Adrien Broner erupts at Shawn Porter, father Kenny during final news conference
Adrien Broner pulled no punches at Thursday's news conference. (Mark J. Rebilas-Paste BN Sports)
LAS VEGAS - Adrien Broner, brash as always, launched a verbal tirade on opponent Shawn Porter and his father Kenny at Thursday's final news conference at MGM ahead of their Saturday fight on NBC.
Broner became irate when he thought he was being introduced first to the podium and screamed at Mayweather Promotions CEO Leonard Ellerbe, saying "I'm not talking first. I ain't no B side. Get it right." Floyd Mayweather had to calm his irate protege down.
When it was the 25-year-old's time to speak, he certainly didn't hold back. He attacked the close relationship of Shawn and Kenny and accused the dad of pocketing money his son deserves.
"I'm fighting Shawn Porter, a football player, and I'm fighting his dad," Broner chirped. "It's like I'm fighting his dad 'cause the check comes in his dad's name and then he pays Shawn. He makes Shawn sign the check and then he goes and deposits it into a joint account."
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"He's spending Shawn's money, that's why he's got better cars, he's got the big-boy Jeep, you gotta hop out of it to get out of it. He's got the Corvette with the Lamborghini doors. While, Shawn, he's either catching an Uber or he's hopping out of his 2011 CTS, the little coupe. … They're both getting a check, if I kick both of their (expletives) do I get paid twice?"
Shawn never changed his expression. He never reacted and didn't let Broner get under his skin. At this point, though, Kenny had enough and interjected, attacking Broner personally in like kind and said "the truth will set you free."
"There's no truth to (the accusations)," Kenny told Paste BN Sports. " … But the only person who sees me at the bank is Floyd, we go to the same bank. We live on the same street, we live a mile away form the kid, so, maybe Floyd told him that. The only thing I do is make sure we sit down with the accountant and get those things paid. (Shawn's) not a guy that runs and spends money and does crazy things like that."
"He's trying to deflect from what he has to deal with. The fact that he has to deal with Shawn, he's trying to deflect that by putting it on me. … It didn't bother Shawn at all."
Shawn chalked up the big talk to mind games from the man who calls himself A.B., or "About Billions."
"I've seen it before. It's a trick that those old veterans like to do," Shawn said afterward. "He's probably the only young fighter I've seen do it. But not against me (will it work). … I don't respect it. But depending on what you say and how you say it, sometimes it's entertaining. For the most part, it's in one ear and out the other and I don't care about it."
Broner was unavailable to comment, but Mayweather gave his thoughts to Paste BN Sports.
"You see where the media's at," said Mayweather, pointing to a throng of reporters surrounding Broner. "It's obvious he's doing something right, hate it or love it. I used to do the same thing when I was young. I'm a lot older now, a lot wiser. It's a little different being on the other side, it's funny actually.
"I'm not mad at him, it's funny. I can't see how people get mad, it's entertaining. It's better than seeing a guy be boring, he entertained. It's fun, I like it."