By Eric Duran
On Saturday night, Adrien Broner systematically broke down John Molina over 12 rounds.
It was far from an exciting fight, as Broner’s skills proved to be too much for Molina to handle. Many critics have been disapproving of Broner’s performance, instead of laying blame on Molina’s actual skill level.
Not wanting to praise nor recognize the the vast improvements of Broner since the Maidana loss, lost in the shuffle are the possible match ups that lie ahead for Broner. This may be due to his usual post fight shenanigans, as older reporters are turned away by his antics. However, with the Jr. Welterweight division set to take the boxing world by storm, tapping Broner as a dance partner could lead to some major fights.
With Broner’s PBC debut out of the way, what’s next for the three-time world champion from Cincinnati, OH?
On April 11th, from Brooklyn, NY, undefeated WBC Jr. Welterweight champion Danny Garcia will face Lamont Peterson. It’s a bout that can change the course of either fighter’s careers. However, the winner will propel himself to a major payday, needing an opponent of the same magnitude to share the bill.
Imagine a fight between Garcia and Broner. Every press conference and media obligation will pit Broner’s mouth against Angel Garcia’s mouth. A outstanding performance from Garcia could restore his image, possibly making it a PPV worthy main event.
In the case of a Peterson match up, you’ll pit two highly skilled, speedy fighters together. Broner will not hold the huge advantage in the hand speed department that he usually does. On a paper, it’s a main event worthy of Spike, ESPN, NBC or Showtime.
On April 18th, just a week after Garcia-Peterson, three of the best Jr. Welterweights in the world will take center stage. First we’ll hopefully view one of the greatest blood and guts fight of our generation, as Ruslan Provodnikov battles Lucas Matthysse.
If Provodnikov beats Matthysse, he’ll be looking for a bigger fights, looking to build upon the momentum. Again, Broner could be the right choice.
Provodnikov would test Broner’s ability to fend off slower opponents. He would also push Broner to have to stand and trade, proving whether or not Broner can handle the heat he fell victim to in the Maidana fight.
In Matthysse, you’ll have a fighter not scared of Broner’s speed and athletic ability. He’s proven against fighters like Zab Judah and Devon Alexander, both in their primes at the time, he has the ability to be competitive against fast-handed and footed fighters. Plus, he has fight-ending punching power.
Also on April 18th, Terence Crawford will make his Jr. Welterweight debut. Although his opponent, Thomas Dulorme, is a skilled fighter, he isn’t considered a threat to Crawford. I believe Crawford would give Broner his sternest test, as he is equally as talented as “The Problem.” His contract with Top Rank and loyalty with HBO, however, may block a potential bout with Broner.
If Floyd Mayweather beats Manny Pacquiao, Top Rank and HBO may want some payback: Crawford could provide that by beating Broner.
The ball will be in Broner’s court after April 18th. His charisma and pre-fight antics make any promotion bigger than usual.
Broner has proven he can be in entertaining bouts when his opponents can hold up their end of the deal. All five fighters listed above are proven elite level fighters, all capable of defeating Broner. And with a possible chance at a fourth title in a fourth division, Broner will be looking to cash in both financially and historically.
