Junior welterweight Adrien Broner is aiming to reclaim a world title in what many consider his final act as a boxer. Part of his inspiration comes from his first boxing coach, the late Michael Stafford.
Broner will face Blair Cobbs on June 7 at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Florida. The bout will be broadcast on pay-per-view.
The four-division belt-holder Broner (35-4-1, 24 KOs) is now training with Calvin Ford and Kenny Ellis, the trainers of Gervonta Davis. Broner is holding his camp for Cobbs (16-1, 10 KOs) in Las Vegas as Davis prepares to fight Frank Martin on June 15. Despite a smile, Broner appeared to carry a heavy heart as he reflected on Stafford, who passed away last year.
“Coach Mike is everything to me,” Broner said. “I promised myself before I hang the gloves up I got to become a world champion again for coach Mike and myself. That’s the goal.”
Broner, 34, is often remembered for his out-of-the-ring antics, including an arrest at a bowling alley in 2016 for robbery and his documented battles with alcohol. He hasn’t had a world-class win since 2017, which was a split decision against Adrian Granados. Once seen as a Hall of Fame-caliber fighter, Broner has become a cautionary tale for young boxers. He spoke about the importance of winning a world title at this stage in his career and how much being a titlist has meant to him over the years, something he feels hasn’t always been understood by the public.
“Honestly, all of [my world titles] are special to me,” Broner said. “All my life, all I ever wanted to do was become a world champion. Every time I won one, I cried tears. I am pretty sure I’ll do the same when I win the next one.”
Broner’s fight with Cobbs, 34, is seen as a last stand of sorts. He is no longer the youthful titleholder who was one of the faces of the newly established Premier Boxing Champions nearly a decade ago. Having fought only twice in five years, Broner needs a strong performance to justify his stardom. During his media workout, he reflected on his tough journey in the sport.
“Boxing can eat you up and spit you out and move on to the next,” Broner said. “When your career is done and over with, they’re going to look for the next upcoming boxer. So I always try to tell everybody just do what is best for you.”
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