As we approach the end of the year, boxing fans will have one last big event to celebrate before the holidays as Showtime will be live in San Antonio, Texas as Adrien “The Problem” Broner will square off and defend his WBA Welterweight Title against Marcos “El Chino” Maidana in the Alamodome. The winner of the fight will be held in regard as the best welterweight under the Golden Boy Promotions, besides Floyd “Money” Mayweather, but as far as a possible future matchup with Mayweather, that maybe another story.
Adrien Broner may currently be known for more things outside the ring than inside. Depending on how you judge “buzz” or public relations for a fighter, it can be a good or bad thing. He’s been arrested, been on video doing who knows what in strip clubs, he’s a rapper, and he doesn’t seem to care or respect the sport. However, when all of the flash and bad press is peeled back and you see him in the ring, he is a hell of a boxer that possesses good technical skills, and solid pop in both hands. He’ll be stepping into the ring Saturday with an undefeated 27-0 record with 22 KOs.
Like him or not, Broner’s bully tactics in the ring work. Is he the best young technical boxer in the sport? No, but he doesn’t get credit for how good he actually is. Even in one of his controversial wins against Daniel Ponce De Leon when he was 21 years old and fighting a veteran fighter that is well respected, he didn’t seem to get any credit. Whether you think he won or lost, it was a close fight and he fought well. More recently, he has solid wins over Antonio DeMarco, Gavin Rees, and Paulie Malignaggi. DeMarco was the hardest puncher of the three and Broner walked right through his punches. Now can he do it with an even harder puncher in Maidana?
Marcos Maidana is a fighter. His technical boxing leaves a lot to be desired, but he’s not there to win off points. He’s there to knock your head off. He’s coming in with a 34-3 record with 31 KOs. He plans to test Broner’s chin and turn it more into a fight rather than a boxing match. The 30 year old knows that he has an exciting fighting style and this could be his big chance to be pushed into the spotlight. He still would like a chance in the Floyd Mayweather sweepstakes and if he can KO Broner, he maybe on his way to that big paycheck.
Maidana is well respected for the heart he shows and the power he possesses, but he is also known as someone that can be frustrated by pure boxers. His three losses were to Andriy Kotelnik, Amir Khan, and Devon Alexander. His best wins were against the likes of Jesus Soto Karass, Erik Morales, Victor Cayo, and the one that brought his name into the spotlight, a TKO against Victor Ortiz, in which Maidana pounded Ortiz till he actually quit in the ring. Will he be able to inflict enough damage to Broner to cause him to do the same?
I’ve been watching Broner since 2010 and even though no one, including me, excuses some of his actions outside of the ring, if you don’t notice the in ring talents that he does have, then you are shielding yourself from someone who is very good. The biggest question will be if he can withstand the early pressure that Maidana will fire at him and if he can make it past the 3rd round in one piece. I believe he will box his way to a unanimous decision. Maidana is also a tough guy, so I don’t expect a TKO by Broner, but I also said that about the DeMarco fight.
When this fight is all said and done, I feel Broner’s superior technical skill will lead him to the win, however, anything is possible with Maidana’s power. Broner has not faced someone who punches as hard as Maidana. While Maidana has not shown he can solve the puzzle of fighters that can avoid getting into a street fight with him, it will be very interesting to see who’s style will be forced upon whom and how each man will respond to it. Either way, it should be a great way to get your boxing fix before the holidays, enjoy the fight.
