Adrien Broner crashes an overhand right down on Ashley Theophane, who was stopped in Round 9 of their junior welterweight bout on April 1 in Washington, D.C. Photo by Naoki Fukuda

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Looking lethargic at times but still a level above his opponent, Adrien Broner stopped Ashley Theophane in Round 9 of the season premiere of the Premier Boxing Champions series on Spike TV in front of sold-out crowd of 8,172 at the D.C. Armory. The official time of the stoppage came at 1:10.

Broner, a four-division world champion, walked through all of Theophane’s (39-7-1, 11 knockouts) punches and in return hurt the British fighter multiple times to the body and head. Broner rocked Theophane with an overhand right which sent him reeling off the ropes into the middle of the ring. As Broner tried to come on to end the bout referee Luis Pabon jumped in sensing a defenseless Theophane needed saving.

Perhaps in homage to Wrestemania happening this weekend Broner took the mic immediately following his victory and called out his former “big bro” Floyd Mayweather Jr. The two have engaged in a public war of words since Mayweather first said he believes his guy Theophane would defeat Broner.

“Y’all probably know this. Somebody I look up to, somebody I admire took the chance to do an interview and talk all bad about me,” Broner said while being interviewed by Spike TV. “I’m a man who learns s__t from doing physical activit, so Floyd, you’ve got to come see me. You gotta see me, point blank, period. I’m a man at the end of the day and I come from the streets, the trenches. I came from nothing, water and corn flakes. I will never let another man disrespect me. I don’t care if we fight or spar,” Broner yelled into the mic to get a rise out of the crowd.

Mayweather didn’t take the bait as he focused his attention on his fighter and took his entourage back to the locker room.

It has been a whirlwind week for Broner (32-2, 24 KOs) as he lost 140-pound WBA title on the scales yesterday by coming in at .4 of a pound over and refused to work off the weight in the allotted two-hour window. In the beginning of the week Broner learned of a felony arrest warrant waiting for him back home in Cincinnati stemming from an alleged argument over a bowling gambling debt.

Broner had Theophane hurt several times in the bout including the fourth round when a big uppercut from Broner had Theophane stumbling back into the corner. Broner took a step forward to close the show but seemed at ease just prolonging the sparring session further.

Now the title Broner lost on the scale will remain vacant as Broner sets off to decide which weight class he wants to campaign in and shoot for a fifth world title.

In the co-featured bout, lightweight prospect Robert Easter (17-0, 14 KOs) electrified the crowd with a stirring fifth-round TKO victory over Argenis Mendez (23-4-1, 12 KOs) and then proceeded to entertain the crowd further with a unique dance to music only he can hear. The official time of the stoppage was 2:43 of Round 5.

The 25-year-old prot├®g├® of Broner graduated tonight from prospect to contender with his victory over the Dominican-born Mendez. Easter landed a vicious overhand right which was set up by a double jab combination. Mendez never saw the punch coming and was virtually out on his feet before referee Billy Johnson even started the count.

Easter had Mendez hurt several times in the bout including the Round 4 when a searing right hand landed flush on Mendez causing his knees to buckle. Easter sensing the end was near turned on the heat but Mendez managed to survive the round by landing a counter right of his own.

Easter used his height to keep former 130-pound title Mendez at a distance and used the sharp jab to control the bout. Mendez was a step up for the Toldeo, Ohio-born Easter. Mendez lost his title to Rances Barthelemy in 2014 and came in to the bout having won his last two bouts.

Easter had a tremendous amateur background and served as an alternate on the 2012 U.S. Olympic team.

In the opening bout of the Spike TV telecast, unbeaten Mayweather Promotions prospect Gervonta Davis (15-0, 14 KOs) defeated Guillermo Avila (15-5, 12 KOs) by sixth-round TKO. The official time of the stoppage was 29 seconds of Round 6.

Davis, a junior lightweight from nearby Baltimore, unleashed three furious uppercuts that snapped Avila’s head back violently, prompting referee Michelle Myers to jump in to stop the bout. Davis first struck first blood in the third round by opening up a gash under Avila’s left eye with a straight left hand much to the delight of Davis’ mentor and promoter Mayweather. Of all the fighters on the Mayweather Promotions banner it’s the 21-year-old Davis that Mayweather gushes about the most.

Davis’ southpaw left hand feasted on Avila’s shaky defense and as a result Davis had a monster fourth round hurting Avila several times with an assortment of left and right hooks. It was a body shot that had Avila keeled over just as the bell rang to save him. Davis finally scored the first knockdown in the fifth round with a left hook which was set up by another body shot. Avila beat the count but never recovered fully. In the sixth and ultimately final round Davis was able to capitalize on the badly beaten Mexican fighter. With his face a bloody mess, Avila leaned back on the ring ropes and allowed himself to be wide open for Davis’ uppercuts. Davis’ hand speed and technical skills were too much for the overmatched Avila.

In non-televised undercar action, D.C. native and former lightweight contender Anthony Peterson cruised to a 10-round unanimous decision victory over Samuel Neequaye (22-2, 15 KOs). The official scores at ringside were 97-93, 96-94 and 100-90. The brother of former 140-pound world champion Lamont Peterson got more than he bargained for in the opening round as Neequaye came out swinging for the fences. Peterson remained composed and landed a huge counter right landing flush on the chin. The Ghanaian fighter stumbled but stayed on his feet. Peterson flurried a wide array of combinations in the final few seconds of the round but Neequaye survived and finished the round. Neequaye tried to come back in the second round but was silenced by a Peterson right hook and an uppercut. Peterson started to control the fight from the third round until the final stanza giving his hometown much to cheer for.

Former super middleweight contender J’Leon Love improved to (22-1, 12 KOs) by defeating Michael Gbenga by sixth-round TKO. The official time of the stoppage was two seconds into the sixth round when Gbenga’s corner abruptly asked referee Joseph Cooper to stop the bout.

Love had a big Round 5, hurting Gbenga with a right uppercut that caused the Nigerian fighter’s glove to touch the canvas. The referee ruled it a knockdown. Love came on looking to end the bout but Gbenga managed to survive the round but his corner had seen enough. This is the 28 year-old Love’s fourth^th straight victory since being stopped by Rogeli Medina in 2014.

Washington, D.C. native Desmond Nicholson (16-1, 15 KOs) defeated Joshua Okine (22-5, 15 KOs) by eight-round unanimous decision. The official scores at ringside were 80-72, 79-72 and 78-74. Nicholson had to settle for his first ever decision victory but looked impressive over the durable fighter from Ghana.

Local lightweight prospect Patrick Harris (8-0, 5 KOs) defeated Derrick Bell (12-28-1) by second round knockout. The official time of the stoppage was 1:03. Harris scored a knockdown in the first round and overwhelmed Bell with a barrage of punches until the bell sounded. Harris landed a big right hand in the second round followed by a left uppercut to send Bell down for good.

Welterweight Shynggyskhan Tazhibay defeated Rairus Dudley (2-1-1, 2 KOs). The official scores were 39-37 (twice) and 40-36.

In the first bout of the evening, Gerald Tucker (6-0-1, 3 KOs) defeated Antoney Napunyi (10-15, 5 KOs). Tucker won by unanimous official scores of 40-36.