Gavin Rees has hit out at WBC lightweight title holder Adrien Broner, claiming that the American is disrespectful and arrogant.
The Welshman, who will step into the ring with Broner this weekend, described his opponent as "cocky" and warned him not to underestimate him.
"He's got all the mouth let's see if he can back it up," ESPN quotes him as saying. "It's just a normal fight to me to be honest, it's just a ring. I've been over to Paris and won so fighting away from home doesn't bother me in the slightest.
"He's pretty cocky and I think he underestimates me. The game plan we've got is right and I'm confident in my own ability, he expects me to just come running in head first but he'll have a shock on the night, a lot of people will."
Rees went on to say that even Broner's compatriots dislike him, claiming to have encountered American boxing fans who hope he is successful in his title challenge.
"His attitude stinks man. He shows fighters no respect, but he hasn't even earned the right to do that. What has he done? I've been in the States for five weeks now and American boxing fans don't like him," he added.
"They tell me they hope I beat him and shut him up. I think he acts like a fool for no reason and no one really likes that.
"Who has he fought? I've seen his fights and half of those guys just stood in front of him letting him dictate the pace of the fight. I'm not going to let him do that. This is the first fight that I have trained away from home because I'm going to show him I'm no walk in the park."
Rees and Broner will meet in Atlantic City this Saturday.
Mark Langshaw
