Broner banishes career mistakes ahead of Allakhverdiev title bout

Previously hailed as the long-term successor of now-retired Floyd Mayweather, brash-talking controversial former welterweight world champion Adrien Broner claims he is a changed man ahead of his encounter with Khabib Allakhverdiev for the vacant WBA world title.

The 26-year-old American has attracted plenty of criticism for his exploits, being unable to back-up his verbal onslaughts towards recent opponents in the ring, leading him to lose twice on points since 2013 to Marcos Maidana and Shawn Porter respectively.

But now, contesting for a world title once again, Broner has admitted his fatal mistakes and is determined to prove himself against another former world champion, as his Russian opponent is 7/4 from Coral to inflict him with a third career defeat in two years.

“I’m on a mission and I won’t talk to nobody until my mission is complete,” stated the 30-2 fighter, having refused the majority of media interviews and stayed silent in press conferences during the fight build-up.

“When you get so far in doing things your way, sometimes you don’t see what you’ve got to change until something happens – like a loss. It’s time to stop and take your career serious.

“The lights, the horse-playing, of course I’ll always be me. Hate it or love it, I’ll always be Adrien Broner, but where I am in the game right now, I’m still a student. I’ve accomplished a lot at a young age but I have so much more to do.”

At the US Bank Arena during the early hours of Sunday morning, Broner will attempt to recover from his loss to Porter in June, against a Russian southpaw that endured his only defeat last year when he lost his WBA super-lightweight title to Jessie Vargas in Las Vegas.

“I was too accessible and too easy to reach. I’ve got a big heart so I always wanted to make everybody feel good and feel happy but I’ve come to realise that my wife and kids are all that matter. I have to do what I have to do for me and my family,” continued Broner.

“I felt like I was selling myself short. I wasn’t getting top dollar from the performances that I’ve been putting on. You have to learn from your mistakes. When you know why you’re losing then you can fix it.

“This next half of my career, I’m going to be the Adrien Broner that’s about business and about boxing. Winning this fourth world title in my fourth weight class is very important. It’s making history at the age of 26. It’s a big move for me and I’m going for it.

“The path I’m on – anybody in my way right now is in big trouble. Just come watch me on October 3 and tell me what you think about the new Adrien Broner.”

The former three-time world title holder will look to add a fourth strap to his collection, and he is the odds-on 4/9 favourite to do so on home soil against Allakhverdiev (19-1), while a draw can be had at 25/1.

Having been unwilling to avoid the spotlight outside the ring so far in his controversial career, Broner’s latest outing could ultimately determine whether he is genuinely ready to push on and concentrate on making a positive mark on the sport, or return to his previously unstable ways.

Watch Broner go through a tough training regime at the gym ahead of his upcoming world title bout with Allakhverdiev.