By Scott Gilfoid: WBC lightweight champion Adrien Broner (25-0, 21 KO’s) has let everyone know exactly how he feels about his over-matched opponent Gavin Rees (37-1-1, 18 KO’s) by pretending he doesn’t know his name.
In other words, Rees is so badly out of his class in this fight that Broner won’t even bother to mention his name. That’s more of a message to Broner’s promoters at Golden Boy then it is about Rees. I mean, they’re the ones that set up this horrendous mismatch in the first place.
By Scott Gilfoid: Sky Sports analyst Jim Watt believes Gavin Rees (37-1-1, 18 KO’s) is capable of giving WBC lightweight champion Adrien Broner (25-0, 21 KO’s) problems on Saturday night in their HBO televised fight from Atlantic City, New Jersey. Watt thinks Rees is good at dealing with bigger fighters, and giving them problems with his heavy pressure. Rees and Broner are both the same size in this fight at 5’7”.
Watt said to Sky Sports “He [Rees] has a style that would give smooth boxers problems, as smooth boxers like to do things at their own pace. Fighters like Floyd Mayweather Jr. don’t like pressure. Rees can at least give Broner a real test and create some problems.”
(Rich Kane – Hoganphotos/Golden Boy Promotions) By Scott Gilfoid: Eddie Hearn, the promoter for the BADLY over-matched Welsh fighter Gavin Rees (37-1-1, 18 KO’s), sees Rees coming out of his fight this Saturday night against WBC lightweight champion Adrien Broner (25-0, 21 KO’s) smelling like a rose.
Hearn actually believes Rees is going to be invited back by HBO to be televised even if he loses to Broner. Hearn thinks Rees is going to give Broner so many problems that he’ll come out of the fight winning over HBO and many American boxing fans with his fighting style.
(Rich Kane – Hoganphotos/Golden Boy Promotions) Adrien Broner has to be respected, his style in the ring is top notch. The defensive style he uses with the speed and power behind it is a joy to watch. The “new Mayweather” even boxes like the pretty boy and tries to talk like him outside the ring. So far in his career he has 25 fights with 21 knock-outs and no losses.
In most of his fights he has decided what pace to use and when to step it up, he often decides in which round he will knock his opponent out. No one has really tested this young boxer and taken his skills to the limit.
(Rich Kane – Hoganphotos/Golden Boy Promotions) By Scott Gilfoid: In today’s press conference with challenger Gavin Rees (37-1-1, 18 KO’s), WBC lightweight champion Adrien Broner (25-0, 21 KO’s) took opportunity to vent his frustrations at WBO lightweight champion Ricky Burns for him choosing not to fight him recently when Broner’s promoters at Golden Boy Promotions tried to put the fight together between them.
Burns chose not to take the fight, and Broner was then forced to settle for Rees. That was a big letdown for Broner because he’s been trying to get a fight against Rees since 2011, and he’s had zero luck in the two times he tried to make the fight.
Broner said “I wanted to fight Ricky Burns, but he put on his track shoes and ran again. [He] went for another lap. He ran away from me again. I’m just ready to fight whoever. I just want everybody to put on their glasses because I’m going I’m shining [on Saturday night]. I’m going to shine, so be ready.”
(Photo credit: Rich Kane – Hoganphotos/Golden Boy Promotions) By Scott Gilfoid: To show how little he thinks of his opponent Gavin Rees (37-1-1, 18 KO’s) for this Saturday night, WBC lightweight champion Adrien Broner (25-0, 21 KO’s) pretended not to know his name during their press conference today. Broner even took Rees’ chair, forcing him to move to the other side of the podium.
Broner said “I’m 23, young and gifted. I respect Cabbage Reef; what’s your name – Cabin Fever? I don’t know, I don’t know his name, but I respect him. But at the end of the day training camp was fun. I don’t watch no tape, I never saw him fight before. I can say I heard he was a world champion at light welterweight. He’s going to sleep [on Saturday night]. I’m not going to miss that boulder on his shoulders.
By Scott Gilfoid: Gavin Rees (37-1-1, 18 KO’s) has reportedly said that he won’t stand in front of WBC lightweight champion Adrien Broner (25-0, 21 KO’s) on Saturday night to make things easier on him. Rees understand that it’s not the wisest thing to try and trade with the hard hitting Broner for 12 rounds, so he’s going to attempt to box and then look for opportunities to come in and land his big shots.
It’s not exactly new for Broner to be facing an opponent that uses an in and out attack like the one that Rees will be employing on Saturday in Atlantic City, New Jersey. However, what could be a new experience for Broner is for him be dealing with someone that might actually be doing more running than fighting in the 32-year-old Rees. It’s going to be tough for Rees to be able to move for the entire 12 rounds because he’s never been a pure runner.
(Rich Kane – Hoganphotos/Golden Boy Promotions) By Scott Gilfoid: Mathchroom Sport promoter Eddie Hearn thinks Gavin Rees (37-1-1, 18 KO’s) can pull off an upset on Saturday night against WBC lightweight champion Adrien Broner (25-0, 21 KO’s) by not making the same mistakes as former WBC 135 lb. champion Antonio DeMarco did in losing to Broner last November by an 8th round knockout. DeMarco stood in front of Broner, and Hearn and Rees both think this was the wrong way to fight Broner.
Hearn said to Sky Sports “I’m excited and I think he’s going to do alright…I think he’s got a great chance, I really do…I think Gav will get the tactics right…”It’s a no risk fight. So what if he loses on HBO having put up a good account of himself…He’s [Rees] difficult to hit, and I think his lack of size might help him.”
By Scott Gilfoid: Welsh fighter Gavin Rees (37-1-1, 18 KO’s) will be the visiting fighter on Saturday night against heavy favorite WBC lightweight champion Adrien Broner (25-0, 21 KO’s) at the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
Some boxing fans have already branded the 32-year-old Rees as the sacrificial lamb for Broner to slaughter on HBO in front of the entire United States. I think Rees is a little better than a lamb, but he’s pretty much up against it in this fight. Rees is going to have to raise his game a huge amount for him to even stay in there fir Broner for a few rounds.
I mean, this fight is a dreadful mismatch, but you’ve got to thank Golden Boy Promotions for that because they’re the ones that made the fight.
By Chip Lewis: Gavin Rees (37-1-1, 18 KO’s) will be looking to upset the odds on Saturday against WBC lightweight champion Adrien Broner (25-0, 21 KO’s). Rees, 32, isn’t phased by the fact that he’s a big underdog in this fight because he’s confident in his skills and he has a good game plan to try and neutralize the things that Broner does in the ring.
Rees said “We’ll put on a good show on the 16th of February and cause a massive upset. Adrien’s a great fighter and I can’t wait for the meet.”
One of the things that Rees plans on doing is avoiding the trap falls that Broner’s previous opponent Antonio DeMarco made against him last November in losing by an 8th round knockout.