by David P. Greisman

It can never be said that Adrien Broner is lacking in confidence. While some may attribute that to hubris or bluster, Broner’s victory over lightweight titleholder Antonio DeMarco on Saturday evening left many impressed.

Broner, of course, can be included in that group.

“What can I say after a performance like that? That’s I’m good? I can’t say that. That I’m great? I can’t say that. I’m elite,” he said in the post-fight press conference. “I’m an elite fighter who can make a good, great fighter look like an amateur. That’s what I did today.”

While Broner attributed his success in part to “God-given talent,” he also noted his hard work for the gym in preparation for the DeMarco bout.

“I busted my ass every day. I came into the fight looking for a war, because I know DeMarco is a warrior,” he said. “But ‘The Problem’ stands. 25-0, 21 knockouts. Two-time world champion. 23 years old. … This has just begun — the Adrien Broner, ‘Mr. HBO’ show.’ ”

He called himself the new era of boxing, and he declared that he would take over boxing.

“Of course you still have Floyd Mayweather and [Manny] Pacquiao out there, but after that fight, who do you have? Oh yeah, that one guy: Adrien ‘The Problem’ Broner,” he said.

Broner said he would be back in the gym by Monday, spoke in favor of going back to his native Cincinnati for another fight, and said a bout on pay-per-view “might be my next fight,” though it must be noted that there’s no indication of whether (or not) that could actually be so.

Fellow lightweight titleholder Ricky Burns “will get burned,” he said.

“I don’t lose,” Broner said at one point. “I don’t even like losing weight.”

David P. Greisman is a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America. Follow David on Twitter @fightingwords2 or send questions/comments via email at fightingwords1@gmail.com