By John J. Raspanti, Doghouse Boxing. - Former WBO junior lightweight champion
Adrien “The Problem” Broner, who relinquished his belt on the scales,
stopped number one challenger Vicente “Chente” Escobedo in five rounds
at the U.S. Bank Arena in Cincinnati, Ohio.
After Broner (24-0, 20 KOs) weighed in 3 1/2 pounds above 130-pound limit last night, the fight was placed in
jeopardy. A second agreement was reached for Broner to hit the scales
this morning. Broner weighted in at 143
pounds, 3 pounds above the renegotiated weight (140 pounds). The
fighters behavior was not exactly professional. After a dramatic few
hours, Escobedo’s purse was sweetened (reportedly to the tune of fifty
percent).
The fight was back on.
At the bell to begin the contest, the strength advantage for Broner was
apparent. The fighters met in center of the ring and exchanged jabs.
Broner ripped off a combination to Escobedo’s body. Escobedo, 30, from
Woodland, Ca, connected with a jab that made Broner smile. Broner
countered with a left hook. Broner landed another hard combination at
the bell.
Escobedo, 30, came out quicker in round two. His jab was occasionally
connecting, but his right drew air. Broner kept to his game plan of
working the body of Escobedo with jabs and right hands. When in close
he’d unleash a wicked uppercut. Near the end of the round, Escobedo
appeared hurt from another heavy combination. Escobedo countered with a
right at the bell.
In round three Escobedo continued to jab. Broner’s tight defense was
making it virtually impossible for Escobedo to land anything of
significance. Holding his left shoulder high, like his idol Floyd
Mayweather, Broner blocked Escobedo’s punches and countered back with
powerful hooks. Broner was growing stronger as Escobedo backed up.
Broner’s left to the side hurt Escobedo.
The gutsy Escobedo was determined to be more active in round four. He
tried to use the ring and box. Broner, 22, ignored whatever Escobedo
did. His much heavier punches were thudding off Escobedo’s body. A big
Broner left hook bloodied (and maybe broke) Escobedo’s nose. Broner
stepped in to take advantage and just missed a huge uppercut. Broner
strutted back to his corner like a man who knew the fight was in the
bag.
“The Problem” was right. Escobedo, with blood seeping from his nose and a
cut near his left eye was being broken down mentally physically. Broner
unloaded an uppercut that knocked Escobedo into the ropes. He followed
up that onslaught with three straight body shots. Escobedo stumbled and
felt another hard right to the head - prompting trainer Joel Diaz to
throw in the towel.
The time 2:42 seconds of round five.
“You been watching Adrien Broner fight for a long time,” Broner said in
the ring after faking out everyone (including his girlfriend) with a
fake marriage proposal. “That’s that. I’m moving up to lightweight.”
Escobedo was gracious after the bout.
“He talks and he backs it up. He was quicker and faster,” Escobedo said. “He’s got power.”
Heavy handed prospect Keith Thurman (18-0, 17 KOs) stopped journeymen
Orlando Lora (28-3, 19 KOs) in round six of a scheduled 10-rounder. The
bout was never in question. Thurman, 23, controlled the action with
speed and power. In round six, Thurman’s check left hook staggered Lora.
Thurman added a right hand that floored Lora. The veteran pulled
himself up but indicated to his corner that he had had enough. The
referee wavered off the contest.
The time was 1:36 seconds.
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