By Jim Calfa: Adrien ‘The Problem’ Broner is now facing Hank Lundy in 10 round bout at welterweight on February 25th in the main event on BLK Prime after the initially scheduled opponent Ivan Redkach was pulled for unstated reasons. Broner-Lundy will be shown on BLK Prime PPV for $39.99.
With that price, some boxing fans will balk and choose not to order the event, but for the diehard Broner fans, they’ll gladly pay to see him back in action, even with him facing thee well past his prime Lundy.
‘Hammerin’ Hank Lundy comes into the clash with Broner, having lost his last three fights and hasn’t won a contest since 2020. Lundy’s last significant win came in 2015 when he defeated then-prospect Carlos Winston Velasquez.
It’s unclear if Broner will lose enough weight to make the 147-lb limit for the fight, as he’s still toting around a large belly with a month to go. But if Broner fails to make weight, it’s inconsequential because there’s no title at stake, and he’s only facing a second-tier journeyman and not a world class opponent in a fight with any significance.
Broner isn’t going anywhere with his career, regardless of how well he does against Lundy. Like the celebrity boxing that the Youtubers are presenting to fans, Broner’s fights are for entertainment purposes and not with the intent of him being positioned to receive a high ranking to try and win a world title.
The 39-year-old journeyman Lundy (31-12-1, 14 KOs) is a similar talent as Redkach and should make for an exciting opponent for the former four-division world champion Broner (34-4-1, 24 KOs) to fight in their headliner on BLK Prime PPV at Gateway Arena in College Park, Georgia.
In his prime, Lundy had wins over the following fighters:
- Ajose Olusegun
- David Diaz
- Omri Lowther
- Richar Abril
- Patrick Lopez
“I’m glad they found a worthy replacement in Hank Lundy,” said Broner. “Unfortunately, Redkach had to pull out, but I’m ready for whoever they put in front of me. This is the AB show, and I’m on a mission to bust up everyone in my way. Hank Lundy is in trouble. I’m going to put a beating on him.”
If Lundy has anything left in the tank at 39, he could potentially beat Broner because AB is over-the-hill at 33 and nothing like the fighter he was 12 years ago when he was one of the best fighters in the super featherweight division.
Broner last fought two years ago, winning a highly questionable 12 round decision over fringe light welterweight contender Jovanie Santiago.
If Broner successfully defeats Lundy, he wants to challenge WBC light welterweight champion Regis Prograis, but it’s questionable whether he’ll be able to do that without a top 15 ranking at 140. Will the WBC sanction the Prograis vs. Broner fight if AB isn’t ranked?
Sadly, we could see the World Boxing Council elevating Broner to a position in their top 15, even though a win over the journeyman Lundy would be a weak one and not good enough for him to deserve a top-tier ranking.