by David P. Greisman

In one breath, promoter Gary Shaw praised his own fighter, Antonio DeMarco, as “the Mexican Arturo Gatti.” In the next, he complimented the boxer who had just defeated DeMarco handily, comparing Adrien Broner to another great boxer who had destroyed Gatti seven years ago.

“I think Antonio DeMarco fought the best 135-pounder that I’ve seen of recent times in Adrien Broner, and if the press isn’t ready, I will crown him the next Floyd Mayweather. He’s that good,” Shaw said at the post-fight press conference in Atlantic City.

“He has the total game: the shoulder roll, his defense, his offense,” Shaw said. “I know Antonio DeMarco can really bang, and he stood in there and Broner took everything he gave him.”

Shaw then turned to what will come next for DeMarco.

“We’ve lost together. We’ve won world titles together. We’ve lost tonight together as a team, and we’ll all come back together,” Shaw said. “He’s got a huge heart. He’s what every Mexican fighter stands for.

“We haven’t spoken as a team tonight, so I don’t know if we’ll come back at 135 or if we’ll come back at 140, but that’s a decision that … the rest of the team will discuss, and then get back with us and we’ll make a decision.”

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