Junior welterweight Adrien Broner is seeking to reclaim a world title in what many consider his final bout as a boxer, and part of his inspiration comes from his first boxing coach, the late Michael Stafford.
Broner will face Blair Cobbs on June 7 at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida, in a bout that will be broadcast on pay-per-view.
Four-division belt holder Broner (35-4-1, 24 KOs) currently trains with Gervonta Davis' trainers Calvin Ford and Kenny Ellis. Broner is hosting a training camp for Cobbs (16-1, 10 KOs) in Las Vegas as Davis prepares to fight Frank Martin on June 15. Broner smiled but appeared heavy-hearted as he reflected on Stafford, who passed away last year.
“Coach Mike means everything to me,” Broner said. “Before I retired I made a promise to myself, for Coach Mike and for myself, that I would become world champion again, and that's the goal.”
Broner, 34, is well known for his antics outside the ring, including an arrest for robbery at a bowling alley in 2016 and his documented struggles with alcohol. He has not won a world-class bout since a split decision win over Adrian Granados in 2017. Once viewed as a Hall of Fame-caliber boxer, Broner is a lesson for younger boxers. He has spoken about the importance of winning a world title at this stage of his career and how much being a titleholder has meant to him for so many years, something he feels isn't always understood by the public.
“to be honest, [my world titles] “It's special for me,” Broner said, “I've dreamed of becoming world champion all my life. I've cried every time I've won, and I'm sure I'll do the same the next time I win.”
The fight between Broner and the 34-year-old Cobbs is seen as something of a last stand. He's no longer the young titleholder who was one of the faces of the newly formed Premier Boxing Champions nearly a decade ago. With just two fights in five years, Broner needs a strong performance to match his stardom. During a media workout, he reflected on his tough journey in the sport.
“Boxing eats you up, spits you out and moves on to the next guy,” Broner said. “Once your career is over, they're looking for the next up-and-comer, so I always try to tell guys, do what's best for you.”
