ASHLEY THEOPHANE knows what he must do when he fights WBA world super-lightweight champion Adrien Broner on April 1.
The Las Vegas-based Londoner is a heavy underdog with the bookmakers against Broner, but is well aware of how he needs to approach the fight.
Broner has predicted he will finish Theophane inside four rounds, but the challenger has other ideas.
The focus is to go in there and outwork him on fight night,” he said.
“At the end of the day I have to set the pace. I can’t go out there and outbox him because he’s got tremendous skill and speed. So I have to be able to go out there and outwork him and make it a war.
“When he sees that I’m still there in round 5, he’s going to start to get worried. My whole thing on fight night is to work and bring a war.”
Theophane is on a six fight winning streak since dropping a split decision to Pablo Cesar Cano in 2013. Similarly questionable decision reverses to Darren Hamilton and Danny Garcia mar his CV but Ashley feels those experiences have brought him to this point.
“As a boxer, you want to fight the best, and you want these big nights,” he mused.
“For me, it’s been a hard road to get to this point, and I’m actually looking forward to fight night because I know it’s going to be a very hard fight, and I know in order for me to win I have to be at my best, and that’s what I have prepared for.
“I’ve been sparring a lot of strong young men in camp; a lot of guys who many believe will be future stars of boxing, and I’ve been doing very well, so I’m more than ready. It’s just a matter of counting down the days now.
“My career shows that if you believe in yourself and never give up, you will get your opportunity. At that point, it’s just up to you to take it.”
