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Adrien Broner puts his WBC Lightweight title at risk against European and British champion Gavin Rees at Atlantic City’s Boardwalk Hall On February 16.
Recently, Broner and Rees spoke with members of the media concerning their upcoming clash.
Adrien Broner:
Hey, what’s going on everybody? You all know what to expect. I know I’m going against a guy who’s just exciting, 140 or something like that. I really haven’t heard too much of him, but I know he’s going to come and fight. Everybody comes to win a world title when they fight for a world title.
So, I’m going to train like I always do, like it’s the biggest night of my life. It is what it is. I’m a two time world champion, two time at the age of 23. There aren’t too many people who can say they’re a two time world champion. And we can fight today. I’ve been training. Training camp has been going well. After the DeMarco fight I was right back in the gym on Monday.
So, February 16th I want Gavin, Gavin, Gavin, like I said, I really don’t know this guy. I just want him to bring his A game because if you want to get things just right you have to bring nothing but you’re A game, so I just hope he’s ready and I hope he is in shape because it’s going to be a long night.
Gavin Rees:
It’s going to be a long night for you, Broner.
AB:
It’s going to be a hell of a night and I just want him to bring his A game and I want to thank him for taking this fight, too.
GR:
Well, thanks for keeping my belt warm.
Question:
Gavin,could you just describe your style for those who have never seen the type of fighter that you are?
GR:
I think I heard a bit of that coming forward, boxer fighter. I know it will be a great and fight that’s why I’m confident of winning.
Q:
You held the world title at 140 pounds and then a few years ago you dropped down to 135. Could you talk about what was the decision-making process to do that and do you feel that because you have had experience against bigger opponents that that set you up nicely against Adrien, who has only had one title fight in the lightweight division since he came off junior lightweight.
GR:
I was never a 140 fighter, but going down to, yeah, 135, I’ve seen no titles being offered and they offered the 140 so I obviously took it. I won that title and defend and lost it. I liked the party life so I didn’t train. Didn’t really like boxing at the time, so I knuckled down after I lost and I came down to 135 and I won at the next level.
Q
And you feel like, after seeing the way Adrien disposed of DeMarco, who at the time was considered to be maybe the number one fighter in the lightweight division, you felt like even after seeing that that you would stack up well against Adrien’s abilities?
GR:
Yeah, of course, I’m a fighter. I’m a real fighter, I’ll fight anybody. I’ll go in there to fight anybody. I know he’s a great fighter. I’m going over there to give out the fight of my life and I know it’ll be one hell of a fight. So, I’m fully confident. I’ve got a game plan, so we’ll see on the night what happens.
Q:
Adrien, question for you, when the process was going on where your promoter and your management and everything, they were looking for a good opponent for you to take on, Gavin’s name didn’t exactly come to the foreground right away. It took a little while to try to go down the list and talk about him and see if he would take the fight.
During that period of time, did you ever at that point contemplate about maybe going right up to junior welterweight to find a name that was maybe more known to the American fans?
AB:
Negative. That’s what everybody wants you to do. They’ve just seen me dominate and put on a great performance, a hell of a performance that I certainl don’t want to downgrade on my performance against the world champion, he was the world champion, DeMarco, and they want me to just automatically go up to 140.
No, I just moved up to this weight. I still make the weight eating steak and potatoes every night at training camp. I make the weight comfortably, so I’m going to stay here for a lot of good fights that I still can have at 135 pounds. So, I’m going to flush out this lightweight division and then we can go up to the light welterweight and crush their dreams. So, we’re going to stay here for a while.
Q:
You made a reference to the fact that you’ll take chances, you’ll stand and fight. And I think that’s another thing he commented on is that you’ll fight. Why do that if you have, just playing devil’s advocate, if you have the ability to not get hit, why take those chances? Is that something that is a fighter in you or is that to please the fans?
AB:
No, it’s not about the fans. It’s just different strokes for different folks. Like I said, I can still stand in front of a guy and not get hit. You don’t have to move just to not get hit. There’s a lot of certain ways, you can do certain things that you just won’t get hit and I was blessed with the talent and I can do it all.
Like I said, I can brawl like a bang, but at the end of the day, people don’t hit me much.
Q:
Hi, Gavin. You were supposed to fight somebody at the end of last year. Was it a blessing in disguise now that that didn’t work out?
GR:
Yeah, of course, the fight got called off just before Christmas and New Year and the fight is now getting confirmed and we’re in great shape and looking forward to the fight. I think Adrien is a great fighter, so we’ll both bring our A games to the table and it should be a great fight.
Q:
And I’m glad that you have no hesitation to accepting the fight, you didn’t want to get very much money or anything like that, which is surely what boxing is about for you, it will surely be your biggest fight yet.
GR:
Yeah,the guy said we’ll discuss the money. I said don’t worry about me, get in the fight. I’m a real fighter. I’ll fight anybody, like I said, I’ll go anywhere. So, the fight first, money second to me. It’s a massive fight and a massive opportunity for me so I’m looking forward to it.
Q:
You’ve had 39 fights. Do you think you’ve yet to get the recognition you deserve?
GR:
I will get it after this fight, no problem, that’s for sure.
Q:
Adrien said he hasn’t seen much of you, he doesn’t know much about you. Do you think he’ll underestimate you?
GR:
Maybe, I don’t know. I’m sure he’s got a great team going into it, so I am not worried.
Q:
Will you be doing anything different with your training? You’re staying in well?
GR:
Well, we’ve gone out about three weeks before, something like next week sometime, just sorting that out. So, it’s going well that’s about it really.
Q:
We know about Adrien’s boxing. He’s also got his own style outside the ring, brushing his hair. What do you make of all that?
GR:
I’ll brush if for him if he wants.
Q:
Adrien said he hasn’t seen much of you, he doesn’t know much about you. Do you think he’ll underestimate you?
GR:
Yeah, no challenges. I’m a better fighter than I’ve been in last two performances, my best was where I went to Paris, went over there and beat the European Champion. And back at home in my early career everyone knows I didn’t live the life of a true fighter, partying a lot and didn’t live the lifestyle and I’ve turned it round now before it’s too late.
Q:
And the fact that you’re fighting in the States, you must find that exciting, I guess, or glamorous?
GR:
Yeah, every kid’s dream, every person’s dream to box in a big show in America and fight the champion. And, obviously, a dream come true to win a title off him. He’s a great fighter, as I said, and come home victorious and be a world champion myself.
Q:
He’s said, hasn’t he, on this conference call that he doesn’t know an awful lot about you and your style. Do you think that will be an advantage to yourself?
GR:
Like I said, I’ve certainly got a great team and they can all look into it and have a game plan themselves. But, like I say, he’s a great kid so it should be a great fight.
Q:
How much do you know about how he fights?
GR:
Oh, a fair bit. There’s loads of videos. I see him box all the time, he’s always on Ringside. He’s, obviously, a very talented boy for his age, even for anybody’s age. He’s a great kid, so I’m really looking forward to the fight and just glad they’re giving me this chance to prove how good I am.
Q:
We’ve heard an awful lot, haven’t we, from these American journalists joining on this call about how this Broner guy is. From what you’ve seen, from what you’ve read how are you going to combat what he does and how are you going to beat him? I appreciate he’s listening in, by the way, so you might not want to give too much away.
GR:
I’ll just go in with my own game. And I’ll let him worry about that. He’s a tricky customer. I’m not only too daft, you know he’s clever. So, we’ve got a plan, okay, no problem.
Q:
I’m curious about the fact that you said that you don’t know an awful lot about Gavin’s style. How, between now and the evening of the fight how are you going to get acquainted with what it is that he’ll bring?
AB:
I don’t need to get acquainted with nothing he’s going to bring because whatever he brings to the table I’m going to be ready for. Like I said before I don’t watch tape of fighters. I don’t study their best move. I don’t study their best punch because at the end of the day if you got your best punch or if you’ve got your best move, all of it means nothing if you can’t land a shot.
So, my main focus is just staying sharp, staying focused and be mentally and physically prepared for this fight and I will be.
Q:
Do you think that this fight against Gavin, and everyone has been talking about how you’re the favorite, are you looking upon this as a stepping stone to bigger fights?
AB:
No fight is a stepping stone because in any fight you can be knocked out or beaten. So, like I said before I’m going to make this real clear for everybody who’s listening. Every fight I train for it like it’s the last and the biggest fight of my life, so just because I don’t know much of Gavin Rees, I really don’t know him, I don’t know him. Just because I don’t know much of him that makes him even more dangerous because I don’t know what he can bring.
I don’t know if he hits like Mike Tyson and got more speed than me. I don’t know, I just don’t know much of him. What I’m saying is whatever he brings to the table I’m going to be ready for it.
Q:
Is there, in any of what you’ve just said, a certain arrogance, the fact that you don’t know anything about the fighter you’re going to be taking on?
AB:
No, it’s not arrogance, it’s just the truth. Like I said, I’ll fight anybody. I’m here to fight anybody. Whoever comes inside that ring when it’s fight time, I put my heart on the line, I put it out on the line and I leave it all in the ring.
Q :
Gavin, have you been to the States before, vacation, recreation, anything like that or will this be your first trip?
GR:
No, I went to Las Vegas and New York to see Hopkins and Jones.
Q :
Oh, so you’re somewhat familiar with the travel. You think that shouldn’t be any issue for you at all?
GR:
No, that’s okay. I’ll be out three weeks before, two and a half, three weeks before, something like that so I’ll be acclimatizing already.
Q:
Gavin, When you hear Adrien say that he might stand and fight you what do you think of that? Is that better for you? Does it make a difference?
GR:
It’s whatever he brings to the table and I’ve got the same, too. I’ve got a great guard and fast hand, so I have seen a lot of videos and things like that so he might not admit it now, but they know what they’re doing.
Q:
Going into his last fight, DeMarco, by a lot of us, was perceived to be the best lightweight before Adrien beat him; what do you think, did he do anything wrong or was Adrien just that much better than him in every possible way? Is there anything you can capitalize on?
GR:
Loads of them after he lost. What I would say he was in for a great fight, put on a great display, and he beat him easily. Surely won’t be doing that. You’ll see me on the 16th and put my name on the world map when I become two weight world champion. Thanks very much.
AB:
All right, Gavin, welcome to America. Train hard, man.
GR:
You too.
AB:
You can come and watch training camp. I’ll help you out.
GR:
I’ll be over tomorrow.
AB:
Okay. I’ll see you in February
