(Photo credit: Mark Zerof – Hogan Photos/Golden Boy Promotions) CINCINNATI, Ohio (Aug. 14, 2014) – Former three-division world champion Adrien “The Problem” Broner and super lightweight contender Emanuel “Tranzformer” Taylor held a kickoff press conference at U.S. Bank Arena in Cincinnati on Thursday to formally announce their upcoming showdown on Saturday, Sept. 6, LIVE on SHOWTIME®.
Broner (28-1, 22 KOs) will return to his hometown of Cincinnati for the first time in two years to face Taylor (18-2, 12 KOs) in a 12-round super lightweight bout in the main event of a SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® tripleheader from U.S. Bank Arena.
In the co-feature, former WBA Super Lightweight World Champion Lucas “The Machine” Matthysse (35-3, 33 KOs) will square off with Mexico’s highly touted Roberto “Massa” Ortiz (31-0-1, 24 KOs) in a 10-round super lightweight bout. Opening the telecast will be the return of former welterweight world champion Andre Berto (28-3, 22 KOs) against an opponent to be announced.
Joining Broner and Taylor at Thursday’s press conference were undefeated bantamweight prospect Rau’Shee Waren, who will fight on the undercard, Broner’s trainer Mike Stafford, Vice President of Golden Boy Promotions Eric Gomez and CEO of R& R Promotions Andrew Williams.
Broner vs. Taylor is promoted by Golden Boy Promotions and R&R Promotions in association with Star Boxing and is sponsored by Corona and AT&T. Tickets, priced at $128, $78, $53 and $28, are on sale now and are available by calling Ticketmaster at 800-745-3000 or online at www.ticketmaster.com. Tickets will also be available at the U.S. Bank Arena Box Office.
Here’s what the participants had to say during Thursday’s press conference:
ADRIEN BRONER, Former Three-Division World Champion:
“I’m more than excited to be back in Cincinnati. It’s like when you spoil a kid -when you buy a kid a new pair of sneakers, the next time they come out they are going to expect another pair. Every time I fought at home I gave my fans a knockout. I spoiled my fan base in Cincinnati. So every time I fight here that’s what they want.
“I have to give them a knockout, I got to. And it’s got to be pretty, too. I think I’m going to hit him with the 30 piece and the biscuit.
“They keep supporting me and I’m going to fight for them. We’ve waited a long time to get to this spot and now we have to stay on top.
“My mind isn’t anywhere but on Emanuel Taylor. That’s my main objective. After I get my job done then I’ll think about another fight. But right now I’m focused on what I have to do.”
“I’m going to put on a show like I always do and I’m ready right now.
“I know Taylor pretty well and I respect him, but at the end of the day he’s my enemy. I have to go out there and get my victory.
EMANUEL TAYLOR, Super Lightweight Contender:
“He can’t get under my skin. I always keep my calm. I knew he was going to talk, but at the end of the day we have to throw our hands.
“I’m definitely an underdog, but I can’t tell you my game plan. We just have to go in there and do what we have to do to get a win.
“I have to beat him real bad to get the win, I know that. I know we’re going up against the odds fighting him in his hometown. I’m going to go in there and fight my fight. That’s what we train hard for.
“I saw his fight against [Marcos] Maidana and I saw a lot of weaknesses there. But that’s not the only way he can be beaten. I definitely can take advantages of his weaknesses but I have some other plans for fighting this guy.
“I’m definitely looking to make a statement. This is the biggest fight of my career. This is what I’ve been working for my whole life since I was a little kid. It’s my time to make a statement.
“I’m coming to fight to give the fans what they want. At the end of the day may the best man win. I’m coming here to fight and do my thing.”
RAU’SHEE WAREN, Undefeated Bantamweight Prospect:
“This is my first time fighting in my hometown and everyone knows how badly I’ve wanted this.
“It’s no secret that I’ve been trying to get a fight in Cincinnati ever since I first turned pro this is all I wanted.
“I’m so happy to have the chance on September 6 to put on a show for my hometown fans.”
MIKE STAFFORD, Broner’s Trainer:
“It brings tears to my eyes to be here. Without Golden Boy [Promotions] we couldn’t keep these kids fighting in the ring. You see the matches they make and everyone needs to acknowledge what Golden Boy is doing.
“Emanuel’s coaches said they weren’t going to fight Adrien [Broner] , for a whole week, but eventually it was up to the fighter and he made the decision to fight Adrien in Cincinnati. He’s coming off of a good win and you have to take your hat off to him.
“Don’t just come out for Adrien. Come out for the undercard. We have guys in camp and all they’re thinking about is Cincinnati.
ERIC GOMEZ, Vice President of Golden Boy Promotions:
“Everyone knows that Adrien Broner is a superstar because of all the things he does in the ring.
“What makes Adrien so great is that he will fight anyone. He has never turned down an opponent. Few fighters have done what he has in his career.
“He already has a Hall of Fame career. Only one other fighter has jumped form 135 to 147 in the history of boxing and that Henry Armstrong, that’s the kind of talent we have here in Adrien Broner.
“Adrien and his team said they wanted to fight in Cincinnati, and it was done. You have to give Adrien a big hand for that. Adrien is doing something special for his hometown.
ANDREW WILLIAMS, CEO of R&R Promotions:
“We are extremely excited about this event and to be co-promoting it with Golden Boy Promotions. Cincinnati was the birthplace of gloved boxing so it is appropriate that we are brining this big-time event to Cincinnati.
“We’re happy to have this event on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING and proud that this is the first time SHOWTIME has ever done a boxing event in Cincinnati.
“We have the number one up-and-coming boxer in the sport in Adrien Broner. He has brought boxing alive and is truly one of the most tremendous talents in the sport.
“Another first, we have the number one amateur, Rau’shee Warren making his hometown debut in Cincinnati.”
JAMES BROCK, Chief Inspector Ohio State Athletic Commission
“We are proud and honored to have Golden Boy Promotions, R&R Promotions and SHOWTIME right here on the banks of the Ohio River in Cincinnati, Ohio where we have arguably the fight of the year.
“We are saying that if you are anybody, you will be here. Anybody who is anybody will be here.
“We have the incomparable Adrien Broner and the most-worthy Emanuel Taylor. May the best man win.”
DALE MALLORY, Ohio State Representative, District 32
“On behalf the Governor of the state of Ohio and the Ohio Athletic Commission John Kasich, we would like to welcome you to the great state of Ohio and the proud birthplace of many historic events.
“One historic event was the birth and rise of our own home-grown boxing champion, Adrien Broner. Now on September 6 we will bring worldwide exposure of the historic homecoming and the exciting experience of the sweet science of boxing -Cincinnati style.”
