By Andreas Hale
Boxing’s excellent 2017 will continue with a very intriguing matchup between Adrien Broner and Mikey Garcia that will take place on July 29th at a location to be determined. On the surface, this is an excellent bout between a recognizable mainstream name and a rising star. But if you dig into the fight and peel back the layers, there’s so much more at stake.
"I want this to be the best performance of my career,” Broner said on a conference call to announce the fight. “I feel like my back is up against the wall and it’s time to fight."
Once upon a time, Broner was ranked as high as #5 on The Ring magazine’s pound for pound list. That was in 2012 when Broner was running through the lightweight division with very little opposition. But then Broner jumped up to welterweight and found that things don’t come as easy as they did when he was facing smaller opposition. More importantly, he learned what would happen when he shared a ring with an opponent that didn’t care who “The Problem” was when he fought the physical Marcos Maidana. Although Broner showcased tremendous heart by sticking through the physical 36 minutes, he was somewhat exposed. Since that loss, he looked solid, but not spectacular against mediocre opposition until he met yet another physical fighter in Shawn Porter who, for the most part, dominated the slow starting Broner. He’s picked up another trio of wins but the luster of Adrien Broner has been reduced to TMZ headlines as fight fans attempt to figure out what he’ll get in trouble for next.
So, yes, his back is up against the wall. And he should also know that he’s being used as a stepping stone for Mikey Garcia to catapult himself into the spotlight.
The reality is that Broner is being placed in this fight because he carries a name that many casual boxing fans are familiar with. Garcia, on the other hand, is going to enter this fight as the guy that Broner should beat. Those of us that know better are aware of just how shortsighted this is. But casual viewers aren’t aware of the dangers that Mikey Garcia brings to the ring.
"This next half of my career, I'm focused on doing things the correct way," Broner said.
This particular comment is the one that should give anyone pause. It’s not the first time we’ve heard Broner say this and it likely won’t be the last. His numerous run-ins with the law have become too much to count and his antics have become more vital to his relevancy than what he does inside of the squared circle. Still only 27, he’s dangerously close to fading away from boxing relevancy. The main thing keeping him afloat is how he conducts himself outside of the ring. And when your behavior is more significant than your ability, you are in a world of trouble.
Some say that Broner has taken his ability for granted. And considering his moderate success over the past few years, that statement is pretty spot on. He’s demonstrated very little growth as a fighter and hasn’t added any new wrinkles to his game. This isn’t to say that he cannot, but he must in order to remain relevant in this sport. Otherwise, if he comes into this fight with Mikey Garcia with the same flat-footed approach, he’s going to lose and it will likely be the last time we see Broner in a meaningful fight. And he definitely won’t be the A-side in a major bout.
"This fight is to show people I'm still here and to take over the game of boxing," he said.
Although not impossible, it’s certainly improbably given the current landscape of talent that occupies the junior welterweight and welterweight divisions. The question is whether Broner is using these statements as motivation or if he truly believes that he can be boxing’s big star that most expected him to become back in 2012.
Fortunately, Garcia won’t present the kind of opposition that both Porter and Maidana brought to him. That physical style, which wears down opponents, is not something that Broner has been comfortable dealing with. Garcia, on the other hand, is a boxer puncher who is as sharp and accurate as he is powerful. The fight itself is intriguing because we will see if Broner will be able to make adjustments as the fight progresses. Garcia has proven to be a smart fighter who is both economical and effective. He may not be as physically imposing as Shawn Porter, but he’s something that Broner has yet to deal with in the ring. It’s going to be a challenge that the 27-year-old will need to prepare for unlike any other opponent.
"Everyone was saying I'm not taking tough fights and now I am. This is going to be a tough fight."
But Broner should be aware of this. If he enters this fight thinking that he’s still the man who can rest on his laurels and get past Garcia, he has another thing coming. Oh, and the weight. That’s going to be the real tell when trying to figure out if Broner is taking this seriously or not. He’s been an in-betweener of sorts who doesn’t seem comfortable at welterweight but is too big for junior welterweight.
Maybe he’ll come into this fight in the best shape of his life. Maybe Adrien Broner will finally realize that the opportunities given to him are evaporating and boxing is truly an unforgiving sport where a few losses can banish you to relative obscurity. But it’s a risk Broner eventually had to take. He’s an older 27 who has put himself and his body through a lot more than most 27-year-olds have. A valiant performance may not be enough. Under no uncertain terms, we may be looking at Adrien Broner’s last stand.