanimous decision – no matter what, I’m leaving with a victory,” he said.

The exciting card will also see the return and move up to welterweight for former champion Lamont Peterson who will be looking to challenge the very best at 147 pounds, including a possible rematch with Amir Khan following a controversial 2011 victory.

First, however, he must get through a tough assignment of Russian David Avanesyan, who has only lost once in 24 fights, that being in just his second professional fight nearly 8 years ago.

33-year-old Peterson, who has been out of the ring since October 2015, says he is ready to deal with Avanesyan’s unorthodox style and win late into the fight.

“Avanesyan switches from southpaw to orthodox a lot, which is something we had to be prepared for. We’ve sparred with guys from both sides and gotten a lot of good rounds there,” said Peterson.

“He’s a strong fighter too. You know a Russian fighter is going to come in with power. We made sure I’ll be able to match him anytime the fight gets rough. I’ll be ready for anything. I think my speed will give him trouble.

“He’s been able to handle everything in the past, but that doesn’t mean I won’t have advantages. I’m the more experienced fighter and I have the skills to get the win. I feel like I’m going to get him out of there. I’m predicting a late stoppage,” he said.

Broner v Granados is exclusively live on BoxNation this Saturday night via Sky/Freeview/Virgin/TalkTalk/EE/Apple TV/ online at watch.boxnation.com and via apps (iOS, Android, Amazon). Buy now at boxnation.com.

– ENDS –

About BoxNation
BoxNation, the Channel of Champions and proud partner of Rainham Steel, is the UK’s first dedicated boxing channel. From £12* per month with no minimum term customers can enjoy great value live and exclusive fights, classic fight footage, magazine shows and interviews with current and former fighters.
Previous highlights have included Haye vs Chisora, Mayweather vs Maidana, Saunders vs Eubank Jr and Khan vs Canelo.
The channel is available on Sky (Ch.437), Freeview (Ch.255), Virgin (Ch.546), TalkTalk (Ch.415), online at watch.boxnation.com and via apps (ios, Android, Amazon, Apple TV). BoxNation is also available in high definition on Sky (Ch. 490), at no extra cost to Sky TV subscribers, providing they are already HD enabled.
Available on selected internet-connected Freeview products only, subject to coverage. Visit freeview.co.uk/availability.
BoxNation is also available to commercial premises (inc. pubs, clubs and casino’s) in the UK and Ireland, for more information on a commercial subscription please call 0844 842 7700.
For more information visit www.boxnation.com
*Plus £8 registration fee for Sky TV customers

CINCINNATI (February 16, 2017) – Four-division world champion Adrien Broner and hard-hitting contender Adrian Granados went face-to-face Thursday at the final press conference before they enter the ring Saturday, February 18 live on SHOWTIME® from the Cintas Center at Xavier University in Cincinnati.

Also in attendance Thursday and competing in televised coverage beginning at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT were WBA Welterweight Champion David Avanesyan and two-time world champion Lamont Peterson, who meet in a 12-round welterweight fight, and light heavyweight contenders Marcus Browne and Thomas Williams Jr., who battle in a 10-round contest.

Saturday’s SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING tripleheader airs during a SHOWTIME FREE PREVIEW WEEKEND during which the premium network will be available to more than 73 million television households nationwide from Friday, February 17 through Monday, February 20. Viewers can sample the network’s award-winning programming on SHOWTIME, SHOWTIME On Demand®, SHOWTIME ANYTIME®

Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by About Billions Promotions and Mayweather Promotions in association with TGB Promotions and K1 Promotions, are priced at $250, $100, $75, $50 and $30, not including applicable fees, and are on sale now. Tickets can be purchased online at www.ticketmaster.com or by calling 1-800-745-3000.

Here is what the participants had to say Thursday from the Cintas Center:

ADRIEN BRONER

“I know everyone is used to me coming up here and being boastful. That’s not me anymore. I have a lot of respect for Adrian Granados and he’s a great fighter.

“A businessman that can fight. That’s what I am nowadays. I’m not a sh*t talker anymore. I’m a businessman that knows how to fight.

“My best knockouts come when I don’t go for the knockout. I look at my last fight and think to myself that it was terrible because I was looking for the knockout. I watch the Khabib fight, I didn’t look for the knockout and it came. That’s when the biggest knockouts come. I just want to go in there and put on a great performance for the hometown crowd.

“I just want to put on a great performance for everyone in Cincinnati. It’s going to be a special atmosphere and I want to give them their money’s worth.

“I’ve had an amazing training camp and I feel great right now. I’m very thankful to my team who has helped me get to this point in my career.”

ADRIAN GRANADOS

“I’m excite for this weekend. I’m ready to go. I’ve been through a lot but we’re ready. I’m not here to lay down. I’m here to take home a victory for Chicago and for my people.

“Saturday I’m expecting a great fight. It is going to be a kill or be killed-type of fight. It is going to be a very exciting night for all of us.

“People that think I’m an underdog don’t know me. They don’t know the tricks I have up my sleeve. I plan on thriving in the underdog position.

“I’ve watched Adrien fight live on TV and in the arena many times. Spending eight weeks with him [in camp], I think I know him more than most people.

“I plan on winning in a stoppage or a unanimous decision. No matter what I’m leaving with a victory.”

“It’s going to be a great fight. We have a lot of mutual respect. Mixed with my style, I know it’s going to be a good fight. I hope everyone is ready for a great show.”

DAVID AVANESYAN

“I’m very happy to have this fight in America. This is my second time fighting in the U.S. and I’m looking forward to keeping my belt after fighting Lamont Peterson on Saturday.

“I am excited to be fighting on a show like this. I hope that if I can get another win I can get even bigger fights and prove that I’m the best.

“I’m ready for this challenge. I know Lamont Peterson is looking to make this a great fight and I hope he brings it in the ring on Saturday.”

LAMONT PETERSON

“I had a great camp. I’m thankful to my team for getting me ready for this one. We got some great sparring that has me ready for this fight.

“I’m ready to take care of business on Saturday night. I’m looking forward to it and I hope everyone enjoyed it.

“We always want to be in good condition. Avanesyan switches from southpaw to orthodox a lot, which is something we had to be prepared for. We’ve sparred with guys from both sides and gotten a lot of good rounds there.

“He’s a strong fighter too. You know a Russian fighter is going to come in with power. We made sure I’ll be able to match him anytime the fight gets rough. I’ll be ready for anything.

“I think my speed will give him trouble. He’s been able to handle everything in the past, but that doesn’t mean I won’t have advantages. I’m the more experienced fighter and I have the skills to get the win.

“I feel like I’m going to get him out of there. I’m predicting a late stoppage.”

MARCUS BROWNE

“Top Dog can say what he wants to say. On Saturday night we’ll be Dog Whisperers. Make sure you tune-in for this one.

“I’ve had a great training camp and I feel ready to get in the ring. Saturday night can’t come soon enough for me.

“I’m thankful to have this opportunity to fight on a great card like this. I’ve seen guys like Adrien and Lamont in the ring for a lot of years and I’m proud to be up here with them.”

THOMAS WILLIAMS JR.

“I’m feeling great. It was an awesome camp. Everyone should buy a ticket or watch it on TV. Get there early and don’t miss my fight.

“Marcus is a boxer and I know he’s going to try to kick and scratch every now and then. If you let him get comfortable, he’s going to get in a zone. My job is to make him uncomfortable and make him do the things that I want him to do.

“Everybody who knows me, knows what I bring to the table. When I get in the ring you know what’s coming. Saturday night, ‘Top Dog’ will reign.”

RAVONE LITTLEJOHN, About Billions Promotions

“It’s finally fight time. Tickets begin at $30 for this great card. We’re excited to be promoting big events in Adrien’s hometown and the great boxing fans here.

“Adrian Granados is a guy who we’ve had in camp with Adrien before. We know what he’s capable of and how hard he works. Everyone knows he’s coming to bring it.

“Adrien has done a lot in this sport and he has a lot more left to do. I know he’s going to do it, and it starts Saturday night.

“Both guys are going to get in that ring and give it their best. Adrien Broner will be victorious, but we like the challenge.”

LEONARD ELLERBE, CEO of Mayweather Promotions

“We’re very excited to be here in this wonderful city. It’s a great boxing town with a history of very good fighters from this area. Saturday night is an outstanding show from top to bottom.

“Both of the Adrien/Adrian’s know each other very well. You want to watch Adrien Broner Saturday night. He’s going to put on a phenomenal performance that I can’t wait to see.

“From top to bottom this is an incredibly exciting card and we’re excited to work with About Billions to give boxing fans another great event.”

STEPHEN ESPINOZA, Executive VP & General Manager, SHOWTIME Sports

“At SHOWTIME our mission is to bring fans the biggest, best and most meaningful fights in boxing. This Saturday is no exception. These are three all-action and evenly matched fights. This is our third time in Cincinnati with Adrien Broner and this is the strongest card we’ve had here yet.

“When we announced our slate of winter fights, there was one event that I circled and said, ‘this is going to be the sleeper.’ This is an all-action card.

“Adrian Granados and his team did not hesitate one bit to jump at this fight. We know what type of fighter Adrien Broner is. He is a guy who will never shy away from a challenge. Whether you like him or not, Adrien always entertains and he always fights hard. I can’t wait for a great night on Saturday.”

# # #

ABOUT ADRIEN BRONER vs. ADRIAN GRANADOS
Adrien Broner vs. Adrian Granados will take place Saturday, February 18 from the Cintas Center at Xavier University in Cincinnati, OH live on SHOWTIME. Televised coverage on begins at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT with unbeaten light heavyweight contender Marcus Browne meeting hard-hitting former title challenger Thomas Williams Jr. in a 10-round showdown. Also featured will be WBA Welterweight Champion David Avanesyan battling former two-time world champion Lamont Peterson.

For more information visit www.SHO.com/Sports follow on Twitter @AdrienBroner, @ElTigreAG, @SHOSports, @ShowtimeBoxing, @MayweatherPromo, @CintasCenter and @Swanson_Comm or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/SHOSports and www.facebook.com/MayweatherPromotions.

CINCINNATI (February 15, 2017) – Four-division world champion Adrien “The Problem” Broner and hard-hitting contender Adrian Granados kicked-off fight week with a media workout Wednesday ahead of their main event showdown Saturday, February 18 live on SHOWTIME® from the Cintas Center at Xavier University in Cincinnati.

Also working out Wednesday and competing in televised coverage beginning at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT were WBA Welterweight Champion David Avanesyan and two-time world champion Lamont Peterson, who meet in a 12-round welterweight fight, and light heavyweight contenders Marcus Browne and Thomas Williams Jr., who meet in a 10-round contest.

Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by About Billions Promotions and Mayweather Promotions in association with TGB Promotions and K1 Promotions, are priced at $250, $100, $75, $50 and $30, not including applicable fees, and are on sale now. Tickets can be purchased online at www.ticketmaster.com or by calling 1-800-745-3000.

Here is what the fighters had to say Wednesday from Oasis Elite Boxing Club:

ADRIEN BRONER

“I feel really good. I’m confident as always. Training has been great and I’m just ready to put on a show for my hometown.

“I love fighting in Cincinnati. I know that I have a lot of people coming to see me win, but even in my home city, there will be people coming to see me lose.

“I handle the pressure of a hometown fight here. This one is one a whole different level because I haven’t fought here in a long time and I can’t wait.

“I know that Granados is not coming in here to back down. He’s a tough guy but I’m ready for anything he has.

“I could box every two weeks if they let me. But if I can stay healthy I’m looking forward to staying more active this year and fighting as many times in big fights as possible.

“It’s a surreal moment for me to be in this position as a fighter and as a promoter. I know that these young fighters look up to me. If I go and keep winning world titles, it’ll remind them that they have more work to do.

“I don’t want to do anything but bring out the best Adrien Broner. There are some fights you can win, but not with a great performance. With a guy like Granados, I can’t slack. He’s only going to bring the best out of me.

“My main focus right now is on Adrien Broner and bringing more positivity in my life. It all starts with boxing.”

ADRIAN GRANADOS

“We’re all a family in the gym. We’re there to push each other. It’s my turn to get the job done and I’m glad we have each other to push ourselves to be the best.

“I wasn’t happy about my layoff for much of last year. I lost an opportunity that I wasn’t happy about it. Patience ended up being the best in the end because now I have the kind of opportunity that every fighter wants.

“I’m definitely dedicating this fight to my little brother Ed Brown. I think about him every day. He’s got the best seat in the house up in heaven and I’m going to put on a great performance for him.

“Adrien is a strong puncher but I try not to focus too much on my opponent. I’m focused on myself and what I can do to beat the man in front of me.

“My team told me to stay patient and with their guidance we got this deal signed and I got this great opportunity. I’m looking to take advantage of it.”

DAVID AVANESYAN

“Lamont Peterson is a very good fighter. I’m happy to be able to face him here in the U.S. and I’m looking to keep my belt.

“I am going to do my best in the ring. I’m going to give it my all and the fans can expect a great fight.

“If I can win this fight, I’m open to fighting anyone in the welterweight division. I want big fights with the best fighters in the world.

“It’s important that I win this fight. This can open up doors for me and I know that I have the team that will work hard to get me these matchups.

“I think his layoff will hurt him. I’m going to come out and see what he’s bringing to the ring and then I will adjust and do what I have to do to get the victory.”

LAMONT PETERSON

“This is definitely the weight I want to be fighting at. I like the way I feel and the kind of shape I’m in. There are a lot of good names in this division and a lot of opportunities out there.

“To be back for a title fight is a blessing. I’m thankful for that. Everyone needs to know that the whole time I’ve been out, I’ve been working and getting better.

“I’m glad to get this string of welterweight title fights started. I’m anxious to see how everything plays out and who comes out on top as the number one welterweight.

“We get great conditioning in the gym. It’s been another amazing training camp and we’re going to put that effort into the ring.

“I look at this as me becoming the mandatory for Keith Thurman’s belt. This is a huge fight and it’s going to lead to even bigger opportunities.”

MARCUS BROWNE

“We studied all of his fights. Stevenson and Campillo were important obviously. We’re ready to do whatever it takes to win.

“The only guy on my hit list is Thomas Williams Jr. I’m ready to get in that ring and go to work.

“This time between fights has allowed me to reinvigorate my body. People talk about ring rust, but I believe that only exists in the mind. I stayed ready this whole time.

“This is the perfect opportunity for me. This is once in a lifetime and I have to take full advantage.

“I don’t look ahead. I can only look at what is right in front of me. Right now that’s this fight on Saturday night.

“My last fight taught me that I can go down, get back up and still win. That fight is behind me though. My main focus is on what is in front of me.

“My teammates from the 2012 Olympic team are my brothers and I’m so happy to see them get their opportunities, but now it’s my turn. This is my year.”
THOMAS WILLIAMS JR.

“I’m going to see what he brings to the ring. I know that he’s a boxer by nature, but maybe he’ll change it up. He didn’t look great last fight so he may make adjustments. Either way, we’ll be ready.

“I think that I have the better overall resume of opponents. Everyone knows that. But it doesn’t even matter. All that matters is Saturday. It gives me an advantage, but it won’t change Saturday night.

“I could go in there with one strategy, but then he might mix it up. My team prepared me well and I’m ready to go.

“Marcus and I were cool in the amateurs, but once the fight got made, it’s all business. We’re not cool, but there’s no beef. I’m here to take care of business.

“I asked for this fight. I had the opportunity for an easier fight, but I didn’t want it. I’m not planning to box forever, so I wanted to get right back to a world title shot. This time I’m going to win and ride off into the sunset. I want to leave on top.

“I’m predicting a knockout victory Saturday night. Don’t blink.”
# # #

ABOUT ADRIEN BRONER vs. ADRIAN GRANADOS
Adrien Broner vs. Adrian Granados will take place Saturday, February 18 from the Cintas Center at Xavier University in Cincinnati, OH live on SHOWTIME. Televised coverage on begins at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT with unbeaten light heavyweight contender Marcus Browne meeting hard-hitting former title challenger Thomas Williams Jr. in a 10-round showdown. Also featured will be WBA Welterweight Champion David Avanesyan battling former two-time world champion Lamont Peterson.

For more information visit www.SHO.com/Sports follow on Twitter @AdrienBroner, @ElTigreAG, @SHOSports, @ShowtimeBoxing, @MayweatherPromo, @CintasCenter and @Swanson_Comm or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/SHOSports and www.facebook.com/MayweatherPromotions.

CINCINNATI (February 15, 2017) – Unbeaten prospect Jamontay Clark (10-0, 6 KOs) meets Nicaragua’s Santos Benavides (25-11-2, 19 KOs) in an eight-round bout that highlights an exciting undercard on Saturday, February 18 from the Cintas Center at Xavier University in Cincinnati.

The event is headlined by former four-division world champion Adrien Broner taking on hard-hitting contender Adrian Granados in the SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING main event. Televised coverage begins at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT and features WBA Welterweight Champion David Avanesyan facing former two-time world champion Lamont Peterson and unbeaten light heavyweight contender Marcus Browne meeting hard-hitting former title challenger Thomas Williams Jr.

Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by About Billions Promotions and Mayweather Promotions in association with TGB Promotions and K1 Promotions, are priced at $250, $100, $75, $50 and $30, not including applicable fees, and are on sale now. Tickets can be purchased online at www.ticketmaster.com or by calling 1-800-745-3000.

Additional action will feature unbeaten Indianapolis-native Curtis Hill Jr. (9-0, 4 KOs) in a six-round light heavyweight bout against Cory Dulaney (5-3-1, 1 KO) and unbeaten Cincinnati-native Santino Turnbow (3-0, 2 KOs) taking on Joe Miller Jr. (1-1) in a four-round cruiserweight showdown.

Rounding out the night is Cincinnati’s Desmons Jarman and Honduras-native David Quay in a four-round super featherweight and Atlanta’s Tra-Kwon Pettis (5-2, 1 KO) facing Milwaukee’s Mike Fowler (5-4, 2 KOs) in a four-round lightweight contest.

An unbeaten prospect fight at home in Cincinnati, the “Quiet Assassin” Clark picked up two victories in 2016 over increasingly quality competition as he stopped Elvin Perez in six rounds and earned a unanimous decision over Edgar Ortega. The 22-year-old last fought in his hometown in 2015 when he recorded a second round TKO of Joe Wilson Jr. and his fight on February 18 will make his third pro appearance in Cincinnati. He prepares to take on Benavides out of Chontales, Nicaragua who owns victories over Jay Krupp, Cody Richard and Joel Cerrud.

# # #

ABOUT ADRIEN BRONER vs. ADRIAN GRANADOS
Adrien Broner vs. Adrian Granados will take place Saturday, February 18 from the Cintas Center at Xavier University in Cincinnati, OH live on SHOWTIME. Televised coverage on begins at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT with unbeaten light heavyweight contender Marcus Browne meeting hard-hitting former title challenger Thomas Williams Jr. in a 10-round showdown. Also featured will be WBA Welterweight Champion David Avanesyan battling former two-time world champion Lamont Peterson.

For more information visit www.SHO.com/Sports follow on Twitter @AdrienBroner, @ElTigreAG, @SHOSports, @ShowtimeBoxing, @MayweatherPromo, @CintasCenter and @Swanson_Comm or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/SHOSports and www.facebook.com/MayweatherPromotions.

Kelly Swanson
Thanks media for joining us. We are here today to talk about the big matchup on Saturday, February 18th, Adrien Broner versus Adrian Granados from Cintas Center at Xavier University in Cincinnati and it will headline a SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING event.

The event is promoted by About Billions Promotions and Mayweather Promotions in association with TGB Promotions. Tickets for the live event start at $30 and are still available to purchase through Ticketmaster and the event is sponsored by Corona Extra, La Cerveza Mas Fina.

Before we get to the participants, I’m going to introduce Chris DeBlasio, Senior Vice President, Sports Communications at Showtime Networks.

Chris DeBlasio
Thanks Kelly and thank you to the fighters for being on and to all the press for joining. The SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING winter schedule rolls on. As we had announced last October, our promise to our subscribers and to fight fans is that we would pit the top-rated fighters against the top-rated fighters in the deepest and most talent-laden divisions in boxing.

So far we have seen spectacular results. Just a brief recap, back in December we saw Jermall Charlo in a brutal knockout win over Julian Williams. We saw Abner Mares reassert himself against Jesus Cuellar and win a world title back.

The turn of the year on Jan. 14th we witnessed a thrilling super middleweight championship unification bout where Badou Jack and James DeGale were in a thrilling fight. On the undercard of that event, we saw a breakout performance from Gervonta Davis, who beat Jose Pedraza for his first world title.

Davis is now one of the youngest world champions today and just two weeks ago still fresh in our minds, Leo Santa Cruz won an awesome majority decision over Carl Frampton. That was another fantastic fight at featherweight and we saw an incredible Knockout of the Year candidate on that card from resurgent Mikey Garcia.

Mikey didn’t just knock out another champion, a paper champion of sorts or any type of middling contender. He beat one of the toughest guys at lightweight in spectacular fashion, so it’s pretty plain to see there’s no one making a bigger commitment to the sport of boxing than SHOWTIME.

We are consistently delivering the strongest lineup of fights directly to our subscribers and we appreciate all of you in the press as you guys have made note of that. Our subscribers have responded and tuned-in in larger number and we’re excited to continue next week on Feb. 18th.

There’s no prohibitive favorite, no look-good or stay-busy fight on this card. Adrien Broner versus Adrian Granados, both men are in need of a big win to lineup that next world title shot. For Broner we all know what he’s capable of. He’s a four-division world champion and one of the most popular fighters in the sport, still in the prime of his career.

Adrian Granados is very comfortable in the underdog role. You can look no further than his stunning upset of Amir Imam last year. Just a bit of housekeeping here. The SHOWTIME telecast is going to air live on the 18th of Feb. at 9:00 pm ET, 6:00 pm PT.

We had a short video feature that we released yesterday titled The Reveal with Mark Kriegel. This edition was on Adrien Broner and The Reveal, as you may know, is where Mark sits down with boxing’s biggest stars and he engages in candid conversations about life, about motivations and challenges and more.

Each of the interviews that Mark does for this series The Reveal, they’re unique, as unique as the subject in them and the one with Adrien Broner is probably the strongest we’ve produced so far so Adrien thank you for that candor in that and I encourage all the press to check it out.

We’ll have one on Adrian Granados available later this week so with that I thank you for your time and I’ll turn it back to you Kelly so we can get to the fighters.

K. Swanson
Thanks so much, Chris. We’re going to start with Mr. Broner himself and before he gets on the line I just want to say that he is wearing two hats as his company About Billions is very busy these days.

They have a big fight in Toledo, Ohio which will be Robert Easter versus Luis Cruz, that’s Premier Boxing Champions: The Next Round on Bounce at the Huntington Center in Easter’s hometown. That begins at 9:00 pm ET so Mr. Broner is acting both as a promoter and also preparing for his fight as Chris mentioned, he’s a former four-division world champion and has held world titles at 130, 135, 140 and 147 pounds.

He’s a thrilling fighter, very, very popular and I have to say myself watching The Reveal that there was a wonderful maturity and self-awareness that I’m so happy that Adrien has come to feel as he worked through his own legacy as a boxing champion. Mr. Broner are you on the call and could you make some opening comments before we give it to the press, Adrien?

Adrien Broner
Well, I really don’t have much to say. It’s fight time right now so you can bring them all in and I’m ready to answer all questions.

Q
How’s the weight going and do you think you’ll have any issues making the weight this time around?

A. Broner
Training camp has been great and like I said before, I’m just ready to fight and ready to go out here and put on a great show not only for the city but for boxing and we’re going to step it up from here on out.

I’m really not worried about the weight right now. It’s all about staying focused and putting on a great show for boxing.

Q
How different do you feel this time around Adrien?

A. Broner
I’ve just been more focused. Less distractions and just tunnel vision.

Q
Do you find that you’ve been able to be a lot more productive in training because of that?

A. Broner
Even in my last fight with the distractions, I still got a TKO so, let’s fight without the distractions and I can only put only a greater show.

Q
Adrien, what is your expectation with you and SHOWTIME for this year?

A. Broner
Well, I don’t look past any opponent and I don’t try to look past any fight so I just take it a fight at a time and my main focus right now is next week, February 18th.

Q
What is your experience fighting with guys like Adrian Granados?

A. Broner
I know he’s a tough competitor, world-class fighter and that’s why I picked him so he can bring the best out of Adrien Broner.

Q
What do you project for your weight class for your next fight?

A. Broner
Right now like I said before I’m really not worried about any weight situation. All I want to do is win and put on a great show for my fans.

Q
Adrien how helpful is it for you to go back, train in your neighborhood where you came from and realize where you came from and kind of help you to appreciate what you have now?

A. Broner
It helped a lot. It’s a humbling situation. I’ve been living the fast life and I’ve calmed down a lot and just coming back home and just seeing everything. It just brings me back down, right, so I’m in a great mind state right now and I’m just ready to put on a great show.

Q
How have your children changed your perspective?

A. Broner
It changed a lot. It’s not about me anymore, it’s about my children and that’s what I’ve based my career off of now. I’m doing everything for them.

Q
It seems like you’re kind of reenergizing yourself for another opponent with an opponent this tough. Is that what you were thinking?

A. Broner
Yes, I just know what I’m doing. To bring out the best Adrien Broner I have to have a nice opponent in front of me and that’s why I picked a nice opponent.

Q
My last question is about the potential for fighting for a title. Does that play into your mind? Would that be something you’re looking for if you do everything you’re training to do?

A. Broner
If you looked at my last two fights, you know nobody never stopped Khabib. Nobody never stopped Ashley. If I have a chance to stop Adrian Granados, then I’m going to take it.

Q
Where does what sounds like honest to goodness maturity come from at this point?

A. Broner
The situations, man, and just wanting to do better and be in better situations. That’s all. When you try to do it your way and it don’t work, then you got to make the right choices and start following all the right steps.

Q
Do you feel like that at this point of your career and of your life that you’ve figured-out a better way to handle the fame and the money and the stuff that goes along with being a famous athlete than you did maybe a few years ago?

A. Broner
I was young. I’m pretty sure a lot of people who’ve been as successful as me or even more successful than I am today, have been through a lot of the same things and I know one person to have and that’s Floyd Mayweather and he tells me all the time ‘You’re going to be okay.’

He says, ‘I’ve done some of the things you’ve done before but it’s all about learning from your situations,’ and that’s what I’m doing, I’m learning from my situations and now it’s just time to grow up.

Q
Can you even calculate how many rounds you did with this Granados and how were those sparring sessions?

A. Broner
We’ve done numerous rounds and I know he’s tough as nails and he’s got to bring it when he comes to fight me so I know this has a chance to be a Fight of the Year type of fight, but we’ll see once the bell rings.

Q
Is it correct to say then at various times you each had the better of one another?

A. Broner
This is boxing, you have good days, you have bad days but at the end of the day if you’re having more good days than bad days, everything’s okay. You’re going to have a day where something happens or you’re just not that focused that you should be and a fighter get off but at the end of the day, as long as you do what you got to do, you’ll be okay.

Q
Would you say that you and Adrian were friendly with one another?

A. Broner
Aw, man, of course. Of course. I love him. I love him to death.

Q
Okay, got you so this is one of those fights where and we’ve seen this lots of time in boxing where guys are real cool with each other outside the ring. They go and they try to win the fight, they try to do their best to beat the heck out of each other but when it’s over, friends again, right?

A. Broner
Of course. He’s a stud, I mean, he’s a stand-up guy. Anytime he needed me, I was there for him and it’s still the same way today.

Q
When you sparred Granados, was there a moment in camp that kind of got your attention or respect for Granados?

A. Broner
What happens in the gym I try to keep it in the gym, but I can say that every time that we sparred, he earned it, every time and like I always said, he’s a hell of a fighter.

Q
As you know Ed Brown was shot in December. I was just wondering if you had any thoughts on that? You know, he was pretty close to Granados and I understand you knew him as well.

A. Broner
Ed Brown was a hell of a guy, a special type of talent. I knew him since the amateurs. He was actually a close friend to me, but at the end of the day like I told Adrian in camp, there’s just some people you can’t save, you can’t save everybody and was a heartbreaking situation for Adrian but I was there.

I was a shoulder to lean on and I was there. He got through it and I tried to make his days better.

K. Swanson
Okay, Adrien any final thoughts before we let you go and congratulations on your promotion this Friday night too. About Billions is making a lot of about noise.

A. Broner
This weekend it’s about Rau’shee Warren and Robert Easter, Jr. and you know, it’s going to be a hell of a card it should be a sold-out event and then next week we got another electrifying card with great fights on the undercard and the main event is me, Adrien against Adrian, Adrien with an E and Adrian with an A in the end and the best Adrien shall win.

K. Swanson
Great, thank you. That’s an awesome statement. Okay, so we’re going to let you go because we know you’re busy and we will now have the media talk to Adrian Granados.

The hard-hitting contender Granados fights out of Chicago and he enters this bout against Adrien Broner on a five-bout winning streak including a very impressive stoppage over the then-unbeaten top contender Amir Iman in November of 2015.

So Adrian, I’d like you to make some opening comments about your upcoming bout against Adrien Broner on Saturday, February 18th from Cincinnati and live on SHOWTIME and then we’ll open it up for media questions.

Adrian Granados
Yes, I just wanted to say just thank you to God, thank you to my promoter TGB Promotions, my management team Journeyman Management, my team here in Chicago, my family and everyone who supported me. This has been a long time coming and a hard-earned fight and thank the lord I’ve got this opportunity and I look to become successful with this fight next Saturday.

Q
Adrien Broner was just saying on his version of the call that he discussed the Ed Brown situation with you after Ed’s tragedy and tried to help you through it. Can you elaborate on that and maybe how much he was able to maybe help you through that?

A. Granados
Me and Adrien Broner, we did develop a friendship during camp and it was a mutual respect.

He was there for me just like I was there for him, when he was having his scare, on the social media that everybody was worried about him, I guess he reached-out to his people and told them, I was there for him and I know he was there for me too during my tragic loss of my good friend Ed Brown.

At the end of the day, we’re both men and we’re both human, so when things like what has happened to both of us in the past few months happened, you kind of put the business and the boxing out the window and you worry about the person so yes, I appreciate him for that.

Q
What was he able to tell you that maybe helped you a little bit?

A. Granados
Just knowing that he was there, that was it, I mean, I had to get through that myself. I didn’t need anybody to tell me anything. Ed Brown, that was my best friend in boxing, that was my little brother in boxing.

I knew him the most out of anybody in the boxing world just because we spent the last 12 years pretty much side by side here in Chicago, we were pretty much always with him in the juniors as the lower weight and then once he got older, he was right under me at 132 and I was representing at 141 so like I said we were brothers of the ring and we spent countless days here at the gym, I used to pick him up, I used to drop him off.

I used to always tell him to stay out of trouble and like Adrien said there’s some people that you can’t save but that doesn’t change that I lost a good friend and a good man. He was just a great kid, he was always smiling, always positive vibes from him and you know, it was a terrible loss for boxing.

Q
Can you give me your view of how those sparring sessions [with Broner] went?

A. Granados
Yes, it was a great experience. It reaffirmed to myself that I belonged at that level, they were very competitive sparring sessions. They were very exciting and it was like I said it was just a reminder that I belong at this level.

I helped prepare Juan Manuel Márquez for his fight again Juan Diaz when he beat him by knockout and like I said it was a reminder that I belong at that level because as I was competitive with Juan Manuel Márquez, I was just as competitive with Adrien Broner and just what I got from the sparring was like if we ever fought, it’s going to be a very entertaining, very competitive, very high action fight.

That’s definitely what I’m expecting next Saturday. It’s going to be exciting for boxing. It’s going to be exciting for SHOWTIME and the people there in Cincinnati, Ohio, so it’s just going to be a great fight. I have a feeling like we’re going to make a classic.

Q
Do you think the sparring means anything when the bell rings in the real fight or does that all go out the window?

A. Granados
Yes, I’m definitely old school and I think that goes out the window when we’re under the bright lights, smaller gloves, no headgear, it’s going to be a free for all and may the best man win and the best man will win that night. Sparring is completely different from a fight, the show and the lights and just the atmosphere so I’m not banking on the sparring sessions we had.

I know that I can compete with him and that I can beat him and I know he feels the same way about me so that’s why we’re in the fight and it’s going to be an electrifying night come the 18th.

Q
What would a victory against Adrien Broner mean for you?

A. Granados
It would be a huge victory for me. I definitely believe it could change my life and the life of my family and the life of my teammates. I plan on coming-out with that victory however I understand the odds and the way that they’re stacking it up.

I’ve been in there with some great fighters myself like Lanardo Tyner, Kermit Cintron, Olympic gold medalist Felix Diaz, Frankie Gomez, undefeated Brad Solomon.

Adrien Broner’s a different caliber of fighter but I’ve got some thick skin myself because I know I won a lot of those losses.

I could easily be undefeated. I’ve always been the B-side and always had the odds stacked-up against me so I just got to thrive in the underdog position and which I plan to and yes, this is definitely the biggest fight of my career and I plan on taking full advantage of it.

Q
Was there a letdown in your last fight after beating Iman or what was the deal?

A. Granados
No, I was working on some different things I wanted to get my miles in, however, I did suffer an accidental head butt and I was actually sick with diarrhea actually for that fight. I actually had to use the washroom the whole day after the win. There was a yogurt that I had that was expired and it just didn’t sit well so I pretty much going to the washroom even one last time I had to go, before I went out to fight so it was just I was very dehydrated and that’s just a lot of things that you don’t know about that fight but either way, I got my rounds in.

Once I got going I got sharp again and just got back to work and Ariel came to fight. He knew this was a good opportunity for him to get another good payday but yes, there was an accidental head butt and I was suffering from diarrhea during that fight but I did finish the fight and I won, and that’s all that matters.

Q
What is it in your mind that makes you believe that you can beat him?

A. Granados
I just believe I’m a better fighter. He’s a tremendous fighter, a tremendous talent, I just believe that people underestimate my talent and they only see me as a one-sided fighter and one type of style and one type of skillset but there’s plenty there that the boxing world doesn’t know about me and I plan on giving them a hint of that February 18th.

Q
What weight is the fight at?

A. Granados
Yes, it is actually at 147. It was 142, but however it’s 147 now and this is just the way it is.

Q
So what happened, so the fight was initially made at a catch weight of 142 and then did Broner’s side ask for it to be at welterweight?

A. Granados
Yes, they did and it was kind of a take it or leave it offer so, I’m obviously not going to pass up on this opportunity and I accepted.

Q
Do you buy that this is a new Adrien Broner or do you think it’s going to be the old Broner? What do you think about all the talk that he’s a different guy for this fight?

A. Granados
I mean, that’s all up to him, I don’t worry about who I’m fighting or what their preparations are and what they’re doing. I have to worry about myself and that I’m the best Adrian Granados.

Good for him if that’s what it is and if it’s not he’s still a good guy. I know him as a real man and as a true competitor so more power to him if he’s turning a new page in his life and God bless him.

Q
If Adrien knows how tough this fight is going to be and you guys are capable of being so emotionally close and he knows how good you are, why would he choose you to fight in such a difficult situation coming off of a 10-month layoff and what does that say about him?

A. Granados
I totally respect that. I think he’s a great true competitor. I know he was brought-up the right way but once he got to the new level, he took a lot of tough fights that he didn’t have to, Marcos Maidana being one, Shawn Porter being another one, myself included, we’ve seen, he’s a true competitor.

He wants to be a great fighter and he wants to be remembered as a great fighter and that’s why I respect him for taking this fight, it’s at a time when really nobody’s trying to fight and no, there were talks of so many fights that would get on and fall off, get on and fall off.

I’ve been going through hell this past year waiting on a big fight and finally I got one and although yes, we do have a friendship and a mutual respect, we know we’re in the business and we’re not into team sports and there can only be one.

One of the fights he was talking with Ricky Burns and at the time I was the highest ranked available fighter because I know Number 1 and 2 had fights already setup and I was ranked Number 3 by the WBA and now I’m Number 5 but either way, yes, I mean, this is a true attribute to his competitive spirit.

A lot of people they didn’t want to fight me and I was calling people out and him included and he accepted it so I mean, this is great and it shows how much of a real man he really is.

Q
You just think he wants to bring out the best in himself and put it really put it on the line or do you think there’s a part of him that says I know he’s good but I have a little bit better?

A. Granados
It’s a little bit of both, he wants me to bring out the best in him and yes, obviously if he’s taken this fight, he believes he can beat me so that is what it is and I appreciate what SHOWTIME is doing putting on a great fight and giving me this opportunity and definitely giving boxing the best versus the best.

Q
You had said that or he had said that when Ed Brown was killed, you and Adrien were in camp together. Were you in camp together and if so, what camp was that?

A. Granados
That was the first time Ed was shot, the first time Ed was shot, I was in camp with him at the end of the Maidana fight. They all knew that Ed was very close to me. They all knew Ed Brown too so yes, he looked out.

That was my guy. The black and brown twin kids of Chicago, we were always at the same shows together. We were always good to see each other. If you seen me and I seen him, there was always a smile.

So you know it’s different here at the gym that we train at because he was the heart of this place and I feel like now I have this huge burden because everybody who sees me now thinks of Ed, and they’re like oh man, Ed always spoke so highly about you, and I feel like I have to be twice as great for both of us now.

Q
Can you characterize your give-and-take sparring sessions with each other?

A. Granados
Yes, they were electrifying sparring sessions, we were putting on a show for the camp and yes, that was bloody, some days we were both bloody. There were just two dogs trying to get at each other and I was quiet at first but I mean, I’m from the neighborhood, from the streets too, you can’t get too tough for me.

I’m raised in Chicago, we’re the murder capital of the world right now so I have some stuff to say back and that was entertaining, I actually got a lot more respect like, okay he’s not going to take that and he can talk some of his own too so it was cool afterwards.

We would just shake hands and go work and we would just chop it up, we got to kick it outside of the ring too and then he was a real cool dude. Like I said, everybody got their own outlook on him but I seen him as a cool ass dude.

He was down to earth, funny and he was a good cat, and it was electrifying sparring and it’s going to make for an electrifying fight and sparring is going to be completely different from the fight because you got less leather and no headgear and it’s just going to be me and him and we’ll see what happens.
Q
Have you ever fought at 147-pounds before?

A. Granados
Yes, plenty of times. I’ve fought Lanardo Tyner there, I fought Kermit Cintron there, Brad Solomon, also I fought the BKB fight with Jesus Soto Karass. The weigh-in actually was 150 for that fight.

Q
Are you going to come-in at 147 or you going to come-in lighter than that?

A. Granados
We’ll see what my body actually tips it off at, I believe he got sick and that’s what kind of threw off his camp. I was sick too as well. I was still planning on making 142 but he just made it easy on both of us and I still expect a competitive and an even fight and it’s going to be a great fight.

K. Swanson
All right, do you have any last thoughts Adrian before we let you go and wrap this call up?

A. Granados
Win, lose or draw, just know I’m coming to win. It’s going to be a great fight. Action-packed, Adrien versus Adrian, an A versus the E, AB versus AG so it’s just going to be a great competitive fight and the best man will win.

# # #

ABOUT ADRIEN BRONER vs. ADRIAN GRANADOS
Adrien Broner vs. Adrian Granados will take place Saturday, February 18 from the Cintas Center at Xavier University in Cincinnati, OH live on SHOWTIME. Televised coverage on begins at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT with unbeaten light heavyweight contender Marcus Browne meeting hard-hitting former title challenger Thomas Williams Jr. in a 10-round showdown. Also featured will be WBA Welterweight Champion David Avanesyan battling former two-time world champion Lamont Peterson.

Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by About Billions Promotions and Mayweather Promotions in association with TGB Promotions and K1 Promotions, are priced at $250, $100, $75, $50 and $30, not including applicable fees, and are on sale now. Tickets can be purchased online atwww.ticketmaster.com or by calling 1-800-745-3000.

For more information visit www.SHO.com/Sports follow on Twitter @AdrienBroner, @ElTigreAG, @SHOSports, @ShowtimeBoxing, @MayweatherPromo, @CintasCenter and @Swanson_Comm or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/SHOSports and www.facebook.com/MayweatherPromotions.

CHICAGO (February 7, 2017) – Hard-hitting contender Adrian Granados hosted Chicago media at the Garfield Park District Fieldhouse Tuesday as he prepares for his main event showdown with former four-division world champion Adrien “The Problem” Broner Saturday, February 18 from the Cintas Center at Xavier University in Cincinnati and live on SHOWTIME.

Televised coverage on SHOWTIME begins at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT with unbeaten light heavyweight contender Marcus Browne meeting hard-hitting former title challenger Thomas Williams Jr. in a 10-round showdown and also features WBA Welterweight Champion David Avanesyan battling former two-time world champion Lamont Peterson.

Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by About Billions Promotions and Mayweather Promotions in association with TGB Promotions and K1 Promotions, are priced at $250, $100, $75, $50 and $30, not including applicable fees, and are on sale now. Tickets can be purchased online at www.ticketmaster.com or by calling 1-800-745-3000.

Granados has pledged to dedicate the fight to his friend and former training partner Ed Brown, who fell victim to the violence on Chicago’s West Side in December 2016.

Here is what Granados, along with his trainer George Hernandez, had to say Tuesday:

ADRIAN GRANADOS

“We finally have a huge opportunity. I feel I paid my dues. I know Amir Imam wasn’t a fluke. And the robberies on my record were just that – robberies. You get in the ring with Adrian Granados and you’re going to get a hell of a fight.

“I wasn’t intimated by Broner when we sparred and I’m not intimidated by him now. I know I belong in this fight, at this level.

“It’s a tough fight. People are saying I’m going to have to fight like Marcos Maidana. But I’m going to be Adrian Granados and I’m going to win my way.

“With our two styles it’s going to be a firefight. It can’t be anything but exciting. I have a great team behind me and I can’t wait to make everyone proud.

“Ed Brown was the heart of this neighborhood, and now I need to carry on his legacy. This is my opportunity to do something for my career, but also this community. I have to be twice as great, for me and him.

“Winning this fight not only changes my life, but it changes a lot of other lives. Beating Broner would change the sport in Chicago.

“It’s very motivating to know that I’m an inspirational figure for people in Chicago. It helps me get through those long days in the gym, when you don’t want to get up and train. I know what I’m fighting for and I use it as motivation.

“I started fighting in high school just shadowing my friends when they went to the gym. I asked my mom and dad if I could keep going and luckily they helped me get started and get on this path to where I am.”

GEORGE HERNANDEZ, Granados’ Trainer

“Broner puts his gloves on the same way we do. This is what we want. We want the big names. Beating Broner can get us to the next level.

“No one is going to give us anything. We need to earn it. We’re going to his backyard and we’re going to take it from him.

“This is one of the toughest areas to train in. If you can persevere through that you know you can make it in this sport. We could have gone away for camp but we wanted to stay here because it’s home. The only way to make this city better is by staying here and leading the charge and showing these kids that we can get away from that norm and bring better attention to this area.

“If Adrian can beat the hell out of this kid in his hometown that will send a message to all the kids in this community. It will let them know that you can succeed and do great things. Every kid that’s in here dreams of this opportunity. We’re ready and we’re not going to let it slip away.”

# # #

For more information visit www.SHO.com/Sports follow on Twitter @AdrienBroner, @ElTigreAG, @SHOSports, @ShowtimeBoxing, @MayweatherPromo, @CintasCenter and @Swanson_Comm or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/SHOSports and www.facebook.com/MayweatherPromotions.

CINCINNATI (January 10, 2017) — Former four-division world champion Adrien Broner hosted a press conference in his hometown of Cincinnati Tuesday as he prepares to return home to face hard-hitting contender Adrian Granados on Saturday, February 18 from the Cintas Center at Xavier University and live on SHOWTIME®.

The press conference featured Mayweather Promotions President Floyd Mayweather, who will help promote the SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING card that begins at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT.

Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by About Billions Promotions and Mayweather Promotions in association with TGB Promotions, are priced at $250, $100, $75, $50 and $30, not including applicable fees, and are on sale now. Tickets can be purchased online at www.ticketmaster.com or by calling 1-800-745-3000.

Here is what the participants had to say on Tuesday:

ADRIEN BRONER

“I’ve fought at home a lot and to come back with another fight like this is an awesome feeling. I know it’s going to be a great night. It’s going to be a great night for Cincinnati and for my career.

“We’ve brought Granados into camp for sparring before but I’m a much different fighter now. I know he is too and I think it’s going to make an exciting, explosive fight. Granados is no pushover. He’s not an opponent that anybody can just pick up a win. I knew Adrian Granados will bring the best out of Adrien Broner.

“I know that I have what it takes to take over boxing. To do that I need to focus 100 percent on boxing and crafting my skills. That’s my mindset and that’s what I’m focused on.

“I’m here to do less talking, and more fighting and smiling. I’m going to put on a great show on February 18. It’s all about putting on great performances and winning.

“I go into every fight with the confidence to be myself. If I do what I have to do, I can be victorious. Granados is coming to fight. I have to be focused because he won’t lay down.

“It’s just about me doing better. It’s about changing for the better and being as positive as can be. I’m not bringing negativity to anything I do.

“I won’t have any distractions fighting at home. I know how to block everything out and stay focused on what’s in front of me.

“I’ve been on the downside and the upside of boxing, but my name has made it through. I’m not going to take my talent for granted and I’m going to change for the better.

“It’s great to have Floyd and Mayweather Promotions involved in this event. Floyd has always supported me and I owe him a lot. He’s really been a mentor to me. He’s helped me stay level-headed throughout everything.

“Right now I’m all about my future, my kids, my team and putting on a great performance as a boxer. I’m always going to be entertaining, because I’m always going to be me.”

ADRIAN GRANADOS

“I’m confident that I’m more determined than any other fighter I’ll face. I’ll also have a few tricks up my sleeve on fight night. I haven’t shown everything in my arsenal.

“I was in camp with Adrien Broner when he fought Marcos Maidana, so I know him pretty well. I’ve been compared to Maidana, but everyone has their own style. I’m going to get this win my own way.

“I’m focused on what I have to do as a fighter. We have different weapons and we can mix it up and fight in different ways. The accumulation of my punches can wear a fighter down.

“It’s a great honor to be here and I’ve let Adrien know that I’m grateful for the opportunity. This is a great fight for boxing. There are a lot of great big fights out there and our fight isn’t as well-known, but if you know boxing, you know that I come to win.

“Adrien Broner is a great fighter. He’s a four-division champion and that’s no fluke. He’s fought everybody at the championship level. Now he’s giving me this opportunity and I’ve let it be known that the best man will win.

“We’re going to wait and see round by round. I don’t like going to the judges’ scorecard and fighting in his hometown, I’m going to try to get a knockout. I have to do anything in my power to keep the fight out of the judges’ hands.

“I’ve mostly fought at home in Chicago but I’ve always wanted a tough challenge on the road like this. I’m excited to step into someone’s backyard and be the villain who ruins the day.”

FLOYD MAYWEATHER, President of Mayweather Promotions

“These are going to be two hungry lions in the ring, and that’s what it’s all about. It’s about giving the people entertainment. Adrien Broner is flashy, flamboyant and outspoken. He’s still young and has a lot to go out there and prove. He doesn’t just want to show that he’s one of the best, but that he’s the best in the sport.

“You have to go out there every day and prove you’re the best. Adrian Granados is always in action-packed fights and he brings excitement. This is a great matchup. These guys know that they aren’t fighting pushovers. It’s the best versus the best.

“Both fighters have great trainers and great teams. I’ve helped pave the way for these guys, but so have these trainers. They’ve helped bring these men to this point. I think they both have potential to be stars.

“The sport of boxing is so interesting and there are so many great fights coming up. This is an important fight for the sport in a stretch where there are a lot of exciting matchups.

“I’m proud of Adrien Broner. He’s had a minor setback leading to major comeback. He’s going to come back better than ever. But he can’t overlook this opponent. You can look up and all of a sudden you’re down.

“No one can overlook Adrian Granados. It’s a really good matchup. This guy definitely reminds me of Marcos Maidana. I don’t know if he can punch like him, but the style and aggressiveness is there. He’s always in action packed fights.

“Adrien has speed and power, but I’m looking to see Adrien throwing combinations. That’s what some fighters lack nowadays. We think too much about ‘Money’ Mayweather, and forget about ‘Pretty Boy’ Floyd. He had a 90 percent knockout rate. I think we need to see an aggressive Adrien that will throw combinations while staying smart.

“I love being a promoter and giving back to young fighters. I didn’t become a promoter to make money. I did it because I want to make money for fighters and make their dreams come true. My company is easy to work with, because we’re only focused on the fighters.

“I want both fighters to give Cincinnati and the whole world a great fight. You’re young, hungry and dedicated. Show the world what you’re about.”

RAVONE LITTLEJOHN, CEO of About Billions

“This is going to be a great fight for the city of Cincinnati. Adrien is undefeated when he fights in his hometown. We can’t wait to do it again.

“It’s been a year since Adrien’s last fight in Cincinnati and we’re excited that the time is now. It’s going to be a tough fight. Adrien knows that Granados isn’t easy at all.

“We’ve brought Granados in as a sparring partner before so we know what we’re up against. I think this is a perfect matchup for Adrien and the fans to enjoy a great night of action.”

LEONARD ELLERBE, CEO of Mayweather Promotions

“We know on February 18 that Adrien Broner is going to bring his best. He’s one of the top stars in the sport and I know that he’s going to put on a great show for his city.

“Adrian Granados has only lost by split or majority decision, no one has ever dominated this man. We know that he’s going to be there to make this a competitive fight.

“We’re looking forward to working with About Billions on making this a great, sold-out event. This venue is fabulous and we think it will be electric on fight night.”

MIKE STAFFORD, Broner’s Trainer

“Adrien has been training hard for this fight. This is about winning. Adrien wants to win and he wants to compete. This is a going to be an exciting and explosive fight.

“This is going to be a great fight with a great undercard. It’s going to be a fun atmosphere and we hope that everyone comes out and supports us on February 18.”

GEORGE HERNANDEZ, Granados’ Trainer

“Mike Stafford and I go all the way back to about 1978 at the Olympic training center. We’ve trained a lot of guys together and I know him very well. I’ve come here to bring fighters for sparring since Adrien Broner was a little kid.

“Adrien Broner has the big name and every fighter needs a big name so that he can take that step up. It’s a business and we’ll mean business inside the ring.”

# # #

For more information visit www.SHO.com/Sports follow on Twitter @AdrienBroner, @ElTigreAG, @SHOSports, @ShowtimeBoxing, @MayweatherPromo, @CintasCenter and @Swanson_Comm or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/SHOSports and www.facebook.com/MayweatherPromotions.

CINCINNATI (January 10, 2017) – Former four-division world champion and Cincinnati-native Adrien “The Problem” Broner (32-2, 24 KOs) will headline in his hometown as he takes on hard-hitting contender Adrian Granados (18-4-2, 12 KOs) in the 12-round main event of SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING live from the Cintas Center at Xavier University in Cincinnati.

Televised coverage on SHOWTIME begins at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT and will feature exciting undercard action that will be announced shortly.

“I’m back at home and excited to get back in the ring,” said Broner. “I’m ready to fight. The boxing game isn’t the same without me. Granados is a solid guy who beat someone that no one thought he would beat. I know him well and I know there’s no doubt he’ll be ready to fight.”

“I’m fully prepared to go to war with Adrien Broner on February 18 in Cincinnati,” said Granados. “I’m very thankful to Tom Brown of TGB promotions and my manager Andy Zak for helping me get this big opportunity on SHOWTIME. I’m training hard and I will come out victorious on fight night.”

Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by About Billions Promotions and Mayweather Promotions in association with TGB Promotions, are priced at $250, $100, $75, $50 and $30, not including applicable fees, and are on sale today at 3 p.m. ET. Tickets can be purchased online at www.ticketmaster.com or by calling 1-800-745-3000.

“This is going to be a great fight and a great step forward for our company,” said Ravone Littlejohn, CEO of About Billions. “Cincinnati appreciates when Adrien fights at home. Boxing provides a thrill that exceeds other professional sports in our area.”

“Mayweather Promotions is looking forward to co-promoting another event with About Billions, as Adrien Broner looks to put on a big show in his hometown of Cincinnati,” said Leonard Ellerbe, CEO of Mayweather Promotions. “We’re anticipating a big crowd to support Adrien as he takes on the very tough Adrian Granados, in addition to the exciting undercard bouts that should make this a great night of boxing at Cintas Center and live on SHOWTIME.”

“Adrian Granados has demonstrated his skill and his ability to compete in this sport multiple times,” said Tom Brown, President of TGB Promotions. “This is proven with his record of huge upsets. I am confident that February 18 will be no different. It will be another win and another big upset.”

At 27-years-old, Broner is one of the most accomplished and outspoken young stars in the sport today. After picking up world titles at 130, 135 and 147 pounds, Broner earned a belt in a fourth weight division in October 2015 when he defeated tough Russian Khabib Allakhverdiev via a stoppage in the 12th and final round in his last hometown appearance. Broner boasts a 9-1 record in world title fights on his way to picking up belts in four weight divisions. He will be fighting in his hometown for the 15th time in a pro career that has seen him defeat the likes of Paulie Malignaggi, Daniel Ponce De Leon, Ashley Theophane, John Molina Jr., Antonio DeMarco and Gavis Rees. Broner compiled a 300-19 amateur record under the guidance of his trainer Mike Stafford, who continues to train him throughout his pro career.

A tough fighter representing Chicago, Granados enters this fight on a five-bout winning streak, including his impressive stoppage over then unbeaten top contender Amir Imam in November 2015. Most recently, the 27-year-old dominated Ariel Vasquez over eight rounds in July. Granados has picked up wins over previously unbeaten fighters Mark Salser, Antonio Canas, Antton Slaughter and Imam. Granados’ defeats have all come in close contests and by either split or majority decisions. With a win over Broner, Granados can position himself for his first career world title shot.

LONDON (30 December) – One of the most eagerly anticipated fights of 2017 will air exclusively live on BoxNation when undefeated welterweight hotshots Danny Garcia and Keith Thurman meet in a world title unification clash on March 4th.

Taking place in New York, the pair will do battle in a matchup which already has fights fans licking their lips in excitement as the 147-pounders finally meet following a build up of bad blood over the past year.

Regarded as two of the division’s very best fighters, a victory for either one will see them propelled right to the very top of the weight-class.

Current WBC world champion Garcia, with an unbeaten record of 33 wins and 19 KOs, and WBA world title holder Thurman, also with an unblemished past of 27 wins with 22 KOs, will put their belts on the line when the two the big hitters go toe-to-toe.

“I just had to tell Keith that he’s next,” said Garcia. “I’m going to beat him down. There’s not much more to say. Keith is going to get what he asked for and now he’s going to face a big dog.”

“You have two big punchers meeting on March 4,” said Thurman. “I don’t see how the fight can go 12 rounds. I see myself as the best competition that Danny has ever faced.”

“The Channel of Champions” BoxNation will also be the only place to see the brash and flashy Adrien Broner (32-2, 24 KOs) make his ring return when he goes up against light-welterweight contender Adrian Granados (18-4-2, 12 KOs) on February 18th.

Former four-division world champion Broner will be out to enjoy a more fruitful time in the New Year as he looks to pave the way to another world title shot in 2017.

27-year-old Granados, however, has aspirations of his own and is currently ranked in the top five of both the WBA and WBC.

Despite undergoing a tumultuous couple of years, both in and out the ring, Broner remains one of the most eye-catching fighters around and his bout with Granados, and that of Garcia v Thurman are two premier additions to the early BoxNation schedule for 2017.

Jim McMunn, BoxNation Managing Director, said: “We are delighted to announce the additions of Danny Garcia v Keith Thurman and Adrien Broner v Adrian Granados to the 2017 BoxNation schedule. These are two highly anticipated world class fights and we are very pleased to be able to air these exclusively live on the channel. Garcia v Thurman without doubt has the potential to be ‘Fight of the Year’ and will have BoxNation subscribers on the edge of their seats for however long it lasts. Adrien Broner too always produces excitement – win, lose or draw – he is a fighter you have to watch and his clash with the tough Granados will be more of the same.”

BoxNation is available on Sky/Freeview/Virgin/TalkTalk/EE/Apple TV/ online at watch.boxnation.com and via apps (iOS, Android, Amazon) for just £12 a month. Buy now at boxnation.com.

– ENDS –

About BoxNation
BoxNation, the Channel of Champions and proud partner of Rainham Steel, is the UK’s first dedicated boxing channel. From £12* per month with no minimum term customers can enjoy great value live and exclusive fights, classic fight footage, magazine shows and interviews with current and former fighters.
Previous highlights have included Haye vs Chisora, Mayweather vs Maidana, Saunders vs Eubank Jr and Khan vs Canelo.
The channel is available on Sky (Ch.437), Freeview (Ch.255), Virgin (Ch.546), TalkTalk (Ch.415), online at watch.boxnation.com and via apps (ios, Android, Amazon, Apple TV). BoxNation is also available in high definition on Sky (Ch. 490), at no extra cost to Sky TV subscribers, providing they are already HD enabled.
Available on selected internet-connected Freeview products only, subject to coverage. Visit freeview.co.uk/availability.
BoxNation is also available to commercial premises (inc. pubs, clubs and casino’s) in the UK and Ireland, for more information on a commercial subscription please call 0844 842 7700.
For more information visit www.boxnation.com
*Plus £8 registration fee for Sky TV customers

Ricky Burns will land a huge showdown with Adrien Broner if he successfully defends his WBA World Super-Lightweight title against dangerous mandatory challenger Kiryl Relikh at the SSE Hydro in Glasgow on Friday October 7, live on Sky Sports.

Three-weight World king Burns makes the first defence of the belt he won in style in May, knocking out Michele Di Rocco in the same arena in eight rounds.

The Coatbridge ace faces the hard-hitting Relikh in his 12th World title fight in his glittering career, and the carrot of a blockbuster battle with four-weight champion Broner, with the brash Cincinnati man heading to Scotland for the fight next week to take a close look at the ‘Rickster’.

“We were pretty much there in terms of the deal to fight Broner but because of issues out of the ring we all decided to fight Relikh and try and clear the mandatory before securing the fight against Broner in December,” said promoter Eddie Hearn.

“Adrien contacted me this week and said he is coming to Glasgow on October 7 to watch the fight and if Ricky defeats Relikh I expect that fight to get made without any problems.”

Burns’ clash with Relikh is part of a huge night of action in Glasgow with two tasty British title fights whetting the appetite.

Scotty Cardle defending his British crown against Kevin Hooper while Dillian Whyte and Ian Lewison clash for the vacant Heavyweight strap, and there’s action for Joe Ham, Lewis Paulin, Stewart Burt, Scott McCormack and Ross Murray.

Tickets go on general sale at midday on Friday September 2, with tickets in the £40-£100 bracket available from the SSE Hydro website http://www.thessehydro.com/ and on 0844 395 4000 and 0800 952 0110 (accessible). VIP tickets at £200 are exclusively available at www.matchroomboxing.com

According to Dan Rafael of espn.com, Assault and Robbery charges were dropped against three-division world champion Adrien Broner.

Michael Tranter, the special prosecutor in the case, told ESPN.com that it was the third time the victim had not shown up. Without the key witness being willing to testify, Hamilton County Common Pleas Judge Robert Ruehlman had no choice but to dismiss the case, Tranter said.

“The trial was supposed to start [Wednesday] but the victim did not show up. He was supposed to,” Tranter said. “If they don’t show up, for whatever reason, the judge can dismiss the case. I can’t move forward without a witness.”

“So the case is dismissed, but it could always be refiled if the witness comes forward or there is new evidence presented in the case,” Tranter said.

NEW YORK (Aug. 4, 2016) – In continuation of the 30th anniversary year of SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING, the network will feature four of its most memorable “UPSETS”. For the past three decades SHOWTIME Sports® has been home to countless upsets—some of the most shocking each year. Whether it be SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING or, for the last 15 years, ShoBox: The New Generation, fighters often face their biggest challenges, their most fierce opponents, live on SHOWTIME.

It started in 1986 when Iran Barkley knocked out heavily favored Thomas Hearns and continued through this past weekend when Carl Frampton edged the favored featherweight champion Leo Santa Cruz by decision in thrilling Fight of the Year candidate. To date, some 151 fighters have suffered their initial loss on ShoBox since the series premiere in July 2001.

Below is the schedule of SHOWTIME EXTREME premieres for the month of August:

· Thursday, Aug. 4: Josesito Lopez vs. Victor Ortiz

· Thursday, Aug. 11: Marcos Maidana vs. Adrien Broner – Ring Magazine 2013 Upset of the Year

· Thursday, Aug. 18: Evander Holyfield vs. Mike Tyson I – Ring Magazine 1996 Fight of the Year and Upset of The Year; Holyfield was named The Fighter of the Year by The Ring and Boxing Writers Association of America

· Thursday, Aug. 25: Austin Trout vs. Miguel Cotto

These unforgettable battles will air on “Throwback Thursdays” on SHOWTIME EXTREME (10 p.m. ET/PT) throughout the month of August and will be available on SHOWTIME ON DEMAND®, SHOWTIME ANYTIME® and via the network’s online streaming service. Each fight will be wrapped with context and commentary from SHOWTIME Sports host Brian Custer.

“Throwback Thursday” Tidbits

Lopez vs. Ortiz – June 23, 2012 – Staples Center, Los Angeles, Calif.

Former welterweight world champion Ortiz was set to fight Canelo Alvarez in September. All he needed to do was to win his upcoming match. After two fights with Andre Berto earlier in the year fell through, Ortiz took on the relatively unknown and inexperienced Lopez. Stepping up in weight and competing for the first time as a welter, Lopez became the “Riverside Rocky” as he shocked the boxing world by breaking Ortiz’s jaw and winning by TKO.

Lopez rallied to triumph despite swelling to his left eye from the end of the sixth round on. After nine rounds, he was trailing on all three scorecards (88-83, 87-84 and 86-85). But in the ninth of what had been a back-and-forth, seesaw, tough battle, Lopez connected late with a punch to Ortiz’s jaw that broke it on impact. Moments later, the skirmish was stopped when Ortiz said he could not continue because of a broken jaw. Lopez landed a fight against Canelo. The unbelievable upset remains the biggest victory of Lopez’s career.

Maidana vs. Broner – Dec. 14, 2013, Alamodome, San Antonio, Texas

The unbeaten Broner, a 5-1 favorite to retain his WBA Welterweight World Title on his first defense, was instead dealt his first defeat.

A poised yet aggressive Maidana, the target of heavy trash talk all week, overpowered and dominated the brash Broner from the outset while putting him down for the first time in his career. In a surprisingly one-sided performance, Maidana scored knockdowns in the second and eighth and won a 12-round unanimous decision by the scores of 119-109, 116-109 and 115-111. While tying Maidana up after going down in the eighth, Broner absorbed what appeared to be an intentional headbutt. Broner’s reaction: He over-dramatized the effect of it, falling to the canvas in a heap and rolling over in agony. Maidana more than doubled Broner’s punch output, out-throwing him, 964-400.

After the decision was announced, Broner exited the ring hastily without being interviewed by SHOWTIME or congratulating Maidana. Fans booed at Broner as he made his way back to the dressing room. The victory propelled Maidana into two consecutive fights against Floyd Mayweather Jr.

Holyfield vs. Tyson I – Nov. 9, 1996, MGM Grand, Las Vegas, Nev.

In one of the most legendary and monumental bombshells in history, Holyfield, who opened as a 25-1 underdog, bullied the bully and stopped Tyson on a TKO at 0:37 of the 11th round to capture the WBA Heavyweight World Title.

Holyfield, a built-up cruiserweight not known for power, utilized his reach advantage and superior strength to engage Tyson and fight him on his terms. The action was intense and non-stop; Holyfield applied constant pressure and kept in close to nullify Tyson’s power (left hook). Tyson landed hard shots, but only one at a time, and Holyfield took them all. As the bout wore on, Tyson wore down. With 20 seconds remaining in the 10th, Holyfield chilled Tyson with a right hand to the chin. A barrage of powerful combinations to the head and body sent Tyson staggering backward into the ropes. Tyson, out on his feet and defenseless, was saved by the bell. Thirty-seven seconds into the 11th, Holyfield landed a big right that left Tyson staggering again. Moments later, the referee stopped the fight. Holyfield was ahead by 100-93 and 96-92 twice.

A fight that was aired on SHOWTIME PPV® was supposed to be a mere formality for Tyson: he’d won eight straight since bowing to Buster Douglas in Japan and Holyfield was thought to be “washed-up” after three lackluster performances in a row. It was the third time Holyfield attained a heavyweight title; he was the first one to do so since Muhammad Ali. The Holyfield-Tyson rematch took place seven months later (June 28, 1997).

Trout vs. Cotto – Dec. 1, 2012, Madison Square Garden, New York, N.Y.

Cotto, a Puerto Rican hero and three-division world champion, was deemed unbeatable in New York where he was 9-0—7-0 at Madison Square Garden. He had a fight slated with Canelo Alvarez next. Seven months after dropping a competitive decision to Floyd Mayweather Jr., all Cotto had to do was hook Trout, throw him back to sea and then, gear up for the deepest waters. It was that simple, but it didn’t go as planned. Trout won a controversial 12-round unanimous decision. He boxed beautifully to successfully defend his WBA Super Welterweight Title for the fifth time (119-109 and 117-111 twice).

With the majority of his passionate fans cheering and waving Puerto Rican flags, Cotto came on strongly in the middle rounds, trapping Trout on the ropes and keeping him there. He had his greatest success in the closing seconds of the 10th when he backed Trout into a corner and dazed him with a flurry of punches. The big crowd erupted. But southpaw Trout silenced them by cranking up the pressure and roughing up Cotto the last two rounds. Cotto was bidding for a fifth world title. Trout got the shot at Canelo.

# # #

Showtime Networks Inc. (SNI), a wholly-owned subsidiary of CBS Corporation, owns and operates the premium television networks SHOWTIME®, THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ and FLIX®, and also offers SHOWTIME ON DEMAND®, THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ ON DEMAND and FLIX ON DEMAND®, and the network’s authentication service SHOWTIME ANYTIME®. Showtime Digital Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of SNI, operates the stand-alone streaming service SHOWTIME®. SHOWTIME is currently available to subscribers via cable, DBS and telco providers, and as a stand-alone streaming service through Apple®, Roku®, Amazon and Google. Consumers can also subscribe to SHOWTIME via Hulu, Sony PlayStation® Vue and Amazon Prime Video. SNI also manages Smithsonian Networks™, a joint venture between SNI and the Smithsonian Institution, which offers Smithsonian Channel™, and offers Smithsonian Earth™ through SN Digital LLC. SNI markets and distributes sports and entertainment events for exhibition to subscribers on a pay-per-view basis through SHOWTIME PPV. For more information, go to www.SHO.com.

Three-division world champion Adrien Broner was jailed for 30-days on Tuesday for being late a court appearance in Cincinnati, according to Dan Rafael of espn.com

According to the Cincinnati Enquirer, Broner’s hometown paper, Broner was said to appear ill when he arrived and told Ruehlman that “somebody put something in my drink” the previous night. He added: “I don’t even drink. I didn’t drink last night.”

“You don’t look well. You look like you have a hangover,” Ruehlman said, according to a transcript of the hearing obtained by the newspaper.

Broner’s response, according to the transcript, was, “I have been sick all morning. When I finally got well, I called my lawyer.”

Ruehlman did not buy Broner’s story and told him, according to the transcript, “It’s not a good excuse. He looks like he’s drunk or hungover. To coin a little boxing phrase — you’re not ducking this one.”

Will Welsh, Broner’s lawyer, told the Enquirer that Broner accepted the ruling, adding “He certainly apologizes and understands why the judge was upset.”

According to the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office website, Broner was taken into custody at 12:45 p.m. ET. Part of Broner’s entry includes the comment, “Do not release under any circumstances per Judge Ruehlman.”

Former four division champion Adrien Broner has been jailed in Ohio on a parole violation, according to Dan Rafael of espn.com.

He will serve a 10-day jail sentence.

In July 2015, Broner was sentenced to six months’ probation in connection to a drunken driving arrest. Broner later entered a plea of no contest to reckless driving and was given probation.

Broner, 26, appeared in court Tuesday morning, pleaded guilty to the probation violation and began serving his sentence.

The main event drew 1,141,000 viewers (10:36pm-11:21pm) peaking with an impressive 1.3 million viewers at 11:11pm
(with +3 DVR playback). This is the most watched PBC fight ever on Spike.

The entire card delivered 955,000 viewers, also a record for the PBC on Spike.

Also of note, 48 minutes of the broadcast were seen by 1 million or more viewers.

Former four-division champion, Adrien Broner surrendered to Cincinnati Police following his arrest warrant for alleged assault in January, according to Dan Rafael of espn.com.

According to Hamilton County online records, Broner was taken into custody at 9:32 a.m. ET Monday.

Earlier Monday, Broner posted a message on his Instagram and Twitter accounts about turning himself in. About 2½ hours later, he had been freed on $100,000 bail and tweeted, “They let me out y’all.”

Broner is scheduled for his arraignment on Tuesday morning at the Hamilton County Justice Center in Cincinnati, where he will be asked to enter a plea, Julie Wilson, chief assistant prosecutor and public information officer for the Hamilton County Prosecutor’s Office, told ESPN.com.

On Friday night, the 26-year-old Broner knocked out England’s Ashley Theophane in the ninth round in a dominant performance in the main event of a Premier Boxing Champions card at the DC Armory in Washington, D.C., which Broner considers a second home.

Adrien Broner stopped Ashely Theophane in round nine of their scheduled 12-round Super Lightweight bout at the DC Armory in Washington, D.C.

Broner was in control of the bout as he landed some hard shots and had Theophane in trouble several times. Each time Theophane was able to dodge serious damage until round nine, Broner landed a body shot (replays showed the punch was low) that sent Theophane across the ring. Brone stalked and landed two more power punches and then referee stopped the bout at 1:10 of round two.

Broner, 140.4 lbs of Cincinnati, OH lost his title on the scales at Thursday’s weigh in. Broner was wanted on charges back home in Cincinnati for an alleged assault that took place in January. Broner is now 32-2 with 24 knockouts. Theophane, 140 lbs of London, England is now 39-7-1.

After the bout, Broner called out Floyd Mayweather for a potential fight.

“When people fight me, they come with their ‘A’ game, and he came with his ‘A’ game. But even his ‘A’ game wasn’t enough tonight.

“As you know, I’ve been going through a lot and for me to come in here and bottle everything up and do what I did, I want to give myself a pat on the back.”

Theophane was disappointed and didn’t agree with the stoppage.

“I thought the stoppage was premature because I thought I was in the fight. Me and Broner were going at it. It looked like he was starting to get tired because he started to move around and wasn’t able to stay there with me as much.

“I thought the fight was back and forth and I think the next four rounds would have been the same. No way should the fight have gotten stopped. It’s a shame the referee did that. I was telling the referee, ‘I’m okay, I’m okay.’ Then he waived it off. I don’t know what he was thinking.”

Broner and Mayweather, who promotes Theophane, have been engaged in a war of words throughout the promotion. Broner challenged the 11-time world champion immediately following his victory.

“I’m a man, but at the end of the day, somebody that I look up to, someone that I admire took the chance to do an interview and talk bad about me. I’m a man – Floyd has got to see me.

“I come from nothing. I’m talking about water and Cornflakes. And I would never let a man disrespect me like that. So you gotta see me. I don’t care if we’re sparring or if we’re fighting, let’s get it on.

Mayweather did not address the comments.

Robert Easter remained undefeated with a fifth round stoppage over former world champion Algenis Mendez in a scheduled 10-round Lightweight fight.

In round five, Easter landed a booming right that sent Mendez to the canvas. Mendez got up but was wobbling and his eyes were glazed and the bout was stopped at 2:43.

Easter, 133 lbs of Toledo, OH is 17-0 with 14 knockouts. Mendez, 134.2 lbs of San Juan, DR is 23-4-1.

“My performance was okay. I could have done better, but I’m happy. I got touched more than I expected. Once I settled down, I knew I was going to catch him. I had to stay patient.

“Two boxers makes for a boring fight. I wanted to go in there and brawl, but be smart. I knew when I stepped on the gas I would put him to bed and that’s what I did. He was definitely the toughest opponent I have faced in a shorter fight. He is a former champ and he came in ready.

“This was a huge opportunity for me and I’m just happy I got the knockout. For what it’s worth, I feel good…at least physically I do. I’m pretty disappointed because of the way things turned out, but boxing is a difficult sport.

“I don’t have any excuses. I’m glad that I feel fine physically, that’s the most important thing right now. Robert Easter is a good fighter, he did really well and I wish him the best in his career.”

Gervonta Davis remained perfect by stopping Guillermo Avila in round six of their scheduled of their ten round Super Featherweight bout.

In round three, Davis landed a blistering right hook that opened up a big cut under the left eye of Avila. At the end of round five, Davis dropped Avila with a right hook.

In round six, Davis opened up with heavy power shots that were highlighted by flush uppercuts that rocked Avila to the ropes and referee Michelle Myers stopped the bout at 29 seconds.

Davis, 131.2 lbs of Baltimore, MD is 15-0 with 14 knockouts. Avila, 130.6 lbs of Jamay, MEX is 15-6.

“I knew he was a strong opponent. He kept bouncing back and I actually thought he was going to get up at the end too. He is very experienced and I thank him for taking the fight. He brought out the best in me.

“There is always room to get better and better, but this is another step toward my dream. I’m happy with my performance and it is even more special to have done it where I made my pro debut, so close to home.

“I’m happy I could get this victory for my team, Floyd Mayweather and everyone that supports me.”

“We prepared really well and think we did well,” said Avila “The cut came from a head-butt which complicated the situation for me as it didn’t let me see properly from that point forward. But it is what it is -he won. He’s good, and he hits hard.

“I appreciate everyone who was supporting me and my team. This is not the end of my career. I’m young and this is the type of sport where you just have to bounce back. We’re going to move on with our head up. There’s no other choice.”

WASHINGTON, D.C. (March 30, 2016) – 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.”

# # #

For more information visit www.premierboxingchampions.com,www.mayweatherpromotions.com and www.spike.com/shows/premier-boxing-champions.
Follow on Twitter @PremierBoxing, @AdrienBroner, @AshleyTheophane, @SpikeTV, @SpikeSports,@MayweatherPromo, and @Swanson_Comm and become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/PremierBoxingChampions and
www.facebook.com/MayweatherPromotions. Highlights available to embed at www.youtube.com/premierboxingchampions. PBC on Spike is sponsored by Corona Extra, La Cerveza Mas Fina.