By Allan Fox: Adrien Broner says he’s moving back down to 140, and he believes that he’ll beat champions Regis Prograis and Jose Ramirez. Broner (34-4-1, 24 KOs) states that he’s going to “take over” the entire light welterweight division. Adrien wants to reinvent himself t 140, as he’s not had much luck at 147 in the last six years.
Broner would be lucky if he were able to beat any of these fighters:
- Regis Prograis
- Josh Taylor
- Jose Ramirez
- Maurice Hooker
- Pablo Cesar Cano
- Jack Catterall
- Kiryl Relikh
- Ivan Baranchyk
- Subriel Matias
- Vergil Ortiz Jr.
WBC/WBO light welterweight champion Ramirez (25-0, 17 KO) beat WBO champion champion Maurice Hooker by a sixth round knockout on July 27 in a unification fight on DAZN in Arlington, Texas. The way Ramirez performed in that fight, throwing a lot of heavy shots, Broner would have a lot of issues trying to beat him.
Broner would need to try and match the 26-year-old Ramirez’s high work rate for him to win. The major weakness in Broner’s game is he doesn’t throw enough shots to beat the better fighters. Marcos Maidana created the blueprint in how to beat Broner by throwing a lot of punches, and forcing him to defend.
Broner has come up empty at welterweight in the last two years in failing to win his last three fights in the weight class. His last win came in 2017 in beating Adrian Granados by a 10 round split decision in Broner’s hometown of Cincinnati, Ohio. A lot of boxing fans think the judges gave Broner an old fashioned gift decision. Broner’s last clear win came against Ashley Theophane three years ago in 2016.
Broner: I’ll beat Prograis and take over the division
“Everybody keeps talking about Regis Prograis. He can get it too,” said Broner via Fighthype in revealing his plans on moving back down to 140. “I’ll beat the s–t out of Buddy. They claim to be something they’re not. Him and Jose Ramirez, I’ll f–k him up too. I’m going to take over the whole 140 pound division,” said Broner.
The former four division world champion Broner has got to try something to resurrect his failing career. Six years ago, Broner was considered to be the replacement for aging superstar Floyd Mayweather Jr. Broner was considered by many boxing fans as the guy that would carry boxing on his shoulders as the next pay-per-view star in the sport. Things didn’t workout well for Broner after he lost to Marcos Maidana by a 12 round unanimous decision in December 2013, because he was able to get his career back on track.
Broner lost a one-sided 12 round unanimous decision to Mikey Garcia at 140 in July 2017, and he looked poor. In Broner’s other fights at 140, he’s looked less than impressive in beating Khabib Allakhverdiev, Emmanuel Taylor, Carlos Molina and John Molina Jr.
Broner says he’s given up on 144
“There ain’t no more 144. I gave it up,” said Broner. “I got to go to 140. That’s what I’m going to do. I’m going to go to 140, and take over 140. Ramirez will beat Regis Prograis. I think so, and I ain’t hating. I’m just talking facts. He can’t f–k with me though,” said Broner.
If things don’t work out for Broner at 140, he should consider moving back down to 135, because he might have better luck in that weight class. Broner fought well during his brief stay in the lightweight division in 2012/2013 in beating Gavin Rees, Vicente Escobedo and Antonio DeMarco. It was a good division for Broner. It’s unclear whether Broner could make 135 at this point in his career, but might be his best bet and righting his sinking ship. Super featherweight would be the ideal division for Broner to go back to. That was when he was at his best.