This Saturday, April 21, 2018, Showtime presents a boxing tripleheader headlined by the Welterweight matchup of Adrien Broner (33-3, 24 KOs) vs. Jessie Vargas (28-2, 10 KOs).
The fight takes place in Brooklyn, New York at Barclays Center.
Styles make fights, and this will likely be the best fight of the night on an action-packed card of boxing. Broner has tried to adopt the Floyd Mayweather style of defense, and counterpunching. While Vargas is a volume puncher, he will stay in your face and throw non-stop.
Broner needs a win after taking a unanimous decision loss to Mikey Garcia (38-0, 30 KOs) in his last bout.
Vargas is coming off a tune-up win over Aaron Herrera.
Expect both fighters to give it their all as it is a must win for each man. Read on for a complete preview and prediction for Adrien Broner vs. Jessie Vargas
Tale of the Tape
| Adrien Broner | Jessie Vargas | |
|---|---|---|
| Record | 33-3, 24 KOs | 28-2, 10 KOs |
| Age | 28 | 28 |
| Height | 5’6" | 5'10" |
| Reach | 69" | 71" |
| Weight | 144 | 144 |
| Stance | Orthodox | Orthodox |
| Hometown | Cincinnati, Ohio | Las Vegas, Nevada |
| Rounds Boxed | 211 | 211 |
Adrien Broner stands at 5’6″ with a reach of 69″. This won’t be the first time Broner is the smaller man in height and reach in a fight. Broner is a four-division world champion and has boxed in 211 rounds, he has plenty of experience in the ring.
Broner’s KO percentage is 65 percent, but he is known more for his boxing than power punching.
Jessie Vargas stands at 5’10” with a reach of 71″. Vargas is also a two-division champion in the Lightweight and Welterweight divisions. Vargas has 211 rounds of boxing, however, a much lower KO percentage of 33.
Two former champions will battle it out for a chance to move up in the stacked Welterweight division.
Main Story Lines
Photo by Amanda Westcott/Showtime
Adrien Broner has changed head trainers, to Kevin Cunningham, who he hopes will breathe new life in his corner for the fight. This may be a much-needed change for Broner, as his last two fights he struggled against Mikey Garcia and Adrian “El Tigre” Granados.
Broner needs a big win to get his name back in the mix of the 147-pound division. A win over Jessie Vargas will do just that. Broner could cement a rematch with Shawn Porter or a big-time matchup with the likes of Danny Garcia, Terence Crawford or Errol Spence Jr.
In the last press conference leading up to the fight, Broner exclaimed: “I’mma beat his a**, I hope ya’ll give me the credit I deserve, that’s all I want.” Broner wants to be mentioned with the best of the division and will need to prove it on Saturday, April 21.
Jessie Vargas has gone on the record stating Adrien Broner is beatable and expects to win this fight. “I can’t wait, this isn’t a game but then again, I’m not here to disrespect anyone. I am here to fight, I am here to win and I plan to do that.”
A win over Broner gives Vargas the power and momentum to get a title fight with any of the current champions.
Strengths for Each Fighter
Adrien Broner
Photo by Marilyn Paulino/RBRBoxing
Adrien Broner’s defense, counterpunching and hand speed are his strengths. Broner has no problem standing in range of his opponent, using his defense to make them miss, and counterpunch.
Broner’s hand speed will be a problem for Vargas, as was Manny Pacquiao‘s. Broner should be able to get off most of his punches, and step right out of range of Vargas.
Broner has sneaky power, and the ability to fight well on the inside. Broner’s uppercut is one of the strongest punches in his arsenal and should be used in this fight.
Jessie Vargas
Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images
Jessie Vargas’ strengths are his volume punching, power and size in this fight.
Vargas’ volume punching is a strength and a key to success against Adrien Broner. He is considered a volume puncher and throws over 59 punches per round, according to CompuBox statistics.
Vargas has a powerful straight right and an overhand right hand that contains KO power. This is the punch he hurt both Timothy Bradley Jr. and Sadam Ali with.
Vargas has size and reach advantage, and that will be a factor in the fight. Vargas is one of the taller and longer fighters in the division.
Weaknesses for Each Fighter
Adrien Broner
Photo by Stephanie Trapp/Showtime
Adrien Broner doesn’t handle volume punchers well and doesn’t throw punches with his opponent.
Broner’s three losses and two split-decision wins have come against fighters that put immense pressure on their opponent and throw punches in bunches.
Broner tend’s to move directly backward and doesn’t throw enough to stop his opponents from coming forward. He doesn’t stand and trade with opponents.
Broner is solely a defensive counterpuncher, which brings times of inactivity. Not letting his hands go is a weakness for Broner and has ultimately been the reason for his struggles.
Jessie Vargas
Erik Verduzco/Las Vegas Review-Journal
Jessie Vargas’ weaknesses are his defense and unnecessary brawling habits.
Vargas doesn’t win fights with his defense, he wins through grit, grind and his power punching. Vargas is there to be hit, which will be a problem facing the much faster Adrien Broner.
Due to his defensive struggles, Vargas tends to turn fights into action-packed brawls. Vargas has the size to fight from the outside, and go in and out of range, but often times he doesn’t utilize it.
The Winner and Why
Photo by Stephanie Trapp/Showtime
Jessie Vargas is the slight favorite in the fight, coming in at -120, with Adrien Broner at -110.
Broner should walk out of Barclays Center on Saturday night with a unanimous-decision victory over the favored Vargas.
Vargas struggled mightily with the speed of Manny Pacquiao and had absolutely no answer for it. Vargas had problems with Sadam Ali before figuring him out and stopping Ali to win the fight.
Broner has the hand speed and defense to stifle Vargas’ volume punching and neutralize his power. The trainer change will be beneficial to Broner and should have a devised gameplan to beat Vargas by a close, but unanimous decision.
Header photo by Amanda Westcott/Showtime
