We learned some things tonight in watching Adrien Broner (27-0, 22 KO’s) battle hard to barely beat WBA welterweight champion Paulie Malignaggi (32-5, 7 KO’s) by a 12 round split decision in a fight televised by Showtime. We learned that Broner isn’t cut out for the welterweight division. Malignaggi clearly showed that by almost beating Broner.
We saw that unless Broner moves back down to the lightweight division, he could end up as little more than just a contender in the future. We learned that Broner’s power isn’t as lethal at welterweight compared to when he was fighting at lightweight.
Malignaggi exposed Broner’s flat-footed fighting style and was able to easily outmaneuver him in the ring for much of the fight. It often took Broner too long to get his shots off because he often waited too long before he’d let his hands go.
Broner wouldn’t throw punches when Malignaggi was letting his hands go, and this made him vulnerable because Malignaggi was able to shut him down for long periods of time simply by being busy.
Broner looked kind of sad and pathetic after the fight in saying “He couldn’t hit me. He was shadow boxing. All he did was run. I just cut off the ring. That’s all I had to do. I feel very comfortable at this weight. Since everyone says I’m picking my opponents, my next opponent I’m gonna let ya’ll pick.”
I can think of two contenders right off the bat that would likely beat Broner – Keith Thurman and Marcos Maidana. You can add light welterweight Lucas Matthysse to that list. I think all three of those guys would beat Broner if Golden Boy Promotions and Broner’s adviser Al Haymon would let him fight those guys. I don’t think they will. I believe Broner is going to be steered around them, and put in with one of the bottom ranked contenders if he doesn’t vacate the WBA title outright.
Broner was hit tonight and that’s the sad part about him saying he wasn’t hit. Malignaggi hit him constantly and his shoulder roll defense wasn’t good enough to pick off the massive amounts of punches that Malignaggi threw in the fight.
