by David P. Greisman

File this one under the category of Social Media Silliness.

On Monday afternoon, Adrien Broner posted a photo of him standing face-to-face with his friend and fellow bearded 140-pounder, Lamont Peterson.

“I just spoke with Al Haymon. I got a new opponent and new fight date […] for the IBF junior welterweight championship October 18th at the Barclays Center in New York!” Broner wrote on Instagram.

Some people took him seriously, for some reason.

They took him seriously even though Broner’s been known to use social media for shenanigans, ones that have sometimes landed him in trouble or as the target of criticism.

They took him seriously even though Broner is scheduled to fight Sept. 6 in his hometown of Cincinnati, facing Emanuel Taylor as part of a Showtime broadcast that also features Lucas Matthysse vs. Roberto Ortiz, with Andre Berto also on the card.

Eric Gomez, Vice President of Golden Boy Promotions, told BoxingScene.com "it was a joke."

Peterson spokesman, Andre Johnson, also confirmed as much to BoxingScene.

“They were just joking around,” Johnson said.

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