Adrien Broner, Undefeated Rising Star

“I am very excited to fight in Atlantic City. I was on my toes when Sandy came through, but even Sandy couldn’t stop this fight from going on, so it must have been meant to be.

“I have been training very hard. I want to thank DeMarco and his team for taking the fight and coming to the U.S. to fight me. I know he is a great champion. He is ready and I am ready. It is going to be an electrifying fight and I am ready to go.

“Legacy is very important. It always starts locally. If you don’t have a big name in your hometown, how do you expect to have a name anywhere else? I am trying to go global here.

“Visiting the Boys & Girls Club is something I am looking forward to. I want to put smiles on people’s faces. I want to make someone’s day better. I would do it every day.

“DeMarco is definitely my best opponent so far on paper. It is the biggest fight of my career thus far. I am not looking past anyone. I have to take it one fight at a time.

“I am ready to show my talent. I think this is a fight that I will be able to show a lot more of my skills. In my last fights, even though some of my opponents were ranked, after fighting me, they got downgraded because of my high skill level.

“In boxing, a knockout is a punch away. You always have to be careful.

“DeMarco has fought good guys, but he hasn’t fought me.

“You are going to see a totally different Adrien Broner on Saturday night. I am going to be able to show more of my skills on Saturday night because DeMarco has such talent. They say if one good talent goes up against another good talent, it brings out something in the elite.

“I am a lot stronger than people think and on Saturday, you will see that against DeMarco.

“We are going head over heals, balls to the walls with this one. Let’s go. Rock and roll. It is time to put on a show. You aren’t just coming to see a boxing show, you’re coming to the Adrien Broner Show. It is going to be fun. It is going to be entertaining. There are going to be a lot of smiles. Some might cry, but at the end, they will laugh about it. I want everybody to come out and have a good time. Saturday is going to be a nice night for everybody, family and all.”

Antonio Demarco, WBC Lightweight World Champion

“I am very well prepared because I know Adrien is extremely talented and a great fighter.

“I feel that every opponent of mine is a worthy one and I respect anyone I step into the ring with. This fight is very important for my career as well as for Broner’s career.

“I’ve faced undefeated boxers in the past and I have learned my lessons. I’m coming into the fight ready. I’ve been defeated in the past and that experience has helped me to be ready to succeed this time.

“I’m confident that my training will pay off. I can assure you that we will put on a good show. May the best boxer win.

“Whoever wins this fight will have many opportunities to further his career. I want those opportunities. I want what every boxer wants…recognition and success.

“I only dreamt that I would be world champion one day.

“I am happy to be fighting in Atlantic City. I look forward to charming a new crowd when I step into the ring with Adrien Broner.

“I am glad to be here and I am looking forward to doing what I love to do…fight.”

Oscar De La Hoya, President of Golden Boy Promotions

“In an effort to raise funds for the Hurricane Sandy relief, Golden Boy Promotions is donating $2 for every ticket sold and $1,000 for each knockout registered during the event. We will be donating that money to the Boys & Girls Club of Atlantic City. Caesars Atlantic City and myself, the Oscar De La Hoya Foundation, will match the donations. I am hoping everyone can send that message and raise some money for this cause.

“Adrien Broner is only getting better as his career goes on. He is one of the hardest working fighters in the sport today. He is also known to brush his hair after every victory, rap himself into the ring, and he has already won a title at 130 pounds.

“Not only do we know Adrien as a charismatic fighter, but here is a guy that does wonderful deeds for wonderful people. He went to Iraq to visit the troops for two whole weeks and he is going to the Boys & Girls Club of Atlantic City today. Here is a guy that wants to be great inside the ring and outside of the ring.”

Gary Shaw, President of Gary Shaw Productions

“It is going to be a great event. Antonio DeMarco is a wonderful champion. I believe he is the Mexcian version of Arturo Gatti, who was a fixture in Atlantic City, so I think it is fitting that he come here and defend his world title.

“I am glad Oscar decided to keep the fight in Atlantic City. As a resident of New Jersey, I am proud that we are here to help New Jersey rebound and show how strong New Jersey is.”

Don Marrandino, Eastern Division President for Caesars Entertainment

“Our region really got beaten up by the hurricane. I am happy to report that the city and the casinos are intact. We did a great job cleaning everything up so when the folks get here, they are going to have a great experience.

“We are excited once again to be the host here. We had a fight here with Golden Boy several months ago and it was a terrific experience. We are excited not only for the main event, but also for Seth Mitchell as kind of a local guy and a heavyweight. We are hoping that can develop into something very good for us here in Atlantic City.”

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ADRIEN BRONER, ANTONIO DEMARCO, SETH MITCHELL
AND JOHNATHON BANKS MEDIA ROUNDTABLE QUOTES

ADRIEN “THE PROBLEM” BRONER, Undefeated Former World Champion

[On visiting the Boys & Girls Club of Atlantic City on Wednesday.] “It’s very important to have an affect on kids. I’ll do anything to make a kid’s day better.

“As my career is going on, I’m starting to become a lot more of a busy man.

“Once someone sees me on TV, they always think that ‘he is just a cocky brat,’ but I’m not. Once you get to sit down with Adrien Broner, you will fall in love with me. I don’t want the world to dislike me in any way. I just want you accept me.

“You can probably catch me in my sleep and I’m dancing or throwing a hook. That is just me.

“I’m not looking past anybody. I just feel like there is nobody in this game that can beat me.

“You never know how you are going to win, but I know I’m going to be victorious.

“I’m mentally strong and physically strong. I’m just a special guy and I understand that you have people that know they have the talent, but sometimes they get scared when success is in their face. I’m ready to go to the next level.

“DeMarco is a great champion. He’s a world-class fighter. He has the talent to bring something out of Adrien Broner that the world hasn’t seen yet.

[On traveling to California to watch the 2012 U.S. Olympians turn pro this past weekend.] “Rau’shee Warren is my big brother. I knew how much it meant to him. I know how much it meant to me. I would have felt bad if I had to watch him on TV. I was in the gym two or three times a day out there. It doesn’t matter where I am. As long as I have a pair of boxing gloves, a pair of boxing shoes and a cup, I’ll give 120 percent. I’m always focused.

“Once that bell rings, I make my adjustments and usually with a couple of adjustments the fight is over.

ANTONIO DEMARCO, WBC Lightweight World Champion

“It’s an important fight for my career.

“My fight with Edwin Valero will help me get in the ring with more confidence.

“I know it’s a difficult fight for both of us. Because of his talent and my heart and hunger, it’s going to be a great fight for the fans.

“Broner is very elusive and he’s an intelligent fighter, but we came prepared for that and more.

“A very difficult fight in my past that I can compare to this one is my fight with Kid Diamond [Almazbek Raiymkulov]. He also was elusive, but I won that fight by knockout and got a lot of exposure with the victory.

[On whether or not his weight gives him at an advantage.] “It’s a little bit of an advantage for me because I’m the world champion and I’ve been fighting at this weight a little bit longer, but I’m ready to go and if he wanted to fight at welterweight then I’d fight him there as well. It’s not a problem either way.

“It’s amazing what has happened in my personal life and my professional career. Every day I feel better and now I believe I can become anything I want to if I believe in myself. I wake up every morning and know I’m a world champion and that brings me great comfort.

“Every fight is different and we don’t know until we get in the ring, but don’t be surprised if you see me box.

“I’m well prepared and my mind is on winning. I have ‘The Solution’ for ‘The Problem.’

“Because my family is so important to me, I’m very hungry. I always fight for the people of Mexico, my team, my fans and especially my family.”

SETH “MAYHEM” MITCHELL, Undefeated NABO Heavyweight Champion

“I think having a strong jab is critical in any fight. I’ve been varying my jab since my last fight. I am trying to bring it from different angles.

[On a recent injury keeping him out of the ring.] “Ever since starting in this sport, I’ve always been in the gym. I just want to stay in shape and stay sharp. I’m used to fighting three or four times a year. This is the second time this year so it was very important to stay in the gym.

“When I look back, I wish I would have had a relationship with my father. Through football and basketball, I had a lot of father figures in my life. I had a lot of role models that helped and guided me. Looking back knowing the relationship I have with my son and how I cherish that, I do wish I would have had a relationship with my father.

[On being a stay-at-home dad] “I get up in the morning and I fix breakfast. I take the kids to school. I run, go to the gym and then I pick them up from school. My wife works, so we are a team.

[On visiting the Boys & Girls Club of Atlantic City] “Once you’re put in a certain position, I think it’s good to give back. Nobody has made it without somebody. No matter how successful an individual becomes, he or she didn’t get there by themselves. When I speak to kids, I know nine times out of 10 I’m not going to reach 100 percent of them, but if I can inspire one or two, then it’s worth it.

“I’m a competitive person by nature. If we were playing tic-tac-toe, you would see that same aggressiveness. My wife gets mad at me because I don’t let my six year old daughter win at anything.

“I believe including this fight, Lord willing, if I do what I’m supposed to do, I believe I’m two or three more fights away from a title shot. I don’t think I’m that far away at all.

[On Washington Redskins rookie Robert Griffin III] “I think RGIII is special. The reason I think so highly of him is that he’s a tremendous athlete and he thinks about the pass first. He’s very humble which is another characteristic I admire about him. I think in the next few years, the Redskins are going to be a force to be reckoned with.

“It feels good to be here in Atlantic City. This is like a home away from home. I love fighting in my hometown and in Vegas too, but I had like five or six busloads of people drive in from Maryland for my last fight here. You’re going to hear a lot of people screaming for me Saturday night.”

JOHNATHON BANKS, Top Heavyweight Contender

[On stepping in to serve as trainer for Heavyweight World Champion Wladimir Klitschko this past weekend.] “The only thing I had to do was be his trainer. It didn’t affect me in a bad way. If anything, it motivated me in a way that I’ve never been motivated before.

“Training him was not an advantage or disadvantage, but it enhanced something inside of me. My family has even noticed it. My mother said ‘There is something different about you. Something I haven’t seen before.’

“This is my time. Whatever happens, let it happen.

“Do you think last November I thought I would be here talking to you all this November? If you don’t see something in your future, you don’t think about it, but the position I’m has been wonderful.

“I started working with Wladimir Klitschko in 2004. When I met him I was 1-0. I just turned pro and we were training in California. Wladimir and I clicked right away.

“Emanuel [Steward] turned me pro. I was on his amateur team. Once I turned pro, I traveled with him wherever he went.

“James Toney called Emanuel and said that he wanted a ‘real Detroit guy’ on one of his undercards. He put me on his undercard and that was my second fight.

[On his experience being a sparring partner.] “You can’t say ‘I am just a sparring partner.’ I sparred guys when I was coming up in this sport and I sparred guys as a grown man. Mentally, I was never a sparring partner, so there is nothing to put aside. I am always looking to learn.

“I am expecting a really, really tough fight. I expect him to be as aggressive as he always is and I expect him to be as aggressive as he can be. It’s going to be a spectacle.”

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