At the final press conference to promote their bout this Saturday in Las Vegas, Nevada, Shawn Porter(25-1-1, 16KO’s) and Adrien Broner(30-1-0, 22KO’s) went face to face for the flashing cameras, drumming up even more excitement for one of the more anticipated fights of an already action-packed year of boxing.
Prior to the presser, Porter had been very vocal in his criticism of Broner and his team. They imposed a 144.lb. catchweight limit on this contest, as well as a stipulation that prohibits the participants from putting on more than ten pounds after the weigh-in has finished. This favors the naturally smaller Broner and has been common knowledge for as long as the fight has been signed. Broner’s refusal to talk about it has irked Porter who feels all cards should be laid flat on the table if you ask for special treatment.
At yesterday’s press conference, a retorting Broner was the more vocal of the two at their latest meeting. He reinforced his reputation as the sport’s foremost propagator of crass opulence by ridiculing how Porter handles his finances and his relationship with father and trainer Ken Porter.
“I’m fighting Shawn Porter and I’m fighting his dad. It’s like I’m fighting his dad because the cheque comes in his dad’s name, then he pays Shawn.”
“Since both Shawn and his dad get a check, if I whoop both of them, will I get paid twice? I like Shawn as a person, but he gets so much negative energy from his dad. That’s just the truth.”
“After I whoop you, Shawn, come sign with About Billions and I’ll buy you a nicer car than your dad. I already wrote out the contract.”
Broner’s brand of verbal attack is reminiscent of his mentor and ‘big bro’ Floyd Mayweather, who has known to be cutting with his words as he is with his straight right hand. Broner’s is less believable, however, as he cannot walk the pursuing cameras into his own jet hangar, and his record does not match his slurs.
Broner’s reference to Ken Porter and his management of his son’s career sound like a grasping attempt to irritate, though how effective they were is impossible to tell.
In all fairness, the comments were not offensive, just brash and off-putting. Those who remember the build-up to Broner’s 2013 clash with Paulie Malignaggi know how personal things can get when two excitable trash-talkers are let loose against each other.
There was little chance of Porter and Broner going as far due to their familiarity with one another; they hail from the same state of Ohio and toured the amateur circuit together as promising youths.
The restraint Broner has shown as this fight approaches speaks to an underlying respect between the two, but the Cincinnati man still rules out any chance of defeat at the hands of his Cleveland cousin.
“This is going to be a great fight. I’m very excited because I love putting on a show for the fans. This boy will not beat me.”
“I’m coming to deliver a beat down. Shawn Porter is a football player, I’m going to take him out. It’s going to be fun.”
