Broner Insulted By Being a 5-1 Underdog Against Mikey Garcia

By Keith Idec

NEW YORK – Being a slight underdog against Mikey Garcia would be one thing.

Adrien Broner cannot comprehend being nearly a 5-1 underdog, though. Most Las Vegas and Internet sports books have installed the undefeated Garcia as that heavy of a favorite a month-plus prior to their July 29 showdown at Barclays Center in Brooklyn (-750/+450).

Broner couldn’t resist mentioning what he considers disrespectful odds during a press conference Monday at a Manhattan hotel.

“I don’t be gettin’ into this, the media and stuff like that,” Broner said. “But I heard that like they got Mikey like 5-to-1. You know what I’m saying? I just feel like you got some serious bettors out there, looking at that like, ‘5-to-1?’ They don’t give me no chance. But y’all can sit up and say McGregor gonna beat Floyd. Man, this boxing game crazy, man! So after this fight, I just feel like if I come out untouched, you know, I feel like I’m gonna be victorious, I feel like I should come back and fight on Floyd’s undercard against Nate Diaz.

“But um, I just hope nobody put they house on this fight against me because if you do that, then you’ll be living like Will Smith in ‘Hancock’ after the fight, man.”

The 27-year-old Broner referred to an alcoholic superhero Smith played in a 2008 film that constantly caused property damage. The wide odds aside, Cincinnati’s Broner (33-2, 24 KOs, 1 NC) expects a very competitive fight against Garcia (36-0, 30 KOs), an Oxnard, California, native who’s moving up from 135 pounds for a 12-round, 140-pound fight.

“You know, it’s gonna be a hell of a fight,” Broner said. “I know Robert Garcia, he’s training his little brother to death, like always. He’s 36-0. He’s undefeated at [140] and under. And if people don’t know, I’m really undefeated at [140] and under, also. And, you know, somebody 0 gotta go, even though mine already left. [At 140] and under, somebody 0 gotta go. You know what I’m saying?

“But I could’ve came up here and been mean and rude to these guys. But I have to say, man, I got love for Robert Garcia and Mikey. It’s never really been bad blood. But for this fight, f*ck y’all. But for real, man, you know, we can be back cool after the fight, dog. But for this fight I’ve gotta get on y’all ass, man. You know what I’m saying?”

Keith Idec is a senior writer/columnist for BoxingScene.com. He can be reached on Twitter @Idecboxing.