Adrien “The Problem” Broner Could Cause Problems at 130! By Ken Hissner (Oct 28, 2009) DoghouseBoxing
Ever since Aaron “The Hawk” Pryor followed the former heavyweight champion Ezzard Charles out of Cincinnati there have been comparisons to Pryor. There was Ricardo Williams who looked so good in the Olympics. Then found himself in and out of trouble as a professional and looks to be on the right road. Now, the person who favor’s Williams, is on the scene in Adrien “The Problem” Broner, 12-0 (9), a Golden Boy Promotions lightweight.
“Ricardo Williams is my favorite fighter,” said Broner. This writer contacted Broner about his experience at Northern Michigan University. “I only spent about 3 or 4 months there,” he said. From what I have been told by another, coach Al Mitchell didn’t let Broner spar with any of his team boxers in fear of somebody getting hurt.
After a successful amateur career Broner turned professional in May of 2008 and ran off three 1st round knockouts before stepping up to 6 rounds before the years end. R&R Promotions kept him busy at home in Cincinnati in the first two bouts. “They promote me when I am at home,” said Broner. In his third fight he signed with Golden Boy and stopped Ramon Flores, 2-2-1, in Carson, CA. In December he would stop Terrance Jett, 4-11-2, in the 6th and final round. After the win he did a back flip. Oh boy, that could be trouble for any promoter.
In January of 2009 he was forced to go the distance with Jose Alfredo Lugo, 10-6-1, at the Staples Center. “I injured both hands,” said Broner. He would be back home in March winning another 6 rounder over Eric Ricker 1-1. Three weeks later he was stopping Angel Rodriguez, 3-2-1, in Austin, Texas. “He was very awkward,” said Broner.
In his eighth fight he would step up to 8 rounds in a hard fought fight with Fernando Quintero, 7-0-1, in Forth Worth, Texas, pulling out a majority decision. “It was my worst fight. We were outdoors and it was so hot down there,” said Broner. Anyway you look at it he beat a fighter of quality with a fine record.
In June at the Staples Center he would meet red hot Australian William Kickett, 15-1, and would score a 6th round knockout. “I dropped him in the 4th with a counter left,” said Broner. “In the 6th I put him away with an uppercut,” he added. The people down under were not too happy with one of their top prospects coming all this way to meet such a tough and practically unknown fighter of Golden Boy’s. This was on the headliner that Golden Boy’s Victor Ortiz was upset by Marcos Maidana.
The Diaz – Malignaggi main event was in Houston and Broner got buried on a thirteen bout undercard back into a 6 rounder. He would make short work of Edgar Portillo, 5-2, in 1:37 of the 1st round. Back to Cincinnati in August and put in with a “spoiler” in Henry White, Jr., 4-3-1, who in two of his last three fights had defeated Tommy Rainone, 11-1, and Cortez Bey, 8-0. This would be Cleveland against Cincinnati and Broner managed to come out on top in 2:58 of the 3rd round in a 6. It was Broner’s twelth straight win and ninth by knockout.
Broner’s coach is Michael Stafford who was with the 2004 Olympic team. His father, Thomas Knight is the assistant trainer. Also, in the corner are Levi Smith, T Singleton and Kevin Benford. Next up in Cincinnati on November 28th Broner will return home once again for the fourth time. Broner is managed by Shelly Finkel.
The 130 division has four Latins on top in Mexico’s Humberto Soto (WBC), US’s Robert Guerrero (IBF), Puerto Rico’s Roman Martinez (WBO) and Venezuela’s Jorge Linares (WBA) holding the titles. With Golden Boy’s influence all of the champion’s can be more reachable than out of Cincinnati, but “the Problem” will be a problem for any champion anywhere this time next year!
