By Jake Donovan
Adrien Broner is not going to be that fighter who vows to only fight for a certain number of years and then retire at a young age. What the charismatic 22-year old will guarantee, though, is that he will thoroughly enjoy every day he spends as a prize fighter.
With that comes his casual approach to his next fight, a July 21 showdown with Vicente Escobedo at the U.S. Bank Arena in his Cincinnati hometown.
"July 21 is just another day in the ring for me,” Broner insisted to the assembled media and crowd on hand for Wednesday’s press conference in Cincinnati. I'll come in laughing and dancing. I like to have fun with it.”
The bout will mark his fifth straight appearance on HBO and serves as the second defense of the 130 lb. title he acquired last November. Broner had the good fortune of fighting for a title in his hometown – dominating Vicente Rodriguez en route to a third round knockout at the U.S. Bank Arena in Cincinnati – and now returns to the very same venue for next month’s title defense.
Both fighters come with a deep amateur pedigree. Escobedo (26-3, 15KO) served on the 2004 U.S. Olympic boxing squad, but hasn’t completely panned out as a pro. Still, the Californian comes into the ring riding a four-fight win streak as he prepares for his first ever title shot.
A grand total of none of that concerns Broner in the least bit.
"He's coming to my hometown and I'm excited. I don't know him and I don't want to know him. I'm in the hurt business and I'm gonna handle Escobedo,” Broner insisted. “I've been in shape since 1989. When I was born and the doctor smacked me, I smacked him back.”
Jake Donovan is the Managing Editor of Boxingscene.com. Follow Jake on Twitter:
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