1. vs ANTONIO DEMARCO
Result: W rsf 8
Title: WBC lightweight
Location: Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey
Date: 17 November 2012
Summary: Broner?s first foray into the lightweight division was against the reigning WBC champion and The Ring?s No. 1 ranked Antonio DeMarco and it took ?The Problem? 8 rounds to prove why he is being hailed as the heir to Mayweather?s pound-for-pound throne. Broner outboxed DeMarco for the first three rounds, frustrating the Mexican with his shoulder roll defence and sharp left hooks. From the fourth onwards, both decided to trade on the inside but it was Broner who still came out on top. By the sixth, DeMarco?s face bared the cuts and swelling of a beaten fighter whilst Broner?s was, typically, unmarked. In the eighth, Broner stepped it up another gear and put DeMarco down for the first time in a 31-fight professional career. His corner had seen enough and stopped the fight, granting Broner his second world title in as many weight classes.
2. vs VINCENTE ESCOBEDO
Result: W rsf 5
Title: vacant WBO super-featherweight (at stake for Escobedo only)
Location: US Bank Arena, Cincinnati, Ohio
Date: 21 July 2012
Summary: It was more Broner?s antics before and after this fight that helped define him, although his performance inside the ring was still impressive despite his unfair advantages. Broner weighed in 3.5 pounds heavier than the 130lb limit for this fight and so was stripped of his WBO title and almost caused the fight to be cancelled. After being offered more money than originally contracted, Escobedo consented to the fight going on and in doing so provided Broner with the spotlight he so vehemently seeks. The opening round was relatively quiet, but Broner dispelled any fears of this becoming a tactical battle by imposing his size and landing heavy artillery on Escobedo. Despite a valiant effort in round three, Escobedo was being battered and bloodied until his head trainer, Joel Diaz, finally threw in the towel towards the end of round five. Broner wasn?t quite done with the spotlight yet, though. In the ring after the fight, he got down on one knee to his girlfriend at the time and? asked her to comb his hair. Boxing had gained another outlandish and somewhat unmissable character.
3. vs DANIEL PONCE DE LEON
Result: W UD 10
Title: vacant WBO Inter-Continental super-featherweight
Location: Honda Centre, Anaheim, California
Date: 5 March 2011
Summary: After 19 victories over questionable opposition in as many fights, Broner took his first major step-up in competition when he faced Ponce De Leon. Although the bout was mooted as a showcase for the up-and-coming Broner, Ponce De Leon (41-2 at the time and a former world champion) certainly came to fight. The first three rounds seemed to go to the Mexican, who prevented Broner from landing with his guard held high. Broner found his range in the middle rounds, potshotting Ponce De Leon but never really ?getting off?. The final few rounds were much closer with both fighters having their moments, but it was Broner who impressed the judges more, winning an unpopular unanimous decision with scorecards of 96-94 twice and an inaccurate 99-91.
4. vs VINCENTE MARTIN RODRIGUEZ
Result: W ko 3
Title: vacant WBO super-featherweight
Location: US Bank Arena, Cincinnati, Ohio
Date: 26 November 2011
Summary: Broner officially arrived on the world scene and made a statement at the same time when he knocked out Rodriguez in round 3 in front of a home crowd. Despite not landing much in the first round, Broner showcased his superior handspeed, once again using his left hook as the weapon of choice. Rodriguez seemed to take the second purely because he was the busier man, but his flurries never troubled Broner. In the third, Broner found his opening and put Rodriguez away with a series of uppercuts followed by a biting left hook. His opponent made no attempt to get back to his feet and was counted out by referee Frank Garza. After 22 outings as a professional, Broner had now won his first world title.
5. vs GAVIN REES (pictured above)
Result: W RTD 5
Title: WBC Lightweight
Location: Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey
Date: 16 February 2013
Summary: After a unification fight with WBO champion Ricky Burns failed to materialise, Welshman Gavin Rees stepped up to try and solve ?The Problem? and make his second attempt at a world title after winning the WBA Light-welterweight title in 2007. Despite a strong start from Rees who found some early success in the first two rounds, a combination from Broner that pushed him back in the third indicated that it was only a matter of time before the champion took over. Indeed, from that point on it was all Broner who put Rees down with a right uppercut in the fourth. Rees showed his heart by keeping up his pace in the next but was punished for his efforts when Broner put him down again, this time with a left hook to the body. Shortly after, Rees? corner, headed by Gary Lockett, threw in the towel for their man. Although Broner did as he was expected to, he still looked very impressive in dispatching the determined Rees, who was 37-1-1 going into the fight.
