4. Adrien “The Problem” Broner
Photo by Esther Lin
Adrien Broner has been living up to his name for quite some time. Broner has been groomed since early on in his career to become boxing’s next superstar once the current crop settles into retirement. Despite the best efforts of top promoters, marketing executives, managers and television networks, Broner is making himself as likable as a farsighted proctologist with sausage fingers.
While Broner worked his way up the ladder, garnering some excellent paydays, he seems to have taken for granted an opportunity that most can only dream about. At 23 years old he made a tape having unprotected sex with two women that was “accidentally” released. While most average Joe’s would not begrudge anyone that opportunity he may have alienated some of the more conservative consumers.
In another incident an intoxicated Broner was arrested in Miami after an altercation at the posh Fontainebleau Hotel. Broner got into a fight with a man at the hotel’s valet ramp and when security employees attempted to break it up he bit one of them on the arm. He was arrested and released after bonding out then tweeted an apology for his behavior.
Despite it all, Broner continued to win and his in the ring antics gleaned attention from the media and fans alike, not all positive. With each post fight, prepackaged rant, he irritated as many viewers as he entertained as his father brushed his hair and groomed him. His angle was no mystery. Be as cocky as possible, talk trash and align with the position as the antagonist that people would like to see knocked out.
Despite his efforts to the contrary he was still seen as amusing by some until his victory over Paulie Malignaggi. Broner won a decision then proceeded to emasculate him in the post-fight interview and left with Malignaggi’s “side piece” to the loser’s vocal dismay. Porn tape? Okay. Drunken biting incident? Um, alright. Loudmouthed anti-hero carbon copy? Errrrr. Gloating side piece thief? That is going too far.
Pissed off fans got what they were looking for when Marcos Maidana dropped Broner in the second round of their fight after getting dry humped earlier and again in the eighth. So celebrated was Maidana’s thrilling decision victory over Broner that it propelled him to a pair of multi-million dollar bouts with boxing’s No. 1 money man, Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Broner may have gotten a DUI in January, but fans will be tuning in on June 20 to see if Shawn Porter can arrest Broner’s development after a wise move back to the 140-pound division.
