Alamodome, San Antonio, Texas - Marcos Maidana (35-3, 31KOs) pulled off one of the biggest upsets of the year with a twelve round unanimous decision over previously undefeated Adrien Broner (27-1, 22KOs) to capture the WBA welterweight title. The scores were 115-110, 116-109 and 117-109. Broner was dropped twice in the contest and was close to being stopped on more than one occasion.
Maidana came out with a fury in the first round, throwing hard punches with both hands. During the second round, Maidana landed a big left hand on Broner's chin and the champion went down. Broner got up and he was very hurt. He used every tactic possible to make it out of the round as Maidana punished him with punches to the head and body.
Broner seemed to shake things off in the third and started doing better with his counters. Broner started picking up the pace in the fifth, when he began to land more counters and was landing more punches than in any of the previous rounds. Maidana was bleeding from the mouth and nose in the sixth, as both fighters were getting off with punches.
Maidana landed a right cross at the start of the seventh and started pressing forward. Maidana was doing more body work, while Broner was countering from the top. Maidana appeared to be getting tired at the end of the round and Broner was starting to come on with several hard shots finding a home.
Maidana still looked tired at the start of the eight and Broner was landing more hard shots to take control of the contest. Just when Broner was coming on, Maidana landed a three punch combination to send Broner down for a second time. Broner held Maidana's hands and the angry Maidana headbutted Broner to get free, which led to a long break to give Broner time to recover and Maidana also lost a point.
During the ninth, Maidana came out strong and badly hurt Broner with a series of punches. Broner was doing his best to survive and was trying to get away from the barrage. Broner looked like he was ready to go, but he made it to the bell.
Maidana continued his surge in the tenth and was punishing Broner with hard power shots in the eleventh. Broner was being very aggressive in the twelfth and landing, but he was taking plenty of damage as well with both boxers closing the round with hard shots being traded.