Besides the winner of this weekend’s battle moving up in their fight careers – the winner of the battle of Adrian’s will also have bragging rights to one of Rocky Balboa’s famous catchphrases: “Yo Adrian, I did it!”
Where
Cintas Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA.
When
Saturday February 18th, 2017.
Time
9pm ET/6pm PT in the US, which is a 2am start of fight coverage of the event in the UK and Ireland.
TV Info
Showtime in the US, BoxNation in the UK and Ireland.
Odds
Fight Preview
The Problem has gradually become so unsolvable, even the owner of the moniker, Adrien Broner, is struggling to solve the puzzle he’s created.
Broner 32-2(24KO’s), has danced to his own tune since he turned professional, enjoying the hecklings of the opposing crowds more than the cheers he would receive in hometown Cincinnati.
For all his critics, Broner is a 4-weight world champion, winning belts from Super Featherweight to Welterweight.
He is now beltless, having yet faced another problem in making weight to defend his Super Lightweight crown.
His latest antics have earned him little more credit.
Initially agreed upon a 142lbs catch weight for this contest with Adrian Granados, Broner has offered Granados the fight at Welterweight now, 5lbs heavier.
Granados had the opportunity to renegotiate the contract, guaranteeing himself more money for a situation that pits Broner in further control of the outcome.
Granados 18-4-2(12KO’s), is unlikely to be effected by the higher weight.
He is 2-3 inches taller than the favourite, and has vast experience in the Welterweight division.
But while many will suspect Broner had not really trained to get down to 142lbs, Granados has.
A surprise stoppage win over Amir Imam (TKO 8) at the end of 2015, seemed as though it would be a lift-off point for the Illinois fighter, but instead, after a busy 2015, 2016 drew up just one fight, a win over a 12-15-2 fighter.
(Via Showtime YouTube)
Granados has never been matched easy, and hasn’t been an easy match-up for young fighters.
But Broner is no longer in that young fighter category.
Still a gifted fighter, Broner can be evasive, and puts together hurtful combinations together, very, very well.
Prediction
Broner can often lull into inactivity inside the ring, and while he will likely do so again on Saturday night, if he wants to remain “About Billions”, he must take care of Granados handily, becoming the first man to stop him and move on to the bigger contests that yet again await the outspoken ‘AB’.
Based on no changes to the 12 round schedule for this contest, the feeling is that Broner can finish the job inside the distance.
Granados can have his moments of success, but they will be few and far between.
The cleaner, precise and fast work of Broner will be more than enough to force an end somewhere around the 9th.
