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New Brizel Editorial: Alcohol Free Adrien Broner Could Win A World Title Again
By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent
Adrien ‘The Problem’ Broner is scheduled to return on February 13, 2021, on Showtime. Broner held regional and world titles at featherweight, super featherweight, lightweight, and super lightweight. Broner has won only twice in the 147 pounds welterweight class. Broner has not won a bout since beating Adrian Granados in 2017, four years ago.
An admitted alcoholic who wound up in the cruiserweight division, rather than the welterweight division, Broner went public with his drinking woes, says he is now sober, and has recently lost 35 pounds. In the midst of the current pandemic and television boxing new wave, Broner declared a comeback. Broner has been in training since Thanksgiving. He is going to fight three comeback fights in 2021, and wants to rise again in the welterweight division. If Broner wins his comeback bouts, and the boxing establishment hope he does, more power to him. Broner has a high mountain to climb, more self-discipline to achieve, and a lot to prove. The road ahead for reformed bad boy Broner will be tough to succeed on. He might also have to reverse his wild child image created by his public behavior.
There are plenty of talented welterweights out there. If Broner thinks he is still good enough to fight the best at 140 pounds in his thirties, a win is in the right direction. Broner, 33-4-1 with 24 knockouts, Cincinnati, Ohio, needs money from the comeback. Broner’s recent headline troubles include shootings, drugs, depression, money laundering, bowling alley and misdemeanor nightclub assault, unlawful restraint, contempt of court, and women, and has to settle both criminal cases and civil lawsuits. The overall cost of his legal trouble is easily in the millions, which is where his money went. Broner’s greatest enemy has been himself. Broner is a great ticket salesman, a controversial Mike Tyson like the figure of the lower weight classes and a fan favorite, whether for famous or infamous reasons.
If Broner returns to the ring on February 13, 2021, at super lightweight 140 pounds on Showtime, he will need an opponent on the Otto Wallin versus Dominic Breazeale undercard. Mexico’s 31-1-1 Pedro Campa, Broner’s originally scheduled opponent, pulled out when a team member tested positive for Covid-19. A junior welterweight opponent benefits Broner if he gets down to the 140-pound junior welterweight weight class where he excels. Broner has not made weight below welterweight since losing a 12 rounder to Mikey Garcia at Barclays Center in Brooklyn for the World Boxing Council Diamond Welterweight title in 2017. In any case, talk is cheap. If Broner can rise to the occasion in his career-defining crossroads comeback bout in a few weeks against whoever is in front of him, he will achieve more than a personal victory. The real victory will be over himself.
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