Tag Archives: charges

Posted on 05/23/2017

Anthony Dirrell Speaks Out On Last Saturday Night
By: Sean Crose

Boxing once again received some negative attention last Saturday night when chaos ensued after the Andre Dirrell-Jose Uzcategui super middleweight bout in Maryland. Dirrell was sent down and out by a punch that landed after the bell. Uzcategui was disqualified, but Dirrell’s uncle and trainer, Leon Lawson Jr, sucker punched Uzcategui twice in the fight’s aftermath. He’s now being sought by Maryland police. There was also an incident, however, involving Dirrell’s sibling, Anthony, for video shows the younger Dirrell brother pushing an individual in the post-fight madness. The man who was pushed is said to have been a Maryland commissioner. Needless to say, word was out that the police were quite interested in Anthony’s actions that night, as well as his uncles’.

Anthony Dirrell himself, however, claims the police weren’t interested in him at all last weekend. “They wasn’t even looking for me,” Dirrell said over the phone. “They never interviewed me or nothing.” Dirrell even claimed that the police were rather helpful after the madness that transpired at the MGM Grand National Arena. “They escorted me to my brother’s room,” he claimed. Dirrells’ assertions coincide with those of his representative, Kira Kusky, who I had spoken with earlier in the day. “He is not in any jeopardy,” she said when I asked about a police investigation. “No, not at all.”

And so Anthony Dirrell looks clear to meet Callum Smith next September in California for the WBC world super middleweight title. There was word that the championship battle would be put off due to legal matters stemming from last Saturday, but both Dirrell and his representative assured me that wouldn’t be the case. “His next fight is still on,” Kusky said, a fact Dirrell himself reiterated when we spoke a short time later. “I don’t see how (the fight could be off),” he claimed. “Nobodies’ looking for me.” It’s clear, then, that Dirrell and his team feel it is safe to focus on the talented and undefeated Smith without being impeded by legal matters.

As for older brother, Andre – who found himself on the mat after the bell last Saturday – Dirrell claims he’s doing well. “My bother’s fine,” he said. The saga of Leon Lawson Jr, uncle and trainer, has yet to be resolved (he’s still wanted by police, after all), yet it looks like both Dirrell brothers themselves are free to carry on with their respective careers. Before the call ended I asked Anthony if he’d like to, through his perspective, go over the events at the MGM Grand National Arena. “No,” he responded. “I’m not talking about that.”

Posted on 09/22/2016

Criminal Charges Against Adrien Broner Dropped
By: Sean Crose

Flamboyant and controversial boxer Adrien Broner got himself out of trouble on Tuesday after his alleged victim in a robbery and assault case didn’t show up for court in Ohio. Broner was accused of attacking and robbing a man outside a bowling alley in Cincinnati earlier this year after a night of bowling for considerable money. A gun was allegedly involved in the incident and there was also supposed to be video footage in play. Still, when a star witness is a no show, it’s hard to proceed with a criminal trial. Also worth noting is the fact that the alleged victim/witness dropped a civil case against Broner back in June.

Now a free man, Broner can return to his career in the ring, if he so chooses. Sure enough, word is out that the man known as The Problem wants to fight again before the year is out. Broner’s last bout, against an outclassed Ashley Theophane, ended up adding another victory to a 32-2 resume that includes title runs at multiple weight classes. Still, Broner is known as much now for his outside the ring antics as he is for his considerable ring ability. Aside from this most recent run in with the law, Broner has an illustrious history of inappropriate behavior.

With that in mind, however, it’s worth noting that Broner is indeed a talented athlete. Aggressive and fast, he was once thought to be on his way to superstardom. Losses to the considerable likes of Marcos Maidana and Shawn Porter, however, have taken more than a bit of the bloom off of Broner’s rose. Yet the man’s personality, combined with his skill set, make him much see TV for many fight fans, something that’s a big plus in this era of acute boxing doldrums. Whether or not the man shows the discipline and ambition to live up to long dormant expectations now that he’s free and clear of some pretty serious charges remains to be seen.

Broner is currently the former – that’s former – WBA superlightweight champion (he didn’t make weight for that Theophane fight), which means he’s still arguably a divisional peer of such notables as Bud Crawford, Viktor Postol, Lucas Matthysse and Lamont Peterson. Even though promotional politics can (What else is new?) prevent most of these fights from happening, the opposition is out there should Broner push to assert himself. As always, time will ultimately tell the tale. Here’s hoping The Problem rises to the occasion.