By Keith Idec
NEW YORK – Adrien Broner took exception to one particular line of questioning while on tour to promote his fight against Manny Pacquiao.
“Adrien, this has to be considered do or die for you?,” a radio host asked Broner following a press conference Monday in Manhattan. “How do you look at it?”
Needless to write, Broner doesn’t at all view his upcoming Showtime Pay-Per-View bout versus Pacquiao that way at all.
Why would he? The polarizing four-division champion continues to draw the type of television ratings that secure substantial paydays, despite that the Cincinnati native is 0-1-1 in his last two fights and battled to a draw in his last appearance against an opponent Pacquiao dominated two years ago (Jessie Vargas).
“This is do-or-die for you, asking that dumb-ass question,” an indignant Broner replied. “You damn near about to be – boy, this ain’t no do-or-die for me.”
The radio host doubled down by replying that Pacquiao (60-7-2, 39 KOs) is on his way to the International Boxing Hall of Fame. Where would Broner be, he asked, if Pacquiao beats him January 19 at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas?
“Sh*t, coming from where I come from, I’m already in the Hall of Fame,” Broner said. “Sh*t, I don’t know nobody that did what I did. You don’t know nobody that did what I did in your family, so don’t disrespect me like that, brutha!”
The radio host tried to explain what he meant, but Broner cut him off.
“I’m just saying, too,” Broner said. “You might not think I’ve got a Hall-of-Fame career, but I do.”
The radio host stated that he, too, believes Broner belongs in the International Boxing Hall of Fame. But why, he wanted to know, should we believe Broner finally will begin reaching the considerable potential the 29-year-old boxer once displayed
“I’ll show you January 19th,” Broner said.
Broner (33-3-1, 24 KOs, 1 NC) has won world titles at junior lightweight (130 pounds), lightweight (135), junior welterweight (140) and welterweight (147) during his 10-year pro career.
In his past three bouts, however, Broner barely beat Adrian Granados (20-6-2, 14 KOs, 1 NC), who lost a debatable, 10-round split decision to Broner in February 2017, suffered an indisputable, 12-round, unanimous-decision defeat to Mikey Garcia (39-0, 30 KOs) in July 2017 and boxed to a 12-round majority draw with Vargas (28-2-2, 10 KOs) on April 21.
Keith Idec is a senior writer/columnist for BoxingScene.com. He can be reached on Twitter @Idecboxing.