By: Sean Crose
You could be forgiven for not hearing about BLK Prime a few days or so earlier. Truth be told, very few people actually have. Now, however, the organization that describes itself as a “video-on-demand subscription company that delivers cross-cultural content to a diverse audience worldwide” has made its mark in the fighting game. . First-time WBO heavyweight champion Terence Crawford, apparently fed up with negotiations to go up against fellow heavyweight king Errol Spence, signed a reported eight-figure deal with BLK last week. . Then on Tuesday afternoon, BLK let the world know that they had also signed former multi-talented player Adrien Broner on a three-year, one-year deal.
Appearing on an Instagram video, bearded and wearing a black T-shirt, Broner talks alone in front of the BLK backdrop. “This is a very special time for me,” he said. “I’m so grateful.” Warrior 34-4-1 then credits the Almighty. “I want to thank God,” he said. “I have had ups and downs in sports. God always finds another way to give me another chance.” Broner then took some time to credit Crawford, with whom he will likely fight in front of BLK cameras. “It started with my stable friend,” Broner said, “now my steady friend, my boy from Nebraska, Terence Crawford.”
Sure, Crawford will face David Avanyesvan in a match broadcast on BLK this December. “I’m going,” Broner said of the battle of Crawford-Avanyesvan, “fresh, airy and fancy.” Broner was, at one time, considered the heir to the throne of Floyd Mayweather. And indeed, this man certainly has his successes, having won 4 world championship belts in 4 weight classes. However, after being let down by Marcos Maidana in 2013, Broner’s career became a roller coaster ride. He won some games, but also lost some big ones. Broner most recently walked out of a planned bout against Omar Figueroa due to mental health issues (no matter what happens in the ring, here’s hope the guy is in a better place now. emotionally).
While no fight dates, opponents or locations have been revealed by Broner, there’s no doubt that BLK Prime has aimed at the fighting game in a big way. Broner is nothing if not a famous commodity in the sport while Crawford is widely regarded as one of the best – if not the best – boxers in the world. BLK Prime’s Broner said: “I think we’re going to take over boxing, and we’re going to reach heights that haven’t been seen before.”
