Boxing’s brightest star and one of the sport’s most eagerly anticipated rematches will both take center stage on Saturday, February 16 when HBO World Championship Boxing telecasts a doubleheader from Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey featuring the WBC Lightweight World Championship fight between Two-Time and Two-Division World Champion Adrien “The Problem” Broner and former World Champion Gavin “The Rock” Rees and the second showdown between heavyweights Johnathon Banks and Seth “Mayhem” Mitchell.
This event marks Golden Boy Promotions’ return to the boardwalk after a stellar card on November 17, 2012 that saw Broner capture the WBC Lightweight World Championship with an eighth round stoppage of former World Champion Antonio DeMarco and Banks scored one of the biggest upsets of the year with a second round technical knockout over previously unbeaten Mitchell.
Broner vs. Rees, a 12-round fight for Broner’s WBC Lightweight World Championship will take place Saturday, February 16 at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Â The event is promoted by Golden Boy Promotions and R&R Promotions, sponsored by Caesars Atlantic City, Corona and AT&T and will be televised live on HBO World Championship Boxing beginning at 10:30 p.m. ET/PT. Â The co-main event will be a 12-round heavyweight clash between Johnathon Banks and Seth “Mayhem” Mitchell for Banks’ NABO and WBC International Heavyweight titles.
Tickets priced at $200, $100, $50 and $25, plus applicable taxes and service charges, go on sale on Friday, January 11 at 12:00 p.m. ET and will be available for purchase at the Boardwalk Hall box office, by calling Ticketmaster at (800) 736-1420 or online at www.ticketmaster.com.
           “We’re pleased to bring fans another exciting night of boxing live from Atlantic City in the beginning of 2013,” said Golden Boy Promotions President Oscar De La Hoya. “We are witnessing the emergence of Adrien Broner as a superstar in the sport and now he faces his next test in Gavin Rees who, with his ring experience and already proven tenacity, should give Adrien a very tough fight. With Johnathon Banks vs. Seth Mitchell we are going to see if Seth can overcome defeat and disappointment and avenge his loss to Johnathon in the same ring they fought in this past November. I’m looking forward to a great night of fights and a great show.”
           “Atlantic City here we come again and it will be great to have my first fight of 2013 in the same ring and place as my last fight of 2012,” said Broner. “I see the outcome of this fight against Rees being similar to my last fight as I plan to knock him out in too. I am a two-time world champion now, feel great at this weight and can’t wait to show the world why I am the best boxing has to offer. A new year, a new era and it starts on February 16.”
 “I didn’t think twice about taking this fight,” said Rees.  “Broner is a fantastic boxer and a huge talent, but I am confident I can upset the odds on February 16th and become a Two-Division World Champion.  I’ve got the edge when it comes to experience and under my trainer Gary Lockett, I have a new lease of life.  I believe that besides DeMarco, I am the toughest opponent he’s faced and I think I will cause him plenty of trouble, especially if he underestimates what I can do.  This is a massive opportunity for me and it would be a dream come true to do it in the United States.  I am going to be putting it all on the line to make my dream a reality.” Â
           “Here we go again. Same thing, different day,” said Banks. “I’m looking forward to putting on another terrific performance for the fans in Atlantic City and those watching on HBO. I will prove again that I’m the best at what I do.”
“I’m very excited and motivated for this rematch against Johnathon Banks,” said Mitchell. “My training is going well. This is the first time I’ve been away from my family during training camp. I’m very fortunate and blessed to be back on this stage for my next fight.”
“We are excited to launch an all new season of World Championship Boxing with Adrien Broner meeting Gavin Rees in a 135-pound title showdown in Atlantic City,” said Kery Davis, senior vice president, programming, HBO Sports. “Along with the rematch between Johnathon Banks and Seth Mitchell as the opening bout in a high-stakes heavyweight fight, it is a night fight fans are going to enjoy.”