Broner outguns Escobedo, Calls out DeMarco Marquez and Rios!

Adrien “The Problem” Broner is quickly becoming that fighter you love to hate, and it’s no longer just about his arrogance… It’s his wanton disrespect for his opponent and the sport.

On Friday, Broner put his fight with Vicente Escobedo in jeopardy when he chose not to honor his agreement and instead tipped the scale 3.5 pounds over the contracted 130 pound weight limit.

Broner lost his WBO jr. lightweight title on the scale and was fined $60,000 of his purse, half of which was added to Escobedo’s purse, and the other half going to the Ohio Commission. Broner was then given the opportunity to weigh-in on fight night, under the agreement that he would weigh no more than 140. Broner came in at 143.

At that point, the fight was reportedly off but after hours of negotiating between the two camps, we had a fight.

“I got a great deal that changed my mind. People say it’s all about the money or it’s not about the money. I’m not going to lie, it is but at this point I wanted to come here to prove something and I didn’t think about the money. I thought about the title and the win” said Escobedo before stepping into the ring. “I’m the best at 130, throw anybody out there at 130 lbs., i’ll beat them”

The real “problem” was, the 30 year-old Escobedo was no longer stepping into the ring at U.S. Bank Arena in Cincinnati OH. to face a 130 pounder, he was facing a lightweight (135) where he had lost his biggest fights due to the size disadvantage… some could even argue that he was facing a full jr. welterweight (140). Broner weighed in unofficially at 147 on fight night.

Either way, when the bell rung to start the first round on Saturday night, Escobedo had already been beaten. It was just a matter of when the fight would be called.

After a feeling-out first round, Broner slowly started to pick apart his opponent round by round. Escobedo worked behind a quick jab but for the most part couldn’t find his target and when he tried to put together more than one shot, he found himself taking more than he could give. At the end of the fourth, a bloodied and bruised Escobedo looked all but done. Broner was having his way with the former Olympian and began to unload power shots and walk him down with ease. One minute in to the fifth, after taking shots, Escobedo was covered in blood. With 35 seconds left in the round, three consecutive right hands to the body while Escobedo was covered up against the ropes prompted trainer Joel Diaz to step up onto the apron and wave the white towel, signaling the end. Escobedo had no problem with the stoppage.

In the end, I’m not sure just how much of the brutal defeat we could put on the size advantage Broner had, with the obscene talent he possesses, I think the outcome would have been pretty much the same had he been a professional and made the weight.

After a fake proposal that ended with Broner asking his girlfriend to brush his hair, Broner called out WBC Lightweight champion Antonio DeMarco, Juan Manuel Marquez and Brandon Rios at a catch-weight.

“I’m going up and I’m going to give the lightweights hell” said Broner “Antonio DeMarco, you might be next, Marquez you can get it next or Brandon Rios, we can meet at a catch weight. It really don’t matter”

“He talks and he backs it up. I felt I could hang in there and beat him but he was much quicker, much faster and he did have some power” said Escobedo who broke down moments later. “I was away from my family, my wife and to come here and not get a fair fight, I just got emotional… but I came to fight”