Have we seen the last of Adrien Broner in the ring?
“The Problem” is demanding that Showtime and Premier Boxing Champions pay him $10 million for his next fight or he’s finished with boxing. He said on Instagram that he’ll be content to give up the sport and focus full time on his music career.
“OK, look. I ain’t heard from Stephen Espinoza [of Showtime]. Me and Al [Haymon of PBC], we talk every day. Ain’t nobody talking about that $10 million. So I’ll take that as I’m still retired and do what I’m going to do. I’m going to focus on my album. And I’m just a rapper. I’m a rapper now.
“… Until they talk about my $10 million, I ain’t going to be in the f—ing ring. I’m going to be in the studio. So my album dropping. It is what it is.”
Is he bluffing?
Broner seemed to imply on another Instagram post that he’ll show everyone what he’s capable of.
“I’m not f—ing playing no games y’all put me up against the best in the world and I never turned down a fight now it’s time to come correct or leave me the f— alone but I will become champion again and I promise I’m go make y’all pay double the PRICE!!!!!!!”
The reality is that Broner doesn’t command that kind of money, particularly in an economy that has been devastated by the coronavirus pandemic. He still commands attention because of his mouth, which sells his fights. But $10 million? No way.
Broner (33-4-1, 24 KOs) has had a lot of success in his career, winning titles in four divisions by the time he was 26.
That’s the past, though. Broner, now 30, is 0-2-1 in his last three fights. He lost a wide decision to Mikey Garcia in 2017, a majority decision to Jessie Vargas the following year and another one-sided decision to Manny Pacquiao in 2019.
A boxer who hasn’t won a fight in more than three years might want to consider another career.