Unbeaten Adrien Broner promised more fireworks on Saturday when he makes his first defence of his World Boxing Council lightweight world title against Gavin Rees of Wales.
Boxer Adrien Broner addresses the media at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on May 5, 2012 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Unbeaten Broner promised more fireworks on Saturday when he makes his first defence of his World Boxing Council lightweight world title against Gavin Rees of Wales.
"Put your glasses on because I am going to shine -- hook, right, goodnight," vowed Broner, who battered Antonio DeMarco on the way to an eighth-round technical knockout on November 17 to claim the WBC belt.
That victory in Atlantic City saw Broner improve to 25-0 with 21 victories inside the distance.
But Rees, a former World Boxing Association light welterweight champion who brings a record of 37-1-1 to the bout said he was ready to school the cocky young American.
"His attitude stinks man," said the 32-year-old Rees. "He shows fighters no respect, but he hasn't even earned the right to do that.
"I've never been stopped," Rees said. "I can take him out in the first round, but I am ready to go into deep water if I have to.
"Either way, I have trained hard and will be ready to dictate the pace of the fight and not let him get away with a lot of what other fighters have let him do."
Rees won the WBA light welterweight title in 2007, stunning Souleymane M'Baye only to lose in his first defence to Andriy Kotelnik the following year.
He has since gone down in weight, and won the European lightweight title before taking the fight with Broner in which he's a decided underdog.
Despite the verbal sparring in the build-up to the fight, Rees's promoter Eddie Hearn said his fighter "accepted this fight in one and a half nano-seconds before even seeing the purse".
"We're extremely confident that we are going to have a massive upset on Saturday night," Hearn added.
Broner, known for his rap-performance ring entrances and other antics, insisted his confidence didn't mean he was taking Rees too lightly.
"I don't underestimate him," Broner said. "I respect him as a fighter.
"He is a former champion at light welterweight. He's coming down in weight so he is used to getting hit by strong fighters."
Rees said Broner had weaknesses to exploit.
"I have to watch for his right uppercut which he throws from down low, but he's not the best on his feet either. Work rate is going to be important."