By Allan Fox: IBF light welterweight champion Lamont Peterson is picking Adrien Broner(26-0, 22 KO’s) to defeat WBA welterweight champion Paulie Malignaggi (32-4, 7 KO’s) in their fight next month on June 22nd at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.
Peterson said to hustleboss.com “I think it’s a great move, moving up two weight divisions, but he’s not a small lightweight. He’s got the talent, and I’m picking him to win the fight.”
This is a difficult one to argue for Malignaggi winning because he’s giving up speed, power and youth to Broner. He may be the more experienced fighter, but I don’t think it’s going to be something that will help him in a positive manner next month.
Broner’s been knocking everyone out as of late and it’s been two years since one of his opponents has gone the distance with him.
That guy was Daniel Ponce De Leon, and Broner only 21 at the time that fight took place. If it were to take place now, I have little doubts that Broner would be too strong for De Leon.
Broner has stopped the following guys since his close win over De Leon: Jason Litzau, Vicente Martin Rodriguez, Eloy Perez, Antonio DeMaro, and Gavin Rees.
Malignaggi, 32, has won his last five fights since getting stopped in the 11th round Amir Khan in 2011. The problem that Malignaggi has is he’s not faced anyone really good during that time unless you count Vyacheslav Senchenko. Broner is a step up from those guys and I’m not sure that Malignaggi will be able to deal with his power and speed in this fight.
Malignaggi’s only chance of winning this fight is to stay on the outside and use his jab to try and keep Broner off of him. It worked for Malignaggi in his fights with Senchenko and Pablo Cesar Cano of late, but it might not be enough against Broner.
Comments are closed.