The Adrien Broner circus returns to town this Saturday night.
And to the surprise of many there?s a change of role for ?The Problem?. No longer will he be playing the polarizing clown ? a role that had become both entertaining and infuriating in equal measure. The new mature ?Adrien Broner? has eschewed that and begins his next act as ringmaster general.
This new-found maturity has, of course, already been called into question with the news the stipulated weight of his bout with Adrian Granados has increased from 140 to 147lbs.
It?s a fight that did have a modicum of intrigue. But with its move northward to 147lbs, further advantaging Broner, most of the intrigue has evaporated.
Granados is 3-1-2 at 147lbs against very average opposition. Broner may be 1-2 but has only mixed it at world level or just below.
Granados is getting support from insiders and many expect this to be a competitive, exciting fight.
It could be exciting.
Competitive? On the scales maybe.
Broner?s struggles (vs Maidana, Porter and Ponce de Leon) came against fringe world-class/world class level. His two lossec came on the only two occasions where Broner didn?t enjoy a significant weight advantage. Both Maidana and Porter, like Broner, balloon to around 160lbs on fight night
Granados does not fit either of these criteria. Its likely Broner will have 7-10lbs advantage on fight night and Granados has struggled at far below world level.
The reason for Broner?s problems versus larger fighters is due to his inability to impose his size. He?s misunderstood by many fans and pundits. Many think of him as clone ? an inferior one ? of Floyd Mayweather.
He?s more Land Wind than Land Rover. From the outside its hard to differentiate. Look under the bonnet, or peel away the decals and one uncovers the reality.
Broner is predominantly an inside fighter. This was music to the ears of Maidana who both operates in a similar space. Floyd was able to move when he wished against Maidana, especially in the rematch, making ?Chino? look clumsy and awkward on the outside. But Broner is flat-footed and his inadequacies are exaggerated when forced to move.
His inside game, however, is massively underappreciated. He has great defense there and controls distance with his lead arm. His short neck and position of his chin makes it hard to hit him clean when he?s close.
Offensively he punches to the body well and throws monstrous hooks and uppercuts when in close. Granados may enjoy the proximity but he uses strength and toughness while abandoning thought and guile.
So while Granados can ?fight? there; Broner can box there.
