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Broner Wins in Front of Hometown
By: Jose Santna Jr
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CINCINNATI, Ohio � Adrien "The Problem� Broner became the next world champion from Cincinnati on Saturday joining Ezzard Charles and Aaron Pryor among others. In front of his hometown crowd at the U.S. Bank Arena, Broner won the vacant WBO super featherweight title by third round knockout over Argentina's Martin Vicente Rodriguez.
Rodriguez, 34-3-1 (19 KOs), was not the toughest challenge of the young Broner's career, but certainly put forth a short, but respectable effort. After a first round that highlighted Broner's speed, the second showed his defensive ability as Rodriguez pressured. While Broner appeared more than willing to pick-off and roll with punches, Rodriguez forced him to do so with a high output that may have helped him take the round.
It was the third round however where Broner showed his power hurting Rodriguez with a right-uppercut and finishing him against the ropes with a series of punches � the finishing blow a counter left-hook that sat Rodriguez on the mat into a daze.
The 22-year-old Broner improved to 22-0 (18). Rodriguez was the WBO No. 6 contender (Broner No. 1) to the title vacated by former champion Ricky Burns. The official time of the ending was at 1:43 of the third.
So early in his career, Broner still has a way to go to match up to the past champions of gritty boxing town Cincinnati, but "Queen City� promoters R&R Promotions, who presented the card in association with Golden Boy Promotions, have helped guide him well up to this point with this fight being the fourth of the year for Broner.
In the undercard, upcoming Washington D.C. featherweight Gary Russell Jr. flattened Mexico's Heriberto Ruiz in the first round with a counter right-hook that laid Ruiz out on the mat, immediately ending the bout. Russell, 23, a 2008 Olympian, improved to 19-0 (11) while Ruiz, 34, fell to 47-12-2 (29).
Another 2008 Olympian, Deontay Wilder, 23, of Tuscaloosa, Ala., picked up the 20th win of his undefeated career with a first round knockout of Cincinnati's David Long. The heavyweight bout ended at 1:17 of the round. Long's record fell to 11-2-2 (7) with the loss.
In a six-round light welterweight battle of undefeateds, Juan Garcia of Holland, Mich., decisioned William Jackson of Cincinnati. Garcia, 29, improved his record to 10-0 (7) while Jackson, 22, earned his first loss to become 10-1-1 (5). The judges' scores were 59-55 twice and 58-56.
In his professional debut, 2011 U.S. amateur national champion middleweight Chris Pearson of Trotwood, Ohio, made quick work of Jacksonville's Steven Chadwick (0-2) stopping him at 1:42 of the first round. Pearson made his debut after an amateur run that saw him fall just short of making the 2012 U.S. Olympic team.
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Adrien Broner: Can "The Problem" Pass His Toughest Test Yet?
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By Gabriel Montoya
Thu 3-Mar-2011 12:51
While message boards and Twitter are all aflutter about Saul Alvarez and Jose Sulaiman and the magical world of vacant belts, a badass fight of a co-feature is going down this Saturday night at the Honda Center in Anaheim, CA. Maywood Boxing Club stalwart (by way of Mexico) and number one featherweight in the world, Daniel Ponce de Leon, looks to defend Southern California’s honor by solving lightweight Adrien “The Problem” Broner. They will meet at the crossroads of 130 pounds to see who goes up and who goes down.
Broner is a 5’7”, 21-year-old, right-handed prodigy with a shades of Roy Jones but with foundations of Pernell Whitaker, a kid with all the talent and a lot of the tools to become a world titleholder and eventually a champion.
To date, the kid they call “The Problem” has been nothing but that to his opposition, stopping 16 of his 19 opponents. The downside of that is that despite 300-plus amateur fights, Broner only has 60 pro rounds under his belt and has only gone as deep as eight rounds en route to decision.
“I’m not nervous about that,” Broner told Maxboxing.com, Wednesday night. “That kind of runs in my family because I get stronger as the rounds go on; that’s what I want. I want to take somebody into deep water and beat on him more.”
“This is obviously a step up for Adrien,” conceded Broner’s co-promoter, R&R Promotions’ Andrew Williams. “[Broner] was welcoming to it. Golden Boy as his co-promoter and some of the other people on his team felt this was a big step up and a tough fight. But I think we feed off Adrien’s energy and always ask his opinion. His opinion immediately was that he’d like to take the fight. He thought he was ready for the fight, that this fight would introduce him to the world on a big stage. He feels that it is his time, so he was comfortable that it was right now.”
Ponce de Leon is 30 years old, 5’5” and slow but a battle-tested southpaw nonetheless. Despite having lighting and thunder in either hand, he was annihilated in one round against Juan Manuel Lopez back in 2008. Since that fall from title beltholding grace, Ponce has retooled his style while rattling off seven wins in a row. The last four, including a spectacular third round KO victory over of Antonio Escalante last year, have shown growth in his technique and patience in his game that makes him incredibly dangerous now. At 30, Ponce de Leon could be peaking.
Broner has only been scheduled to go ten rounds three times, resulting in a first round TKO win over 11-2 Rafael Lora, a six round technical decision over 10-4-3 Carlos Claudio, and a second round stoppage against 11-1-1 Guillermo Sanchez. On the other side, Ponce has 200 rounds under belt and has only lost only twice in 43 fights. 34 of his opponents have not seen the end of the scheduled rounds.
That said, neither Ponce’s experience nor recent win streak have Broner worried at all.
“Negative,” answered Broner. “I give him all respect but I’m going to do what I have to do to get the victory.”
“I mean the kid is in tremendous shape,” said Williams. “For every fight, he has been in shape for the rounds required. It’s the opponent just don’t make it.” He laughed. “You know what I mean. He’s prepared. If it was to go ten, we’ve been scheduled to go ten several times. It’s just the opponent couldn’t make those rounds. I don’t think he can last ten rounds with Adrien.”
Scouting his opponents is part of Broner’s job description as well. Williams knows he has a natural-born fighter on his hands and he trusts Broner’s hunter instinct. For each fight, Broner takes a look at the opponent and decides. This one was a no-brainer for the confident young man. I couldn’t tell if Broner was joking or not (and he wasn’t telling) when I asked if he had watched any tape of Ponce de Leon to prepare and what he saw.
“I tried to watch him but, frankly, he bores me,” said a deadpan Broner.
So much for the fighter breakdown.
“I can’t say the game plan but you’ll see when I get into the ring,” promised Broner. “I think I am overall the better fighter. I feel like I was ready a few fights ago.”
“I personally thought we could wait but he convinced me that he is ready,” added Williams. “The kid is not as green as everyone thinks he is. This is probably his 340th fight. He’s been fighting since he was six years old. They talk about inexperience; it’s understood from the opposition at the pro level. But 340 fights…I think he’s more than ready for this challenge.”
Conventional wisdom says that youth, speed and size will win out. While Ponce de Leon’s style might play right into his strengths, Broner isn’t looking at things quite that simply.
“Somewhat but it’s what I make of it,” said Broner. “I can make it hard or I can make it real easy. I think I want to make it really easy.”
How easy?
“Don’t go get popcorn when I get in the ring,” Broner laughed. “Do not go to the concession stand.”
As I delved further into the style of De Leon and offered it might be tailor-made in some ways for him, I suggested that it might take a fighter like Broner himself to beat him, someone fast, strong and perhaps bigger.
“I don’t think a guy like me can beat me. I think I’d beat myself,” joked Broner.
“They asked that question in Cincinnati.” Williams laughed. “’What would you do if you were fighting Adrien Broner?’ Adrien said, ‘I would take another fight.’”
While some may not see the Honda Center as the big stage, I should mention the fight is the co-feature to the aforementioned “Canelo” vs. Hatton junior middleweight fight broadcast Saturday on HBO’s “Boxing After Dark.” The card also features the return of the ferocious James Kirkland as well as middleweight contender Daniel Jacobs. While those fights are tilted toward the comebacking Kirkland and the rebuilding Jacobs, who is having his first fight under Freddie Roach, Broner is taking on a legitimate challenge. The power Ponce de Leon possesses is very real. With their styles and knockout artist mentalities, this is going to be a very entertaining fight. Dazzling in front of a big L.A. boxing crowd could go a long way to expanding beyond Broner’s healthy Cincinnati fanbase. Broner and Williams have rightly jumped at the chance to steal a future star-studded fight card in impressive fashion.
“Adrien convinced me that it was time,” said Williams. “We think boxing was to a point where the fights weren’t there. The right people weren’t fighting each other, weren’t taking challenges or have a hyped-up mystique where guys are fighting and the level of competition is not there. So you have to congratulate him for urging us to take the opportunity. He said, ‘I want the fight.’ These fights they are approving, those are fights we can get anytime. Let’s make this transition to the next level and the fights to be able to do it in. The kid is intelligent and this is what he came to me with. Logically, it became easy for me, once he put it out there and I thought about how talented he is. It wasn’t a question of the other guy or him being confident or if he could set him up and knock him down. Nobody at 130 pounds that can touch this kid. I know that is an aggressive thing to say but that is really how we feel.”
“It’s definitely my time,” said Broner. “Now it’s time to put all the cookies in the bag and let’s go.”
You can email Gabriel at maxgmontoya@gmail.com, follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/gabriel_montoya and catch him on each Monday’s episode of “The Next Round” with Steve Kim or tune into him live on Thursdays at 5-8 PM PST when he co-hosts the BlogTalk radio show Leave-It-In-The-Ring.com. Gabriel is a full member of the Boxing Writers Association of America.
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Adrien Broner to Accompany De La Hoya On His Vist to U.S. Troops
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Golden Boy Promotions founder and boxing legend Oscar de la Hoya announced via a press release that he will visit U.S. troops next winter on a week-long USO tour to the Middle East.
De La Hoya will be taking along other fighters in his stable such as Adrien Broner, Danny Jacobs and Seth Mitchell.
Due to security reasons, the countries and tour dates were not released.
(fighthubtv.com)
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USA Boxing to Hold the Historic Last Chance Qualifier, July 4-9, in Cincinnati, Ohio
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THE NATIONAL GOVERNING BODY FOR OLYMPIC-STYLE BOXING
USA BOXING NEWS
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DATE: February 23, 2011
CONTACT: Julie Goldsticker
(720-542-9690) or
julie@goldstickerpr.com
(COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO.) – Elite Olympic-style boxing will return to Cincinnati, Ohio, July 4-9, for a key stop on the road to the 2012 Olympic Games in London, the Last Chance Qualifier. The tournament will provide a final opportunity for all of the male Olympic hopefuls who have not previously qualified for the U.S. Olympic Team Trials for Boxing. USA Boxing will once again work with Cincinnati’s R & R Promotions to put on a first-class event. The week of exciting Olympic-style boxing action will take place at the Taft Masonic Center.
“The Last Chance Qualifier will be one of the most exciting tournaments we host this year,” USA Boxing Executive Director Anthony Bartkowski said. “The stakes couldn’t’ be any higher with the final 10 Olympic Trials berths on the line. Cincinnati is the perfect host city for an event of this caliber. Andrew Williams and the R & R Promotions’ team have put on several top-notch events over the past few years and this tournament will be no different.”
In the past, USA Boxing has held multiple open qualifying tournaments, broken up by geographical region to determine the final U.S. Olympic Team Trials slots, but will hold only the Last Chance Qualifier as a final opportunity for hundreds of Olympic hopefuls throughout the United States in 2011. The open tournament will showcase high-level Olympic-style boxing action and tremendous drama as hundreds of male boxers chase their dreams of competing in London.
Cincinnati has played host to several key USA Boxing events over the past several years, including the Midwestern Trials in 2007 and the 2010 Under 19 National Championships in February of 2010. The city enjoys an outstanding boxing history with seven Cincinnati boxers competing in the Olympic Games over the past 20 years. The Queen City’s own Rau’shee Warren is currently seeking his own spot in the record books by becoming the first U.S. boxer in history by competing in three Olympic Games.
"R&R Promotions is excited that USA Boxing has chosen to return to Cincinnati for a key stop in the qualifying process,” R&R Promotions CEO Andrew Williams said. “We look forward to showcasing the city’s tremendous boxing heritage and are hopeful that our own back-to-back Olympian Rau’shee Warren will earn his third Olympic appearance and showcase the boxing talent we have here in Cincinnati."
U.S. Olympic Team Trials for Men’s Boxing qualifying began at the 2010 National PAL Championships and will include victors from the Armed Forces Championships, National Golden Gloves Championships, the top four finishers from the USA Boxing National Championships as well as the Last Chance Qualifier champions.
While women’s boxing will make its Olympic debut in 2012, the Last Chance Qualifier tournament will feature solely men’s boxing due to the differing Olympic qualification schedules. As women’s international qualifying will not begin until the Spring of 2012, the U.S. Olympic Team Trials for women’s boxing are slated to take place in early 2012.
Full Last Chance Qualifier schedule and ticket information as well as competitor lists will be released over the summer.
USA Boxing, as the national governing body for Olympic-style boxing, is the United States’ member organization of the International Amateur Boxing Association (AIBA) and a member of the United States Olympic Committee (USOC).
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Dan Rafael of ESPN.COM speaks of Adrien "The Problem" Broner
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By Dan Rafael
ESPN.com
Next:
March 5 vs. Broner.
Mexico's Ponce De Leon, (41-2) a former junior featherweight titlist, is the mandatory challenger for Lopez, who owns a 2008 first-round knockout against him. But Lopez isn't planning to purse the bout. Instead, he's headed up to junior lightweight to meet 21-year-old blue-chip prospect Adrien Broner (19-0) on the HBO-televised undercard of the Saul Alvarez-Matthew Hatton fight. Ponce De Leon-Broner is a fascinating fight.
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Dan Rafael of ESPN.COM comments on Broner's WSB NBC Lightweight win
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By Dan Rafael
ESPN.com
Records:
Broner, 19-0, 16 KOs;
Revish, 10-2-2, 8 KOs
Rafael's remark: The flashy, fast and confident Broner -- nicknamed "The Problem" -- was way too much for Revish, making him quit after the first lopsided round for his 10th consecutive knockout. Broner, 21, is one of Golden Boy's many prospects and one of the best young talents in boxing. Fighting in his hometown, Broner aimed to put on a show. After being carried to the ring dressed as a Roman gladiator, Broner sent Revish, 26, of Baton Rouge, La., reeling from a left hand to the head early in the round. Moments later, he dropped Revish with another left hand. Broner has a lot of hot dog in him. While the referee was counting, he strutted and danced for the crowd. Through the rest of the fight Broner showboated, bolo punched and played to the crowd while ripping Revish with shots until he had had enough and quit in his corner after the round.
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Undefeated lightweight Adrien “The Problem” Broner mesmerized the audience
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On the under card of the Zab Judah vs Lucas Martin Matthysse event Undefeated lightweight Adrien “The Problem” Broner (17 wins – 0 losses – 0 draws –14 kos) of Cincinnati, Ohio mesmerized the audience with his fast hands and fancy footwork, dropping Ilido Julio (40 wins – 19 losses – 1 draw – 35 kos) of Miami, Florida twice in the opening stanza with left hooks, stopping him at 1:34 of the round. Forever the showman, Broner celebrated by dancing—doing his version of “The Dougie” capped off by a back-flip. It is a pity that his bout wasn’t televised because the exciting Broner is made for television. (Fightkings.com)
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R&R is Fighting Again in Downtown Cincinnati
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Saturday November 27, 2010, R&R Promotions is proud to present Gladiators at the Taft Masonic Theater located in Downtown Cincinnati Ohio.
This exciting night will feature Cincinnati's undefeated as well as up and coming fighters.
Featured as the Main Event, ADRIEN "THE PROBLEM" BRONER is just returning to the Queen City after his 1:34 knockout in the first round of Llidio Julio (40-19, 35 KO's) on HBO's Boxing after Dark. Broner has now improved his undefeated record to 18-0 with 15 KO's.
The Co-Main event will feature Ohio State's Super Featherweight Champion, BRANDON "UNTOUCHABLE" BENNETT (11-0, 6 KO's). This southpaw will give the fans a reason to get up on their feet.
The Ohio State Welterweight Champion, undefeated
WILLIAM "ACTION" JACKSON (8-0, 5 KO's), will compete in an 8 round bout to defend his Ohio State Welter Weight Title.
DAVID "DAE-DAE" LONG (10-1, 7 KO's) will be fighting in a 6 round heavyweight bout. The crowd will be rooting for a KO when Dae-Dae enters the ring.
Also featuring outstanding Cincinnati's newcomer, Devonte Allen who is undefeated with a record of 1-0. Devonte will be in a 4 round super featherweight bout.
WILL CLEMONS, of Dayton Ohio, will make his pro debut on this card in a 4 round super welter weight bout.
The official Weigh In for Title Fights and Press Conference will be Saturday November 27, 2010 at the Masonic Center in downtown Cincinnati at 10 am.
Doors open at 7 pm first bell is at 8 pm, see you ringside!!
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Before the first bell rang Saturday night, Cincinnati boxing prospect Adrien Broner exhibited a ring entrance befitting a champion. Shortly after the final bell tolled, he had the hardware to go with it.
Broner, 20, fighting for the WBC youth intercontinental super featherweight title, spent the moments prior to the fight hidden atop a cherry picker in the Taft Theatre rafters.
While he waited to be announced, his 14-man entourage filled the ring to his entrance music and a pair of big screens replayed his greatest hits. Finally, Broner, donning a Reds baseball cap and red, white and blue satin robe, was lowered to ringside.
The entire production offered almost as much drama as the main event itself.
Broner (17-0, 14 KOs) dominated Puerto Rico’s Carlos Claudio (10-5), taking the title via a seventh-round TKO.
“It feels good,” Broner said. “It’s always been one of my goals to win a pro title. Now that I’ve got one, I want to win a world title.”
The South Fairmount native carried the early rounds easily, due mostly to an effective left hook. By the fourth round he was hooking off a stiff jab. By the fifth, when he scored the fight’s first knockdown, he was mixing in a straight right and landing combinations from all angles.
Between the seventh and eighth rounds, Claudio quit on his stool.
After spending most of his two-year pro career at lightweight, the fight was Broner’s first at 130 pounds.
"I feel good at 130,” Broner said. “Really, I’ve kind of been 130, we’ve just been waiting for the right fight to actually go 130 officially."
Broner, who is signed to Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions, has won his last seven fights by knockout.
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Local welterweight William Jackson
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Local welterweight William Jackson, who recently won the Ohio state title, won a majority decision over Ashantie Hendrickson (2-9) in a non-title fight. With the victory, Jackson improved to 8-0 with five knockouts.
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Cincinnati Heavyweight David Long
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Cincinnati heavyweight David Long put an exclamation point on the undercard, scoring a third-round knockout of Kelsey Arnold (Lexington, Tenn.). The fight came just 15 months after the two fought to a draw at U.S. Bank Arena.
Saturday's rematch was different right from the start. Long hurt Arnold (4-5) with a first-round left hook to the body, staggered and bloodied him a the end of the second round and knocked him out with an overhand right at the 1:06 mark of the third round. The victory improved Long's record to 10-1 with seven knockouts.
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Upset Joseph Judah
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Previously on the five-fight card, Trenton Titsworth (3-6) of Omaha, Neb. upset Joseph Judah (5-1) of Brooklyn, N.Y. in a four-round welterweight bout. Judah, the brother of former two-division champion Zab Judah, scored a third-round knockdown but still lost a unanimous decision. Tennessee native Chris Howard (11-0) then beat Roberto Acevedo (9-10) via six-round unanimous decision in a 140-pound bout.
By Ryan Ernst
rernst@enquirer.com
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Big-time fight venue proposed for city
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Boxing fans from around the city filed into the Taft Theatre Saturday night to watch local lightweight prospect Adrien Broner in his first title fight. The ring was on the stage of the 82-year-old Downtown venue, and patrons watched from the balcony of the 2,500-seat venue.
But one ringside observer has a much bigger vision for Cincinnati boxing.
State Rep. Dale Mallory (D-Cincinnati) on Friday announced a petition drive he hopes will land a boxing arena at the Broadway Commons casino.
"We're one of the best boxing towns in the world," Mallory said. "We need to capitalize on it."
Mallory said the arena would bear the name of the city's boxing patron saint: Buddy LaRosa. The pizza magnate and one-time manager of hall of famer Aaron Pryor spent the last four decades funding and developing Cincinnati's amateur programs.
"It would be a real reward and honor to Buddy LaRosa and all the work he's done in boxing," said local boxing promoter Andrew Williams, whose company, R&R Promotions, put on Saturday's card. "He's done so much work that has never really been recognized. Buddy's program has turned out more Olympic boxers than any other in the United States.
"... This is something on a whole new level. We'd be bringing Vegas-style boxing to Cincinnati."
The past two years, Williams has rejuvenated a dormant professional boxing scene in the city, also promoting fights at various venues downtown. None has the kind of curb appeal Mallory envisions for Buddy LaRosa Arena - a proposed 12,000- to 13,000-seat venue.
"If we're going to do this," he said, "we might as well do something big."
LaRosa, sitting ringside Friday night, said he was surprised by the idea.
"Naturally, I was flattered," he said. "Whether or not it happens, I'm always going to be here for amateur boxing."
Mallory said he hasn't gotten an official word from casino developers, but added, "I haven't heard anything negative from anyone."
Broner, the city's top up-and-coming talent, was scheduled to fight Carlos Claudio for the vacant WBC youth intercontinental super featherweight title. The bout had not started at press time.
Previously on the five-fight card, Trenton Titsworth (3-6) of Omaha, Neb., upset Joseph Judah (5-1) of Brooklyn, N.Y. in a four-round welterweight bout. Judah, the brother of former two-division champion Zab Judah, scored a third-round knockdown but still lost a unanimous decision. Tennessee native Chris Howard (11-0) then beat Roberto Acevedo (9-10) via six-round unanimous decision in a 140-pound bout.
By Ryan Ernst
rernst@enquirer.com
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For the first time in his very successful amateur career, Rau'shee Warren, Cincinnati's 2 time Olympian competed and brought home the National Golden Glove Belt in the 114 pound weight class. After competing at the Hyatt Regency on April 9 2010 in the Regional�s, and becoming a Cincinnati Team member, they went on to compete in Little Rock, Arkansas May 3 - May 7, 2010. This is one step towards Warren representing Cincinnati for a third time in the 2012 Olympics.
As a 17-year-old at the 2004 Olympics, southpaw Warren was not only the youngest member of the 2004 U.S. boxing team -- he was the youngest male on any American team at those Games. In 2008 when Warren returned to represent the United States and Cincinnati again he was the first American boxer to compete in back-to-back Olympics since Davey Lee Armstrong in 1972 and 1976. Warren's plan to return in 2012 will make him again a young man making history -- he will be a 3 time Olympian and that is something no one has ever done in the sport of Boxing or any sport in the United States.
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Chris Howard Signs with R & R Promotions
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Today R&R Promotions of Cincinnati Ohio is proud to announce the addition of a new family member; Crossville Tennessee’s undefeated lightweight Chris “Hurricane” Howard.
Howard boasts a record of 10-0 with 5 KO’s 1 being in the first round. CEO Andrew Williams states “I am excited about Chris, he is a fighter that works hard and is a crowd pleaser and Cincinnati welcomes him with open arms. Look for “Hurricane” on our upcoming show “Fireworks on the Riverfront” Saturday May 29, 2010. Details about this event can be found on our website randrpromotions.net”
R&R Promotions is the top professional boxing promoter in the state of Ohio. This next event will be the 11th event since starting to promote professional fights in May of 2008. R&R Promotions is also credited for hosting the first ever Midwest Olympic trials in 2007 and in 2010 also hosted the USA Boxing Under 19 National Tournament.
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