Adrien Broner accomplished what he set out to do Saturday night.
Broner came to Atlantic City, to show fight fans and pundits alike that he could deal with pressure, take a punch, defeat a quality opponent, look elite in the process, and put on the Adrien Broner show.
Check mate for everything “The Problem,” came to do.
Broner put his total skill set on display Saturday night, and shut down an opponent who up until then, was looked at a legitimate champion on the rise, and someone who could present a problem to “the problem.”
The argument will be made that Broner is a “clown act,” “shucks and Jives,” and is all flash and arrogance, with no substance.
That couldn’t be further from the truth.
Adrien Broner is who I call Mayweather 2.0.
That’s right I said it.
Adrien Broner has watched Floyd Mayweather Jr., market himself to the public, with brash comments, some disrespect, a disdain for his opponent, and most importantly, the ability to make everyone in the building hate him, while still knowing he’s going to win.
Broner can fight, and he knows he can win.
“What can I say after a performance like that? That I’m good. Nah, I can’t even say that. That I’m great? Nah, I can’t even say that. I’m elite. And like I said coming into this fight, I’m an elite fighter who can make a good, great fighter look like an amateur, and I think that’s what I did today. I came into the fight, smiling, dancing, and I smiled, danced and cried my way out. True champion.”
“Training camp went well. We had tremendous work, real good work. Solid sparring partners. I busted my ass every day. You know, I came into the fight looking for a war, because I know DeMarco’s a warrior. And he definitely — well, he tried, you know. I mean, but, ‘The Problem’ stands. 25-0. 21 knockouts. Two-time world champion. 23 years old. They say before you make something happen, you gotta see it yourself, and I been seeing it, I dreamed of it, and now I’m living my dream. I just want to thank everybody who supported me. This is not the last, this has just begun: The Adrien Broner, Mr. HBO show.”
Broner destroyed DeMarco in dominating fashion, to win his 2nd world title, at the age of 23.
He took a fighter known for his straight ahead style, ability to pressure an opponent, and will to win, and totally confused and frustrated him.
He beat Antonio DeMarco to the punch every time, had DeMarco confused about any offense he wanted to pursue, and turned defense and counter punching into offense, all from his defensive pocket.
Antonio DeMarco’s promoter Gary Shaw was equally impressed, even in defeat.
“I think he can be the next Floyd,” said Gary Shaw, DeMarco’s promoter, who has been around boxing since the 1970s. “He’s fast, he has the moves, he has great defense. Obviously, he has punching power. He hurt DeMarco a few times, cut him up. I think Broner is the total package.
“Very few guys could stand up to a guy like that for eight rounds. Broner is special.”
Broner battered DeMarco with right hook after right hook, while shoulder rolling and dodging everything DeMarco threw at him.
To Antonio DeMarco’s credit he kept coming, taking all of Broner’s early onslaught.
Broner had a huge 5th round, landing 52 of 78 power shot, and had DeMarco’s corner contemplating throwing in the towel.
DeMarco refused to quit, and let his corner know there would be no quitting on this night.
Broner continued his assault into the 8th round where he dropped DeMarco with a crushing left uppercut.
Adrien Broner must have known the end was nearing, because he started doing a dance before the referree could even begin to count DeMarco out.
DeMarco’s corner had enough, threw in the towel, and referee Benjy Esteves at 1 minute, 49 seconds in the eight round.
Broner of course had plenty of post fight quotes for Larry Merchant.
“I don’t try to knock out people,” Broner said. “But I know I have the ability to press him and get the cheese.”
“He was definitely the toughest opponent I have faced,” Broner said. “He was strong and could take a punch, but I’ll fight anybody. I’ll be running this city and sport for a long time to come.”
Adrien Broner definitely has positioned himself to run Atlantic City, and any boxing town for years to come.
With the impending retirements of Floyd mayweather Jr, and Manny Pacquiao, the sports of boxing will need a megastar.
Yea there will be plenty of good fighters, maybe even great fighters, but not to many can be great and polarizing figures.
From the moment he started his ring entrance, which can be seen in the video below, Broner had Boardwalk Hall eating out of the palm of his hand.
http://youtu.be/Bx8-jFM7nwc
The hot pink trunks, Kendrick Lamar accompanying him to ringside, the dancing while on his way to the ring, Broner has taken the style, swag, and charisma of “Money Mayweather,” and up the ante to the extreme.
How many boxers do you know can knock a guy down, and already be halfway through a swagged out dance, as the ref is still trying to determine if the opposing fighter is going to make it.
Only Adrien Broner in this day and time, could have knock Antonio DeMarco down, and pulled off a cool jiggy of a dance, in hot pink trunks.
Adrien Broner is the problem, and as long as he can stay focused, continue to work hard, and avoid the perils of most athletes, he’s going to be a problem for a long time.
Get used to it.
http://youtu.be/Sdte0P7kwGM
In the other co-main event of the evening, heavyweight Johnathon Banks (29-1-1, 19 KOs) scored an unbelievable upset over the favorite and unbeaten Seth Mitchell (25-1-1, 19 KOs).
Mitchell, the former Michigan State Spartan football player, and supposed next great american heavyweight, had a good portion of the crowd there from the Maryland, D.C. area, there to see him.
They were extremely disappointed.
Banks knocked Mitchell down 3 times in the second round, before referee Eddie Cotton halted the bout at two minutes, 38 seconds of the round. He dedicated his performance to the late trainer Emanuel Steward, who died on Oct. 25.
“I was very motivated for this fight in light of everything that has happened,” Banks said. “I wasn’t thinking of myself as an ‘opponent’ whatsoever. Mitchell is a big, tough, strong guy, but he couldn’t handle me. He was not experienced enough to hold on or grab me and therefore I was able to continue to hurt him.”
Mitchell got off to a strong start, pressuring Banks from the beginning, and banging away on the inside.
Banks caught Michell coming in with a straight right that he didn’t see, and it was all over from there.
Banks dropped Mitchell 2 more times, to the dismay of the crowd.
“I could’ve gotten through the round, but the ref did what he had to do,” Mitchell said. “I feel OK, he just caught me with a good shot. “I’m really upset, but this won’t spoil my dreams. It will set me back a little, but don’t feel sorry for me. Feel sorry for my next opponent.”