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by David P. Greisman - For years Adrien Broner’s interviews have been an opportunity for him to utter lines and jokes that were rehearsed and would then be rehashed. They were an extension of his exhibitionism, a platform for a playful personality, a manner of making those who already loved him smile and nod while those who already hated him grimaced and shook their heads. He excited and incited.
Part of that shtick involved turning his initials into abbreviations. He was always ballin’ and about billions. His opponents got ass beatings. But before his most recent fight that got toned down. He was about boxing, he said, and about business.
That was on the rare occasion when he spoke publicly before his fight this past Saturday against Khabib Allakhverdiev — talking to Showtime contributor Mark Kriegel in front of the network’s cameras for its YouTube channel ahead of a bout it was broadcasting, and then with in-house reporter Jim Gray in a locker room interview on the night of the fight.
“One reason I didn’t do any interviews is because I had nothing to say,” Broner told Kriegel. “All I got to do is prove what I do inside the ring — that I can be the four-time world champion in four different weight classes, that I am going to be the four-time world champion in four different weight classes.”
This wasn’t isolation meant for concentration and motivation, however. In reality, it was a petulant reaction to an article written by notable boxing writer Dan Rafael on the ESPN website. Rafael had criticized Broner vs. Allakhverdiev being for a vacant world title when that belt, in his opinion, rightly should’ve been awarded to another boxer. Broner took it personally. [Click Here To Read More]
Part of that shtick involved turning his initials into abbreviations. He was always ballin’ and about billions. His opponents got ass beatings. But before his most recent fight that got toned down. He was about boxing, he said, and about business.
That was on the rare occasion when he spoke publicly before his fight this past Saturday against Khabib Allakhverdiev — talking to Showtime contributor Mark Kriegel in front of the network’s cameras for its YouTube channel ahead of a bout it was broadcasting, and then with in-house reporter Jim Gray in a locker room interview on the night of the fight.
“One reason I didn’t do any interviews is because I had nothing to say,” Broner told Kriegel. “All I got to do is prove what I do inside the ring — that I can be the four-time world champion in four different weight classes, that I am going to be the four-time world champion in four different weight classes.”
This wasn’t isolation meant for concentration and motivation, however. In reality, it was a petulant reaction to an article written by notable boxing writer Dan Rafael on the ESPN website. Rafael had criticized Broner vs. Allakhverdiev being for a vacant world title when that belt, in his opinion, rightly should’ve been awarded to another boxer. Broner took it personally. [Click Here To Read More]
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