ADRIEN BRONER CERTAINLY NO FLOYD MAYWEATHER!

Los Angeles, CA– Many observers are quick to compare Adrien “The Problem” Broner (27-0, 22 KO) to Floyd Mayweather, Jr. (44-0, 26 KO).  On the surface, there are certainly similarities between the two fighters.  The hand speed, the shoulder roll defense, and the cocky attitudes both men display put them in a similar category among many boxing fans.  Unfortunately for Broner, this is where any comparisons end.

On Saturday night, Broner earned his third title in a third weight class by dispatching veteran welterweight Paulie Malignaggi (32-5, 7 KOs) at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY.  While most expected the 23-year-old Broner to dominate the 32-year-old Malignaggi, the Cincinnati native instead won a close decision and left a lot of people rightfully discussing his legitimacy as a premier boxer.

Broner did not look like one of the sport’s elite against Malignaggi.  He got hit far too much from “The Magic Man,” and was outworked in several rounds.  Watching the fight, I couldn’t help but wonder what it would be like if Broner’s “big brother” Mayweather were in the ring in his place.

I am inclined to believe that Floyd would have easily dismantled Malignaggi, and while he likely would not have stopped him, I believe he would have emerged from the ring having lost a single round.

Trainer Naazim Richardson was asked recently about the difference between Broner and Mayweather?  He said, essentially, that Mayweather is a great defensive fighter with an exceptional offense, and Broner is an exceptional offensive fighter with a great defense.  This appeared to be true going into Saturday night, but now things are a bit more up in the air.

Broner showed flashes of the brilliance that has his name mentioned among the best, but he also showed the flaws that he displayed against Daniel Ponce De Leon (44-5, 35 KOs) and Fernando Quintero (7-1-1, 0 KOs).  While Broner was very accurate against Malignaggi, he also got hit far too often and was quite inactive in several rounds.  Fighters with a high punch output seem to give Broner some trouble.

De Leon and Malignaggi both were able to take some of the shine off of Broner’s star.  Based on what I saw on Saturday, I have to think they won’t be the last fighters to do so.  There will definitely be a lot of opponents clamoring for a crack at Adrien after his somewhat unimpressive showing against Malignaggi.

Broner says he will let the fans pick his next opponent, and if he keeps his word, he deserves some praise.  There are several names out there I would like to see him face, including Marcos Maidana (34-3, 31 KOs), Robert Guerrero (31-2-1, 18 KOs), Lucas Matthysse (34-2, 32 KOs), 140 lb. World champ Danny Garcia (26-0, 16 KOs), or even Amir Khan (28-3, 19 KO).  If Broner truly is elite, he should be able to handle any of the names listed above.  If not, someone will turn his “0″ into a “1″ and solve “The Problem.”