U.S. Bank Arena will have a “Problem” on its hands on Saturday, July 21 when undefeated WBO Junior Lightweight World Champion Adrien “The Problem” Broner returns home to Cincinnati, Ohio to make his second world title defense against former 2004 United States Olympian and number one rated WBO 130-pound contender Vicente “Chente” Escobedo in the main event of the HBO Boxing After Dark broadcast.

 

      “Battle On The Banks: Broner vs. Escobedo,” a 12-round fight for Broner’s WBO Junior Lightweight World Championship will take place Saturday, July 21 at U.S. Bank Arena in Cincinnati, Ohio.  The event is promoted by Golden Boy Promotions and R&R Promotions and sponsored by Corona and AT&T.  The HBO Boxing After Dark® broadcast will air at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT.

 

Tickets, priced at $128, $78, $53 and $28, go on sale this Saturday, June 9 at 10:00 a.m. ET and will be available for purchase by calling Ticketmaster at 800-745-3000 or online at www.ticketmaster.com.  Tickets will also be available at the U.S. Bank Arena Box Office beginning Tuesday, June 12 at 10:00 a.m. ET.

 

Following in the footsteps of great Cincinnati champions like Ezzard Charles, Aaron Pryor and Tim Austin, Adrien “The Problem” Broner (23-0, 19 KO’s) is adding more fans to his bandwagon with each and every fight.  A rare talent in the ring and wildly charismatic outside of the ring, the dynamic 22-year-old finished off a 4-0 campaign in 2011 with a November 26 knockout win over Vicente Rodriguez that earned him the vacant WBO Junior Lightweight World Title in front of him hometown fans in Cincinnati.  Broner was even more impressive in his first title defense on February 25 when he stopped previously unbeaten Eloy Perez in four rounds to retain his crown.  Next up is Escobedo and Broner has no intention of giving up his title, especially not in Cincinnati.

 

A member of the 2004 United States Olympic team, Vicente Escobedo (26-3, 15 KO’s) has cut a steady path through the obstacles in his path over the last eight years and now he’s more than ready to claim a world championship in Ohio this July.  A talented boxer-puncher with power in both hands, the 30-year-old from Woodland, Calif. who now makes his home in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. has defeated former World Champions Carlos Hernandez and Kevin Kelley at lightweight on the way to a world title fight against Michael Katsidis in 2009 that he lost via a controversial split decision.  Escobedo then moved down to junior lightweight where he found his niche and now boasts a four-fight winning streak, including a March win over Lonnie Smith for the NABO Junior Lightweight Championship, earning him status as the WBO’s number one rated junior lightweight contender and another shot at a world title.  On July 21, he’ll look to shock the Cincinnati crowd and bring the title back with him to California.

 

MAIN EVENT - WB0 JUNIOR LIGHTWEIGHT TITLE - 12 ROUNDS
Adrien BRONER                  vs.                      Vicente ESCOBEDO
Cincinnati, OH                                                 Woodland, CA
23-0 (19 KO’s)                                                26-3 (15 KO’s)

WELTERWEIGHTS - 10 ROUNDS
Keith THURMAN                 vs.                        Orlando LORA
Clearwater, FL                                                  Culiacan, MEX
17-0 (16 KO’s)                                                 29-2-2 (19 KO’s)

LIGHTWEIGHTS - 10 ROUNDS
Omar FIGUEROA               vs.                        Dominic SALCIDO
Weslaco, TX                                                     Rialto, CA
18-0-1 (15 KO’s)                                             18-3 (9 KO’s)

JUNIOR MIDDLEWEIGHTS - 6 ROUNDS
Chris PEARSON                vs.                        TBA
Trotwood, OH
3-0 (2 KO’s)

JUNIOR LIGHTWEIGHTS - 10 ROUNDS
Brandon BENNETT           vs.                        TBA
Cincinnati, OH
13-0 (7 KO’s)

HEAVYWEIGHTS - 6/8 ROUNDS
David LONG                        vs.                        TBA
Cincinnati, OH
11-2-2 (7 KO’s)

WELTERWEIGHTS - 6 ROUNDS
William JACKSON             vs.                         TBA
Cincinnati, OH
10-1-1 (5 KO’s)

JUNIOR LIGHTWEIGHTS - 6 ROUNDS
De’Vonte ALLEN                 vs.                        Kaleem ALEEM
Cincinnati, OH                                                  Muskegon, MI
4-0-1 (3 KO’s)                                                   3-0 (2 KO’s)

JUNIOR LIGHTWEIGHTS - 6 ROUNDS
Mel CROSSTY                     vs.                        Joseliz CEPEDA
Cincinnati, OH                                                  Santo Domingo, DR
5-0-1 (1 KO)                                                      5-2

*CARD SUBJECT TO CHANGE*