By Allan Fox: Adrien ‘The Problem’ Broner says he turned down an offer from Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn out of loyalty for the management that he was with.
Had Broner signed with Hearn, he would have expected him to fight quality opposition, and he wouldn’t have given him a blank check to face subpar fighters over and over to preserve his career.
Broner (34-4-1, 24 KOs) is now with BLK Prime for the next year after being given a monstrous $10 million+, three-fight, 12-month deal with them recently.
BLK prime is letting former four-division world champion Broner take a tune-up against Ivan Redkach (23-6-1, 18 KOs) on February 25th on pay-per-view in Atlanta.
After that fight, the 33-year-old Broner will decide whether to take a solid opponent or stick at the same level he’s been fighting at recently with the Redkach and Jovanie Santiago-level opposition.
Recently, Broner had talked of wanting to challenge WBC light welterweight champion Regis Prograis next if he successfully beats Redkach, but AB has since gone quiet about that idea.
That suggests that Broner is going to aim lower, possibly try and catch Ryan Garcia with him coming off a likely knockout loss to Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis or the struggling Teofimo Lopez.
BLK Prime will probably want Broner to face a well-known fighter in the second fight of his three-fight contract with them because his match with Redkach is expected to bring in poor PPV numbers.
“It really don’t be about the money because, in boxing, it’s about your relationships with the higher-ups,” said Adrien Broner to Round Da Way podcast when asked why he turned down the deal from Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn.
“Some people be so deep in with a mother f***er. Even though the money be so [good], you just can’t go over there. It’s loyalty, but there comes a time where, ‘Look, bro. They’re talking about giving me this. If you’re not talking about giving me this, then I got to go over there and get the money.’
“So what everybody just seen me do was like, ‘Hey, Al [Haymon], I f**k with you. Stephen Espinoza, I love you to death, and I always will.’ I talk to Al damn near every day still, but ‘I gots to go get this money. I got to get this money [at BLK Prime],’ and that’s what I did.
“We’re right here at BLK Prime. I think BLK Prime is going to be around for a long time, and I’m not just saying that because I’m with them. I’m saying that because of what’s going on in the world right now.
“A lot of people and a lot of these boxers don’t see what boxing is changing into and how the game is changing. BLK Prime was ahead of the game, and I think they’re going to be a big deal in boxing.
“That s**t was sold out too,” said Broner about the BLK Prime event between Terence Crawford and David Avanesyan on December 10th. “They did good numbers; they did some good numbers too.
“Honestly, I think it’s going to happen,” said Broner about the Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis vs. Ryan Garcia fight. “Should it have happened earlier, I don’t know, but I think it’s eventually going to happen. The Terence Crawford and Errol Spence is going to happen too.
“Hey,” said Broner when asked if the Spence vs. Crawford fight will take place on BLK Prime. “Errol is going to do what he feels is best for his career. I got personal relations with both of them. I’ve close to Errol and I’m close to Terence, but, of course, I’m closer to Errol.
“Whatever he [Spence] decides, I’m with him. I believe it’s going to happen. I think there’s a good chance it can happen. Me and Terence are like this. We talk, we talk. He know. I can’t fake it just like Shakur.
“I saw Shakur at the Crawford fight. ‘I know you’re on Tank’s side, but I’m going to smoke Tank, I’m going to beat Tank.’ I’m like, ‘What you want to bet?’
“He be like, ‘We can bet whatever,’ and I said, ‘I’m betting whatever.’ I respect Shakur because he’s like, ‘I just believe in myself. I believe in myself, and I know you’re with your man, so we’re going to bet.’
“It’s no real beef because we all know each other. We all love each other. We all grew up together. This s**t is boxing. We’re getting paid a bunch of money to fight each other.
“If we were all in the same tournament, we would all be fighting each other. That’s the craziest s**t. We all would be fighting each other for free for a rank. To get ranked 1, 2, or 3. Come on, man. The only difference now is we’re getting paid.
“Every fighter in this s**t, we all respect each other. It ain’t no real hate. There’s no real hate, just like Ryan [Garcia]. They all call me. He called me not too long ago. Ryan was like, ‘I know, I know, you’re going to walk out with your brother [Gervonta Davis], but he’s not going to beat me, AB. I love you, I respect you.’
“I’m like, ‘You’re not going to beat Tank.’ Listen, everybody got a chance. This is boxing, but I don’t think he [Ryan] got a [chance]. Tank is different, bro, and when you put better opposition in front of him, he goes to another level.
“A lot of people don’t see that because they just see him knocking people out, but he’s really got skill. He’s a real skillful dude, honestly.
“In this boxing s**t, you’ve got to take it one fight at a time,” said Broner when asked who he plans on fighting after his February 25th clash against Ivan Redkach on BLK Prime from Atlanta.
“My only thing I’m worrying about right now is Redkach. That’s all I’m worrying about. All I’m worrying about is Buddy, and after I f**k him up,” said Broner without answering the question.