ADRIEN BRONER insists he does not aspire to be like former pound-for-pound king Floyd Mayweather, despite the apparent parallels between them.
Much like a young ‘Pretty Boy’ Floyd, the brash 26-year-old plays the pantomime villain outside the ropes by flaunting his lavish lifestyle and making outlandish comments.
Inside the ring, he adopts a similar shoulder roll defence and has won world titles in numerous weight classes. On April 1 he will defend his WBA world super-lightweight title against Ashley Theophane, who is promoted by Mayweather.
“A lot of people told me I wouldn’t be here. I come from nothing. Like cereal and water nothing,” he said.
“I’m very fortunate to have someone like Floyd to look up to. I don’t want to be like Floyd though, I don’t want to be like any man. I admire him and respect him, but I’m creating my legacy.
“At the end of the day, Floyd and Ashley aren’t on my side. I’m against them. They’re coming to dethrone me. They’re my enemy right now and I’m going to beat Ashley down.”
Theophane last fought in September when he outpointed Steve Upsher Chambers on the undercard of Mayweather’s apparent swansong against Andre Berto.
Broner’s last outing came a month later when he bounced back from his loss to Shawn Porter with a 12th-round stoppage of Khabib Allakhverdiev to claim the vacant strap he defends against Theophane.
The American views himself as a level above Theophane, who will be vying for his first world title, and plans to end things early.
“This fight isn’t going four rounds. That’s too many. This is going to be quick. I’m not playing.
“There’s nothing Floyd can teach [Theophane]. At the end of the day, it all goes out the window. The trainers and entourage can’t help. They can’t help Ashley Theophane.
“I want everyone to come out. Big brother Floyd Mayweather is gone, everyone else is too boring, so I’m taking over the sport.”
Prior to the Porter loss, Broner had also been outpointed by Marcos Maidana in 2013. Theophane, who has been after Adrien for some time now, has kept a close eye on his adversary and has seen potential avenues of success.
“There are many different thing we’re working on to neutralize Broner and keep up with his quickness,” he said.
“I’ve sparred with a lot of young guys who imitate him and I believe I can match him.
“He does a lot of things right and a lot of things wrong. Adrien Broner can be beat and he has been. We’re working hard. At the end of the day this is my career-defining fight.
“We all turn pro to become a world champion. I’ve been in the gym for months, working on things and staying in shape.
“I’ve watched Adrien Broner in the past. I was at the John Molina [w pts 12] and Shawn Porter fights and I know he’s got talent. But he can be beat. He’s vulnerable, very vulnerable.”
