CINCINNATI, Ohio - Adrien Broner's split decision victory over Adrian Granados last Saturday at the Cintas Center on the campus of Xavier University was shocking for those fans (and one judge) who saw the fight differently.
But the biggest stunner came after the bout when the often self-centered Broner made a plea to the parents who have children that look up to him.
"I'm taking my career more seriously and being more positive," said Broner in the ring after the fight. "I want to apologize to everyone who looks up to me and has seen the foolish things I've done. I'm ready to be a better role model, a better father figure and a better star for everyone."
Those comments are an about face for Broner, who has spent his career winning four world titles, but also making a spectacle of himself on social media and making the type of poor decisions that have led to jail time.
There was the 30 days in jail for being late to a trial, a trial where he allegedly punched a man in a parking lot after losing a bet in bowling. This was the same Broner who flushed money down a toilet on social media and in what appeared as a cry for help, used that same social media with posts about suicide.
But now Broner says that's all behind him as he ventures into the second half of his career, which includes an attempt to become a pay-per-view star but also a high-level promoter with his company About Billions Promotions.
"It's about them," said Broner, as he points in the direction of his children at the post fight press conference. "My main focus is to get out of boxing and how will these babies have the best life after daddy's done with boxing. They're the future ... It's about them and putting people in better positions."
Broner appears headed in the right direction, at least over the past two weeks. Last week's victory was a boost in his career as he looks for the next step, possibly a mega fight against the winner of the Keith Thurman-Danny Garcia welterweight unification title bout.
Broner was also a winner as the primary promoter of the Robert Easter Jr. lightweight championship bout and the Rau'shee Warren bantamweight title bout at the Huntington Center in Toledo.
The bouts were shown on Bounce TV and had the best viewership in the network's history with a peak viewership of 557,000. It was also impressive because Bounce did those numbers while going head-to-head with the ShoBox series on Showtime.
"About Billions will be one of the best promotion companies in boxing," Broner said.
But how well will Broner become in arguably the most competitive weight division in boxing? I've been on record on how Broner is a better fighter under the 147-pound weight limit. He won the WBA welterweight title but suffered defeats to the stronger and bigger Shawn Porter and Marcos Maidana. Broner took blows in those two fights and he fell short when he attempted to rally late. Broner is a lot busier when he fights at a lighter weight. His boxing and power skills are on display. He's more stationary at welterweight but Broner, who has had trouble making weight, says he's here to stay at 147 pounds.
Broner may have changed his attitude and focus but the welterweight division may prove too much in his career rewind.
And the new
Lamont Peterson made his welterweight debut in Cincinnati prior to the Broner-Granados bout last week and Peterson's made a huge impression in his move up in weight.
Peterson defeated Russia's David Avanesyan by unanimous decision to win the WBA welterweight title. Peterson is a former unified 140 pound world champion who moved up and defeated Avanesyan after a 16-month layoff -- one of the longest layoffs of his career.
"I felt fresh," Peterson told The Plain Dealer about his return from the layoff. "It didn't seem like I forgot too much from my last fight. Sometimes when you don't get in the ring for a long time everything seems kind of new. Actually I felt calmer going into this fight than I did in the last fight."
Now that Peterson has the belt, it seems only natural he'll fight the winner of the Keith Thurman-Danny Garcia unification bout.
"I'll fight as much as I can against the top level of fighters and if it's another belt holder, cool," Peterson said. "If not, I'll take it as long as it's one of the top guys."
Quick jabs
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This week in boxing history
Feb. 20, 1993: Julio Cesar Chavez wins by knockout in round 5 over Greg Haugen to retain the WBC super lightweight title. The largest live crowd ever; with over 130,000 in attendance.
Boxing schedule
10 p.m., Friday (SHOWTIME):
- Chris Pearson vs. Justin DeLoach, junior middleweights
- Saul Rodriguez vs. Oscar Bravo, lightweights
- Andrew Tabiti vs. Quantis Graves, cruiserweights
- Ronald Gavril vs. Teneal Goyco, super middleweights
10 p.m. (Integrated Sports PPV)
- Eleider "Storm" Alvarez vs. Lucian Bute, WBC light heavyweight eliminator
- Eric Martel-Bahoeli vs. Adam Braidwood, heavyweights
- Sebastien Bouchard vs. Gustavo Garibay, junior middleweights
8 p.m., Saturday (Fox Sports):
- Deontay Wilder vs. Gerald Washington, for Wilder's WBC heavyweight title
- Tony Harrison vs. Jarrett Hurd, for vacant IBF junior middleweight title
- Dominic Breazeale vs. Izuagbe Ugonoh, heavyweights