Last Week in Boxing: Adrien Broner's Delusions and Heavyweight Knockouts
Last Week in Boxing: Adrien Broner's Delusions and Heavyweight Knockouts
By Jonathan SnowdenAdrien Broner and the world, at one point, were all on the same page. We saw him as a top prospect with charisma to burn. Possibly the ne
By Jonathan Snowden
Adrien Broner and the world, at one point, were all on the same page. We saw him as a top prospect with charisma to burn. Possibly the next, and people actually dared to say this aloud, Floyd Mayweather Jr.
All agreed he was a fighter with unique physical talents and a gift for gab that could carry him far. Playing the part of Floyd’s cocky little brother, Broner used his initials to create an ethos: “About Billions.”
We thought Broner was special. He, too, saw greatness in himself. Back to back demolitions of Antonio DeMarco and Gavin Rees demonstrated just how the Broner Era might be built. He’d be a rapping, dancing, brash boxer/puncher who would throttle anyone who dared to share the ring with him, then ask for his comb and charm the world in his post-fight interview.
But as time passed, we realized that, unlike Floyd, Broner's act wasn't remotely tongue-in-cheek. He wasn't playing a character on television. He was just an immature kid with delusions of grandeur.
There were warning signs early that forced us to reevaluate his boxing potential too. He struggled to earn decision wins over Fernando Quintero and Daniel Ponce De Leon, then grew from lightweight to welterweight and had all sorts of problems with a late career Paulie Malignaggi.
Lackluster losses to Marcos Maidana and Shawn Porter showed a fighter who never put in the work to develop into a world class competitor. But despite being led from the ring weeping like a child, Broner was never humbled in defeat. Despite his setbacks he still saw himself as he always had—as boxing's next big thing.
Friday on Spike TV Broner beat Ashley Theophane, unranked by any serious boxing observer, a man with no relevant wins on the world stage. Theophane showed up, gave his all, but eventually got walked down and stopped. This is what Broner does to C fighters, and that’s what Theophane is.
Afterwards he challenged Mayweather himself to a fight. Though it might sell tickets, it was a sign of his continued struggle to place himself appropriately in the boxing hierarchy. Simply put, Broner hasn't earned a place opposite the best fighter of a generation. And, sadly, maybe he never will.
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NOTES
1. Two undefeated prospects earned career best wins on the undercard of Broner/Theophane. While Gervonta Davis’ performance in stopping Guillermo Avila was more exciting, he took enormous punishment attempting to get inside and deliver his power shots before the sixth round ref stoppage finally came. That may not bode well for the future.
Robert Easter Jr. fought the better competition (Algenis Mendez), looked more dominant than Davis, and even got the more impressive KO. Easter is a huge and athletic lightweight that might easily be able to carry his power up to welter and above. His promise abounds.
2. Deontay Wilder took tons of flak for his first two title defenses. According to pundits, neither Johann Duhaupas nor Eric Molina deserved sanctioning body rankings at the time Wilder fought them. Interestingly, both had career best victories this weekend.
Robert Helenius, formerly an elite propsect, was dropped in the 4th and 6th rounds before being stopped by Duhaupas, and Eric Molina managed a come from behind 10th round knockout of Adamek that led the Polish hero to retire from the sport for good.
Maybe, just maybe, Wilder is better than his critics believe.
3. Manny Pacquiao’s retirement fight against Tim Bradley is still happening on April 9th. That’s just a few days from now. You might not have noticed—the wider sports world certainly hasn't.
Perhaps a good showing by Pacquiao here could lead to a marketable Floyd Mayweather rematch. If not, the end game isn't apparent. The purpose here was never clear. Bradley is a known quantity without much potential upside. A Terence Crawford match, at least, might have helped build a replacement star.
Most likely, Pacquiao will beat Bradley for a third time (second time in the official annals of history) and ride off into the Philippine sunset. That seems like the worst possible scenario for Top Rank and HBO.
Adrien Broner and the world, at one point, were all on the same page. We saw him as a top prospect with charisma to burn. Possibly the next, and people actually dared to say this aloud, Floyd Mayweather Jr.
All agreed he was a fighter with unique physical talents and a gift for gab that could carry him far. Playing the part of Floyd’s cocky little brother, Broner used his initials to create an ethos: “About Billions.”
We thought Broner was special. He, too, saw greatness in himself. Back to back demolitions of Antonio DeMarco and Gavin Rees demonstrated just how the Broner Era might be built. He’d be a rapping, dancing, brash boxer/puncher who would throttle anyone who dared to share the ring with him, then ask for his comb and charm the world in his post-fight interview.
But as time passed, we realized that, unlike Floyd, Broner's act wasn't remotely tongue-in-cheek. He wasn't playing a character on television. He was just an immature kid with delusions of grandeur.
There were warning signs early that forced us to reevaluate his boxing potential too. He struggled to earn decision wins over Fernando Quintero and Daniel Ponce De Leon, then grew from lightweight to welterweight and had all sorts of problems with a late career Paulie Malignaggi.
Lackluster losses to Marcos Maidana and Shawn Porter showed a fighter who never put in the work to develop into a world class competitor. But despite being led from the ring weeping like a child, Broner was never humbled in defeat. Despite his setbacks he still saw himself as he always had—as boxing's next big thing.
Friday on Spike TV Broner beat Ashley Theophane, unranked by any serious boxing observer, a man with no relevant wins on the world stage. Theophane showed up, gave his all, but eventually got walked down and stopped. This is what Broner does to C fighters, and that’s what Theophane is.
Afterwards he challenged Mayweather himself to a fight. Though it might sell tickets, it was a sign of his continued struggle to place himself appropriately in the boxing hierarchy. Simply put, Broner hasn't earned a place opposite the best fighter of a generation. And, sadly, maybe he never will.
-----------------
NOTES
1. Two undefeated prospects earned career best wins on the undercard of Broner/Theophane. While Gervonta Davis’ performance in stopping Guillermo Avila was more exciting, he took enormous punishment attempting to get inside and deliver his power shots before the sixth round ref stoppage finally came. That may not bode well for the future.
Robert Easter Jr. fought the better competition (Algenis Mendez), looked more dominant than Davis, and even got the more impressive KO. Easter is a huge and athletic lightweight that might easily be able to carry his power up to welter and above. His promise abounds.
2. Deontay Wilder took tons of flak for his first two title defenses. According to pundits, neither Johann Duhaupas nor Eric Molina deserved sanctioning body rankings at the time Wilder fought them. Interestingly, both had career best victories this weekend.
Robert Helenius, formerly an elite propsect, was dropped in the 4th and 6th rounds before being stopped by Duhaupas, and Eric Molina managed a come from behind 10th round knockout of Adamek that led the Polish hero to retire from the sport for good.
Maybe, just maybe, Wilder is better than his critics believe.
3. Manny Pacquiao’s retirement fight against Tim Bradley is still happening on April 9th. That’s just a few days from now. You might not have noticed—the wider sports world certainly hasn't.
Perhaps a good showing by Pacquiao here could lead to a marketable Floyd Mayweather rematch. If not, the end game isn't apparent. The purpose here was never clear. Bradley is a known quantity without much potential upside. A Terence Crawford match, at least, might have helped build a replacement star.
Most likely, Pacquiao will beat Bradley for a third time (second time in the official annals of history) and ride off into the Philippine sunset. That seems like the worst possible scenario for Top Rank and HBO.