Adrien Broner: I will be champion in 2018

By Boxing News - 01/11/2018 - Comments

Image: Adrien Broner: I will be champion in 2018

By Stanley White: Adrien ‘The Problem’ Broner (33-3, 24 KOs) is saying that he’s going to be capturing a world title in 2018. He’s challenging anyone to come face him at 140. Broner’s name was mentioned by Amir Khan (31-4, 19 KOs) this week as an opponent that he’d like to face in 2018. However, Khan says he’s not interested in facing Broner in his next fight on April 21.

Khan is more willing to fight him in his second fight of his comeback in the summer. Khan’s thoughts were echoed by his promoter Eddie Hearn. He’d like to see Khan fight Broner, but until the summer. There’s some money to be made for Broner against Khan, as that would likely be televised on Sky Box Office pay-per-view in the UK. There wouldn’t be a world title on the line for a fight with Khan for Broner to win.

”I will be champion again this year. #2018TakeOver,” said Broner. ”Anybody that want to fight, come see me at 140.”

Broner does have a chance of winning one of the light welterweight titles now that Terence Crawford has moved up to 147.

Here’s the status of the 140 lb. belts right now:

– WBC – vacant. Jose Carlos Ramirez fights Amir Imam for the vacant WBC title on March 17. Broner fighting the winner of that fight is a possibility

– WBA – vacant. Kiryl Relikh will be facing Rances Bathelemy for the vacant WBA World 140 lb. title on February 10. That’s another option for Broner

– IBF – Sergey Lipinets will be defending his IBF title next month against Mikey Garcia. It’s unlikely that Mikey will keep the IBF title if he beats Lipinets. Broner could move and scoop up the belt after Mikey vacates

– WBO – vacant. Maurice Hooker will be fighting Terry Flanagan for the vacant WBO 140 lb. belt on April 14. Broner could go after he winner of that fight

Surely, Broner should be able to fight for one of those straps in 2018 against whoever emerges as the champion.

Broner, 28, could sure use a victory right now after the way he was schooled by lightweight Mikey Garcia last July on Showtime Boxing. Mikey didn’t look like he even broke a sweat against the flat-footed Broner in that fight. It was a disappointing effort by the former 4-time world champion Broner. He fought like an over-the-hill fighter from start to finish.

Broner hasn’t beaten anyone of significant for a long time, and it’s starting to look like his best years are well behind him at this point. It’s good that Broner realizes that he’s not cut out to be fighting in the welterweight division. Broner should have given up on the welterweight division a long time ago, as he could have avoided 2 of his career defeats against Marcos Maidana and Shawn Porter.