“I broke down and cried and screamed to coach, ‘I’m going to win this fight. I’m going to win this fight for him.’” – Adrian Granados
THE REVEAL with Mark Kriegel: Adrian Granados
Diam duab / Video Credit: SHOWTIME
Top-rated contender Adrian Granados opens up in an intimate interview with Sports Emmy® Award-Winning writer Mark Kriegel in the latest edition of the reoccurring SHOWTIME kev ua si® digital series, THE REVEAL with Mark Kriegel.
As Granados prepares to meet four-division world champion Adrien “The Problem” Broner Saturday, Feb. 18, nyob rau SHOWTIME® (9 p.m. THIAB/6 p.m. PT) nyob rau hauv Cincinnati, Ohio, he talks about his struggles, the loss of his long-time friend Ed Brown and what lies ahead for him on fight night.
A tough Mexican-American from Chicago, Granados enters this fight on a five-bout winning streak, including his impressive stoppage over then unbeaten top contenderAmir kuv nyob rau hauv Kaum ib hlis 2015. Uas nyuam qhuav, the 27-year-old dominated Ariel Vasquez over eight rounds in July. With a win over Broner, Granados can position himself for his first career world title shot.
Below are excerpts from the interview:
MARK KRIEGEL: “What does this fight represent to you?"
Adrian GRANADOS: “Cubs just won. This is my own World Series, koj paub. It took me this long to finally get a big fight, but I got it. This is going to be my coming out. I know a lot of people don’t know who I am. Those who do know me, they know I come to fight.”
KRIEGEL: “One of the guys who does know you is Adrien Broner. You were in his camp for Marcos Maidana. What stands out to [you] about him?"
GRANADOS: “He’s a great fighter. Kuv txhais li cas, it’s no fluke that he is a four-division world champion.”
KRIEGEL: “Did he ever hurt you?"
GRANADOS: “Definitely, we are humans. He can crack. He just had that explosive power. He had 16-ounce gloves and it felt like he was hitting me with his bare fist. He just hits hard.”
KRIEGEL: “Did you ever hurt him?"
GRANADOS: “Definitely. I know I did. He may not admit it. Hmoob, I know I had him bloodied a couple times. I know I had him backing up a couple of times. You just know as a fighter when you crack somebody.”
On the passing of top prospect and friend Ed Brown…
GRANADOS: “I believe it was a Sunday. I was in a barbershop…They were like, ‘I heard about your boy.’ And I’m … trying to keep it together. I just called George, our coach. He told me, ’Yeah man, Ed has died. Ed is dead.’ And right there I broke down and cried and screamed to coach, ‘I’m going to win this fight. I’m going to win this fight for him.’”