Four-division champion Adrien Broner (33-3, 24 KOs) and two-division champion Jessie Vargas (28-2, 10 KOs) went face-to-face Thursday at a press conference in Brooklyn before they enter the ring this Saturday, April 21 at Barclays Center.
For the 29-year-old Broner, this is an opportunity to get a win after losing to Mikey Garcia last summer.
Here is what Broner had to say at the press conference on Thursday from Barclays Center in Brooklyn:
“I’m just ready to fight. I’m not worried about Jessie. This is a very important fight for my career. I know that Jessie trained hard to beat me. This is a win that could take either of us to the next level. I’m ready to fight right now and get after it.
“When he stepped up and fought Tim Bradley and Manny Pacquiao, he lost. I’m a four-time world champion so I don’t want to hear anything about my losses. Jessie Vargas is not as good as those guys I lost to.
“I hope I get credit when I beat Jessie Vargas. I hope I get the credit I deserve. People want me to lose and go away, but guess what? I worked harder than ever for this fight. I’m not losing to Jessie Vargas. I’m a four-time world champion and soon to be five-time world champion this year.
“I’m still one of the best fighters of this era. When I’m done with my career, I will be one of the best to ever lace up a pair of boxing gloves. I just can’t wait to give everyone something to remember on Saturday.
“Being with Kevin Cunningham in camp changed a lot. It took a while to get used to it. This is the first camp I’ve done since I was kid with a new coach. There were no distractions down at camp. It was all work, no play.
“I’m on a different level than him. I’m going to prove it on Saturday. I don’t worry about any of the negativity that surrounds my name. I’m just ready to go put on a show.”
If Broner can string together some wins, he has the personality to be that boxer that people love to hate, but love to see.
However, when the competition gets a little stiff(Porter, Maidana, Garcia), Broner has not always risen to the occasion. Vargas is a fighter Broner should beat. We’ll see if that happens on April 21.