Adrien Broner showed up late, but once he stepped to the microphone for the final press conference today for Friday's fight with Ashley Theophane, he didn't hold much back, targeting his opponent, trainer Nate Jones, and even the absent promoter of Theophane, Floyd Mayweather."
"To be honest, I ain't come here to talk today. I wasn't even gonna come to this bullshit today, to be honest. The fight already sold. There's about 6-to-10 tickets left," Broner said. "My work's done. Now it's time to get on the scale. I see this guy Friday. I ain't used to fightin' on Friday. He probably is, on FOX and Friday Night Fights and shit. But I ain't used to that shit. But as long as it's payday, it's good."
Broner (31-2, 23 KO) turned his attention then to the promotional side of things, and a seemingly ever-developing beef with the man he used to call "big bro."
"I wish we could've done the AB vs TMT thing all the way through the card, because we got somebody for all of them motherfuckers," he said. "I'm kinda pissed Floyd ain't here. So I wanna say thank you to About Billions Promotions, Headbangerz Promotions, Hateweather Promotions -- I mean, Mayweather Promotions.
"Friday night is gonna be a big night. I'm gonna keep my promise. I will stop -- Nate, don't hold the towel. Don't hold the fuckin' towel. I will stop him. I don't know if it's the first round, second, third, fourth. I don't give a fuck if it's the eighth. I will stop you. That's my promise, I'm gonna stop this man."
After Broner was done, he went back and forth a bit with Leonard Ellerbe, which didn't amount to much, but was interesting to observe for a moment. Before Broner took to the stage, he danced in his chair while Theophane (39-6-1, 11 KO) grew increasingly serious during his time at the podium.
"It's been a journey, but we're here now, two days away. We've got two days, then me and the champ we're gonna go to war," Theophane said. He thanked everyone, as Broner leaned closer, waiting for his name to be called. Theophane did acknowledge it.
"I gotta thank the champ, because otherwise I wouldn't be here. He's a four-weight world champ. He's fought some of the big names in the sport." As Broner gabbed away, Theophane seemed somewhat irked.
"I'm from London, I ain't from here. Play games, it's all good. Two days time, tune in. Because I want this man to live up to his words, that he's gonna stop me by round four. That means he's not gonna run around the ring, that means he's gonna come towards me and fight," he said. "I'm expecting a war. I've trained for a war. He's got great chin, he's got heart, he's a warrior. I've trained for 12 hard rounds. This ain't no joke. I'm glad he thinks it's a joke, but it ain't no joke. We're gonna make it happen: 'And the new.'"
The PBC on Spike telecast will also feature prospects Robert Easter Jr and Gervonta "Tank" Davis in action, with Mayweather Promotions super featherweight Davis (14-0, 13 KO) opening the show against Guillermo Avila (16-5, 13 KO).
"Camp's been good, we've been working hard. We started in DC with Barry Hunter, all my Headbangerz fighters and brothers, then back home in Baltimore with my home team," Davis said. "We've been working hard. I'm ready to fight. Hopefully my opponent is ready to fight. I know he's strong. I step closer to that world title."
Easter (16-0, 13 KO), an exciting, powerful lightweight prospect and member of the About Billions team, will face former super featherweight titleholder Algenis Mendez (23-3-1, 12 KO).
"Just be ready for a lot of action. I'm gonna leave this speech very short, just like the fight's going to be," Easter said. "He's a former world champion, I understand that. But I feel like I'm supposed to be here. It's another step to get to the title.
"I wasn't gonna talk no smack, but he's got a big head, so I'm not gonna miss at all. It's gonna be a short night. I know he's a former world champion. I hope he prepared to go to sleep. We're gonna handle our business. You're gonna see a quick fight just like the rest of them."
"It's good to be back home in Washington, DC," Leonard Ellerbe of Mayweather Promotions said. "DC in my opinion has the best boxing fans. Mayweather Promotions is looking forward to bringing many, many more big fights back to Washington, DC."