ADRIEN BRONER will defend his WBA world super-lightweight title against Ashley Theophane at the DC Armory in Washington April 1.
Broner – who has held world titles at super-featherweight, lightweight and welterweight – won the vacant title with a 12th round stoppage of Khabib Allakhverdiev last October.
He will make the first defence of his title against London’s Theophane on April Fool’s Day and, having spent plenty of time in Washington during his various training camps, is excited to fight there for the first time.
“Ashley Theophane is a world class fighter and this is going to be a tough fight for me,” he said.
“I’m very excited to fight in Washington, D.C. My following is huge in D.C., it’s my second home, and I think we’re going to give the fans what they’re looking for. I want to fight the best in the 140-pound weight division and Ashley Theophane is one of the best.”
Broner’s fight with Allakhverdiev came directly after his 12-round decision reverse to Shawn Porter four months previously.
Theophane – a member of Floyd Mayweather’s ‘Money Team’ since 2013 – is on a six fight winning streak against fairly limited opposition after dropping a 10-round split decision to Pablo Cesar Cano in 2013.
He was unfortunate to be handed the same result against Danny Garcia back in 2010 but is determined to win a world title on the first try.
“I’m excited to face Adrien Broner for a super lightweight world championship,” he said.
“It’s been a long, hard road to get here. Thanks to Floyd Mayweather and everyone at Mayweather Promotions for their support over the last two and a half years. I get to have my career defining fight against a four-division world champion. It gets no bigger than that. I will be leaving the ring on April 1 as the new world champion.”
