Adrien Broner and Adrian Granados have spent plenty of time together in the ring, but it’s never really counted until now.
Onetime sparring partners Adrien Broner (left) and Adrian Granados will get it on for real Saturday when they meet in a 147-pound bout at the Cintas Center in Broner's hometown of Cincinnati. (Stephanie Trapp/Showtime)
Broner, a former four-division world champion, has welcomed Granados into his training camp for sparring in the past. However, there will be a lot more on the line when the fighters meet up Saturday in a 147-pound non-title bout at the Cintas Center in Broner’s lifelong hometown of Cincinnati (Showtime, 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT).
Adrien Broner (32-2, 24 KOs) has won world championships at 130, 135, 140 and 147 pounds in his career, but he has really only competed at the latter weight twice—both times in 2013, when he beat Paulie Malignaggi to win a title and then subsequently lost to Marcos Maidana in his first defense.
Adrian Granados (18-4-2, 12 KOs) has actually competed at 147 pounds more often than Broner. He fought at a career-high 148 as far back as 2011, and weighed at least 144½ for five of his last six fights.
“We’ve brought Granados into camp for sparring before, but I’m a much different fighter now. I know he is too, and I think it’s going to make an exciting, explosive fight,” Broner said. “Granados is no pushover. He’s not an opponent that anybody can just pick up a win. I know Adrian Granados will bring the best out of Adrien Broner.”
The 10-round fight originally was to be contested at 142 pounds, but Granados revealed earlier this month that he had agreed to a contracted weight of 147 at the request of Broner’s camp.
On Friday, both Broner and Granados weighed in at 146½ pounds. As for which fighter will be more effective at that weight, that remains to be seen.
Broner, 27, will be fighting for the first time since gaining a ninth-round TKO of Ashley Theophane last April 1. It was supposed to be the first 140-pound title defense for “The Problem,” who earned the vacant championship in October 2015 with a 12th-round TKO of Khabib Allakhverdiev. But Broner was stripped of his title before the fight for failing to make weight by a half-pound.
Broner’s win over Allakhverdiev was also his last fight in Cincinnati, where he is 13-0 with 11 KOs in his career.
“ We’ve brought Granados into camp for sparring before, but I’m a much different fighter now. I know he is too, and I think it’s going to make an exciting, explosive fight. ” Adrien Broner, former four-division world champion
Granados, 27, is looking for a breakthrough victory that would move him closer to his first world title opportunity. The Illinois native’s most impressive win thus far has been his eighth-round TKO of then-unbeaten contender Amir Imam in a 140-pound bout in November 2015.
“People who think I'm an underdog don't know me. They don't know the tricks I have up my sleeve,” Granados said. “I plan on thriving in the underdog position.
“I've watched Adrien fight live on TV and in the arena many times. Spending eight weeks with him [in camp], I think I know him more than most people.”
The 5-foot-9 Granados, who has won his last five bouts, also fought former 147-pound world champion Kermit Cintron to a 10-round split draw in March 2013. His four losses have come against opponents who had a combined record of 52-1, and he has never been stopped in the ring.
In his last fight in July, Granados earned an eight-round unanimous decision over Nicaraguan journeyman Ariel Vasquez in Phoenix. His last loss was by 10-round split decision to Brad Solomon in Las Vegas in May 2015.
“I plan on winning in a stoppage or a unanimous decision. No matter what, I'm leaving with a victory,” Granados said. “It is going to be a kill-or-be-killed type of fight. I hope everyone is ready for a great show.”
Prior to his TKOs of Theophane and Allakhverdiev in his last two fights, Broner hadn’t stopped an opponent since gaining a fifth-round TKO of Gavin Rees in a 135-pound title bout in February 2013.
In now preparing to battle his former sparring partner, Broner knows he has a tough task ahead of him.
“Adrian’s a world-class fighter who will bring out the best in me,” Broner said. “That’s why I picked him. It’s all about staying focused and putting on a great boxing show for the fans.
“If you look at my last two fights, nobody had ever stopped Khabib and nobody had ever stopped Ashley Theophane. If I have a chance to stop Adrian Granados, then I’m going to take it. I’m in a great state of mind.”
For a complete look at Broner vs Granados, visit our fight page.
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