TFON’s Broner/Taylor experience

I got to attend my first live boxing match on Saturday and with some hard work and a little luck I was able to make my first match, my first major credentialed event. I want to recap my experience this past week. I want to thank ShoBox, Golden Boy Promotions and Magna Media for allowing me to work a big time event.

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I couldn’t make the workouts on Wednesday because of work, so that was a huge strikeout. Thursday and Friday my partner Chuck Richardson was able to make Press Conference and Weigh-In. Chuck was a huge help to The Front Office News due to my schedule being full at work. He was able to meet Adrien Broner, Emanuel Taylor, Andre Berto, Lucas Matthysse and Bernard Hopkins. Like how cool is that? Also, a pretty dope look for the site. Chuck got to talk to B Hop for around five minutes, I’m low key jealous. He also saw the Broner/Taylor press conference tussle.

Saturday, I arrived to the arena around 6:30, so I could be in the building for ShoBox Extreme which started at 7 pm. I got my media pass with no problem, I walk by the Showtime area and talk to a US Bank worker on how to get to the media area and the person has no clue, so first thought is man if I slide through this gate without permission I better not get tased because he didn’t know what was going on. Of course nothing bad happened so I stroll to my seat. I meet two cats who beat me to the arena one from Pittsburgh and another from Lexington. They both were super cool so we laughed and joked all night which made my first boxing media experience that much more dope.

The first fight on the card when I arrived was Cincinnati’s own Rau’Shee Warren and man he put on a show for the home crowd. Warren pitched a shutout in 10 rounds beating the breaks off of Jose Luis Araiza. Warren even knocked him down in the later rounds making the crowd go wild. Warren is a Bantamweight fighter the world needs to pay attention to.

Micheal Perez put in work to beat Jared Robinson.

Cleveland’s own Terrell Gausha beat Juan Carlos Rojas in a decision.

When the headliners started Andre Berto faced off against Steven Upsher. After a 14 month lay off you could tell from round one Berto had his power back. Even though Upsher showed a lot of heart and is an exciting fighter because he’s about action Berto dominated and showed he should be in all welterweight conversations in the next year or so.

Lucas Matthysee faced Roberto Ortiz in the next fight. After a feel out round, the 2nd round didn’t end to well for Ortiz as he got stopped by a body shot (word to Roy Jones, Jr.) by Matthysse. This fight caused a lot of controversy because Ortiz clearly got up before the ten count, but the referee stopped it. He must’ve wanted to get out of US Bank Arena or didn’t have love for Ortiz. Nonetheless Matthysee put himself inline for either Broner or Garcia, but he made no mysteries that he wants Garcia for “Garcia/Matthysse II”. I personally don’t think Garcia will give him another shot, but if the money is right who knows?

Now to the main event, what everybody came to see Adrien Broner vs Emanuel Taylor. There were a lot of questions: Who was Emanuel Taylor? Would Broner perform better than his last out against Molina? Would he get a KO in his hometown? Welp, a lot of things were answered Saturday night. First off, Taylor ain’t no punk, even Broner acknowledged it. Broner had a better performance than against Molina, but Taylor was a better fighter also. Broner didn’t get a KO, but scored a thrilling knockdown in round 10 to keep his positive buzz going. The knockdown iced an otherwise close fight that could’ve easily been a draw, but it wasn’t and Broner moves on. One thing I take from Saturday is I don’t think a lot of people will be rushing to fight Taylor. Broner states he wants Matthysee next will this fight happen? Only time will tell.

During my duration at the arena there was three fights in the crowd and being on the floor I didn’t get good views of the scuffles. My homie Don told me there are always fights in the crowd at the fights and man was he right. In one of the fights rapper Rich Homie Quan was a participant. After him, Birdman and Young Thug led Broner down to ring performing “Lifestyle” something happened in the stands. Can we all just get along? *Rodney King voice*

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After the fights, I got to ask a few questions in the press conference. I stroll in there and while everyone is setting up, I look behind me and see Lamont Peterson. I immediately say to myself I got to chop it up with him and get a picture. So ask Berto, following the lay off when did he get his “pop” back. He proceeded to tell me around 9 months in short. I asked Taylor and Broner what was next. Taylor said, “Rest and chilling with family.” Broner said, “Cameo.” Which made everyone laugh, but then went on to say it doesn’t matter who they put in front me, not backing off all the Matthysee talk.

After the press conference, I was able to get a few pictures with Taylor and Peterson. Which was cool chop it up with both of them and went on my marry way.

It was a great experience, hopefully this is the start to more dope events.

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About J.T. Smith

Lil foot long foot, "kind of a" Sports Blogger, EIC @frontofficenews. An Ohio boy with an opinion. Bringing my #Bearcats thoughts to #TFON ... along with thoughts about other topics. formerly of Fansided and Scout. Follow me @_JT_Smith on Twitter
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