Showtime recently announced that Adrien Broner (33-2, 24 KO) will face Mikey Garcia (36-0, 30 KO) on July 29.
They will meet in a scheduled 12-round bout at a catch weight of 140, and at a location to be named later.
“I always want to fight the best. I know a lot of people are probably counting me out. I just see two fighters that got chips on their shoulders ready to put on a great show of boxing,” Broner said via ESPN.com.
On paper, it’s a heck of a match-up. Both fighters are young, offensive and exciting, and have quality resumes. However, the intangibles indicate this fight could be a blowout.
Broner vs Garcia odds Odds for this fight haven’t been released yet but don’t be surprised if Garcia is a heavy favorite when they are. (This page will be updated with odds when available)
Why?
Broner, despite winning 6 of his last 7 bouts and showing occasional flashes of brilliance, displays all the signs of a fighter going downhill, even at the tender age 27. Oddsmakers will be focusing on that element just as much, if not more, than both fighters’ ring accomplishments.
Over the last several years, the Cincinnati native has: Seen jail time Had repeated run-ins with the law Been largely inactive in the ring Gained astounding amounts of weight in between fights and Often failed to make stipulated weight limits
In addition to all of that, he’s unleashed multiple video and social media outbursts, and even threatened to kill himself.
Is AB ok?
Broner is seemingly a man too caught up in personal turmoil and drama to reach the level of dedication, focus and sacrifice it takes to be successful in boxing on the elite level.
… And his performances inside the ring show it. He wins but is no longer the dominant phenom he once was. In his defense, though, facing bigger opponents has probably contributed to several of his better-than-satisfactory performances of late.
Why Broner took this fight It would have been wise for Broner to get his life in order and take a few less risky match-ups before facing an opponent of Mikey Garcia’s pedigree. But no, he succumbed to the lure of a healthy pay day for presumably the same reasons that got him in this predicament.
——— Broner vs Garcia news Date: July 29 Broadcast: Showtime
Division: Super lightweight Titles: None Rounds: 12 ———
“So begins the process of ‘cashing out’ Broner,” stated FightSaga Radio host Joseph Herron.
Hence, Broner might be getting an inflated paycheck to partake in a bout that will a) likely end any semblance of relevance he still has and b) boost his opponent’s momentum and public appeal.
Given Broner still generates a bit of interest, this might be his advisor’s, Al Haymon, way of “showcasing” Garcia to a larger audience.
A focused, disciplined fighter who was thinking rationally and long-term about his career would have sacrificed the fast money and taken the necessary steps to rebuild his brand.
We’ve seen it all before. History is replete with fighters on the downslide who have opted to take the ‘big cookies’ for facing a surging opponent who is likely to beat them instead of opting for a measured, disciplined approach on the road back to the top.
Not only do those fighters lose – They tend to lose badly.
The odds, both literal and figurative, will be decidedly against Broner.
