Adrien Broner has been reinstated by the WBC, after a months-long suspension for racially charged comments made after a win over Carlos Molina on the May 3 undercard of Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Marcos Maidana.
In his post-fight interview Broner referred to himself as the "Can Man," saying "anybody can get it. Afri-cans, I just beat the f**k out of a Mexi-can." He was scolded in the ring by Showtime commentator Jim Gray, then suspended pending an apology.
Broner mocked as 'Tin Man' by John Molina
Broner did apologize to the Nevada State Athletic Commission last month, according to The Las Vegas Review-Journal. "I didn't mean any harm, it was more entertainment. If I hurt anybody with what I said, I'm sorry. I'll be sure it doesn't happen again," Broner said.
"I still want to entertain when I perform in the ring. But I need to be more aware of the things I say from now on. I love performing here in Vegas. What's in the past is in the past. I'm moving forward and hopefully I'll be back in Las Vegas to fight again in the near future."
WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman has since released a statement that reads, "The WBC Board of Governors has voted in favor of accepting the public apology presented by Adrien Broner during his hearing at the Nevada State Athletic Commission.
"The suspension which was in place has been lifted and the WBC Ratings Committee has ranked him at number three in the super lightweight division. Mr. Broner, a former WBC lightweight champion, is expected to understand his role in society while being a public figure and as a former champion, represent the organization which believes in human equality, fair play and has an ongoing campaign against bullying."
Broner has teased a September 6 return to the ring on a card also featuring the hard-hitting Lucas Matthysse, although neither fighter has an opponent lined up as of yet.
One fighter eager to take on Broner is John Molina, who engaged in a firefight with Matthysse his last time out in April. The bout is a 2014 Fight of the Year candidate that saw Molina knock down Matthysse twice before losing by TKO in Round 11. Molina is open to a rematch of that fight, or to a date with Broner whom he called "Tin Man."
Molina suggested Broner is avoiding big punchers since a December loss to Marcos Maidana, the first of his career.
"I believe the fight can happen in due time. The 'Can Man' set himself up because he calls himself the 'Can Man.' He's not the 'Can Man' he's more the 'Tin Man.' You build yourself up to be a certain person that you're not and you shouldn't do that," Molina said.
"I'm happy with whatever he says. I'm looking at any of those big fights at 140. I think the fans would love a rematch with Matthysse, and I think fans would love a fight with Adrien Broner as well. There are a lot of question marks above Adrien Broner that need to be answered, and I think that I'm going to give him those questions."
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