Kellerman: Broner is a huge favorite over Rees because he’s special

By Boxing News - 02/15/2013 - Comments

broner62By Scott Gilfoid: HBO analyst Max Kellerman doesn’t think WBC lightweight champion Adrien Broner is a huge favorite over Welsh fighter Gavin Rees due to Rees being a limited fighter, but rather because Broner is just so talented right now that he’s head and shoulders over the rest of the lightweight pack.

Kellerman said to I Film London “He’s [Rees] a good fighter, and the odds, which are absurdly wide over here, as much as 80-1 at some point, is a reflection more of what they think of Broner than what they think of Gavin. People think Broner is a special kind of fighter, and I think the odds reflect that over here. He can fight, Gavin Rees can fight…The way Broner, it was one of the most thorough beatings you’ll see a top fighter. So coming right on the heels of that fight, Broner’s going to be a big favorite against any top 135 pounder. You can’t do that against DeMarco unless you’re a next level talent.”

I totally agree with Mr. Kellerman. You don’t spank a fighter like DeMarco, who is a couple levels above Rees, unless you’re a major talent. It’s not that boxing fans and the betting public don’t think Rees is a decent fighter, it’s that Broner is just so talented and widely respected right now that anyone matched against him is going to be considered fodder.

It hurts Rees’ case that he hasn’t fought anyone good in five years because you can’t really gauge his talent because he’s been out of it for so long in terms of facing world class guys. Rees has been on the shelf since 2008 when he was beaten by Andriy Kotelnik.

Rees has been winning since then, but against domestic and European level opposition instead of world class competition. You don’t like to see a fighter that’s been out of it as long as Rees has suddenly put in with a major talent like Broner because it’s just too big of a jump for him.



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