The claim of talks for a Ryan Garcia-Adrien Broner fight in play for the end of this year caught many people by surprise.

Including Broner himself.

The former four-division titlist was taken aback by the recent news that discussions were in place for a targeted showdown versus Garcia (23-1, 19KOs). Golden Boy president Eric Gomez revealed in a recent interview on the 3 Knockdown Rule podcast that discussions had taken place with Hall of Fame promoter Don King for such a fight, but that Broner instead preferred one more stay-busy fight.

“I’m the same person who fight Manny Pacquiao, why the f--- will I be afraid of Saving Private Ryan,” Broner stated in a recent Instagram story after reading the news. “Send the contract!!!”

Ironically, both boxers will next appear on the ring on December 2 atop dueling shows.

Garcia will face Mexico’s Oscar Duarte (26-1-1, 21KOs) in a junior welterweight bout which will headline a DAZN show from Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. The bout is the first for the 25-year-old from Victorville, California since his seventh-round knockout loss to Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis atop an April 22 Showtime Pay-Per-View which remains the year’s highest-grossing boxing event.

Cincinnati’s Broner (35-4-1, 24KOs) will enjoy his most active campaign in six years with his next fight. He will next face Chris Howard (18-2-1, 8KOs) in the main event of a Don King Productions PPV show from Casino Miami Jai Alai.

The fight will be the second for Broner since signing with King earlier this year. The now 34-year-old ended a two-year ring absence with a ten-round decision win over Bill Hutchinson on June 10 at the same venue which will host his December outing. The fight versus Howard was originally due to headline the November 4 DKP show, but it was decided that King needed TWO gottam extravaganzas to celebrate his 92nd birthday.

Broner-Howard was on the books for a while. However, the still title hopeful insisted he would have gladly fast-forwarded to the high-profile outing versus Garcia had it been brought to his attention.

“@Golden Boy I never knew nothing about the offer with the fight with [Ryan Garcia],” claimed Broner. “I’m just now finding out about that as we speak but I’m here to let you know I don’t need a tune-up for sh!t.

“After Ryan take care of business in December, we can make it happen ASAP.”

Jake Donovan is a senior writer for BoxingScene.com. X (formerly Twitter): @JakeNDaBox