Broner says beating Perez will be no "Problem"

WBO junior lightweight titleholder Adrien Broner, whose nickname is "The Problem," has his sights on delivering a show-stealing performance in the first defense of his belt against fellow undefeated prospect Eloy Perez on Saturday night at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis.

With a mark of 22-0 that includes 18 knockouts, Broner, 22, is after his third straight stoppage victory against Perez (23-0-2, 7 KOs), who, likewise, has knocked out his past two opponents. 

The brash boxer-puncher most recently cut short Vicente Rodriguez's unbeaten streak at 13-0-1 (KOs) with a third round KO for the WBO's vacant belt in November.

Having also decisioned former titleholder Daniel Ponce De Leon in March, and scored a first-round stoppage of Jason Litzau in June, Broner vows to vanquish Perez just as easily on the undercard of a welterweight main event featuring former WBC/IBF junior welterweight titleholder Devon Alexander and hammer-fisted Marcos Maidana.

RingTV.com: How's it going out there in St. Louis?

Adrien Broner: I'm feeling real good out here, man, and I'm ready to f--k this dude up.

RingTV.com: You're really tight with Alexander and his trainer, Kevin Cunningham, right?

AB: Yeah, I've fought out here a lot. As an amateur, I fought out here four or five times a year. I spent my whole amateur career out here. Devon is like a big brother to me. Coach Kevin, he's like another father-figure to me. It just so happens that I have a lot of support out here.

Andrew Williams, he's like a father-figure/uncle. Mike Stafford, he's definitely like a father figure. Then, of course, I have my father here with me. You know, [IBF/WBA junior welterweight titleholder,] Lamont Peterson, is supposed to be out here this week.

Peterson's coach, Barry Hunter, he's another one who takes me in as one of his. You know, there's another guy out there with Coach Hunter, Patrice Harris, when I go out there to Washington, D.C. Coach Hunter's supposed to be here in town on Thursday I think, so, you know, I just have a lot of support. 

RingTV.com: Are you looking to perform on a level that will catapult your career into the ranks of the best fighters, pound-for-pound?

AB: Man, you know, how they view guys like me and Floyd Mayweather. They never give us our credit. Every time we seem to prevail and come out on top, we never get the credit that we're supposed to get. That's why I really don't care.

I'm going to get this guy out of the ring just like I did my last 22 opponents. For Eloy Perez, this is the biggest night of his life. For me, this is just another night of boxing. For me, it's just the same s--t, different toilet.

I'm going to go in and do what I do, man, brush my hair, put that $1 million smile on my face, and forget everybody who is not with me. But I'm going to show love to everybody.

RingTV.com: I'm assuming that you've already completed your sparring?

AB: Yeah, we've been done with the sparring. My last sparring session was last week, and I finished up with 19 straight rounds, man, no less, and I think we used about four or five sparring partners. 

I'm feeling good, man, so what can I say? I'm Adrien "The Problem" Broner, man, and I'm fresh, fly and flashy, aka, Mr. HBO, aka, "I knock people out for fun." Man, that's me.

RingTV.com: Do you have a prediction?

AB: Listen, the fight's going to go however Adrien "The Problem" Broner wants it to go. You know, if I feel like I've got him in the position and he makes a mistake in the first round, then the fight will be over in the first round.

But if I've got to beat on him, then I will. And if the puppy can take a beating, then I'll keep whippin' on him until he quits.

But whatever he brings to the table, you know, I'm ready. I don't watch these guys. They obviously watch me. So, at the end of the day, I'm ready.

Photos by Pat Lovell, Hogan Photos/Golden Boy Promotions

Lem Satterfield can be reached at lemuel.satterfield@gmail.com