All photos by Naoki Fukada
Saturday, March 7, 2015, Al Haymon’s highly anticipated primetime television endeavor, Premier Boxing Champions debuts on NBC as Welterweights Keith Thurman and Robert Guerrero headline an action-packed card.
Also on the bill are Adrien Broner and John Molina, who will battle it out in a Junior Welterweight matchup.
The action starts at 8:30 pm, EST on NBC.
Read on for Round By Round Boxing’s staff predictions for Thurman vs. Guerrero and Broner vs. Molina and let us know who you think will win each bout.
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Adrien Broner
vs.
John Molina
Lou Catalano, Senior Writer
Adrien “About Breadsticks” Broner’s ring entrance is probably what I’m looking forward to most in this entire NBC broadcast.
I’m assuming it will involve a lot of dancing, rapping and perhaps some thrusting. John Molina will walk into the ring in a much more subdued manner, and then promptly try to tear Broner’s head off.
While many folks will be praying for that exact thing to happen, (though I bet if it were to happen, Broner would still be able to talk nonsensical trash) I just don’t see it.
I like Broner to pull out the win, and then get his hair brushed and act like a giant dickhead.
Prediction: Broner
Tony Calcara, Staff Writer
Like him or not, Adrien Broner brings a solid skill set into the ring. At 25, he has power and enormous quickness and hand speed. He faces a fighter in John Molina who has punching power of his own.
In Broner’s lone defeat against Marcos Maidana, he fought a man who could both punch and hurt him, forcing Broner to climb off the canvas twice.
Just 3-4 in his last seven fights, the 32-year-old Molina has a chance to catapult himself back into the mix with a win over Broner.
I expect a hard hitting, rugged fight. I believe Molina will make life difficult for Broner, giving him plenty to handle. However, I expect Broner’s skills to be the difference and I see him winning the fight.
Prediction: Broner
Brandon Glass, Contributing Writer
This is an intriguing matchup. Adrien Broner, hate him or love him, is an entertaining fighter, in and out of the ring. I expect him to win this because he has all of the advantages except one, power.
John Molina’s looked really dry since Lucas Matthysse knocked him out. If Broner fights flat footed with the chest high shoulder roll, look for Molina to land and hurt Broner.
If Broner gets up on the balls of his feet and uses his footwork, he can dissect Molina in the middle of the ring, hurt him and possibly get the stoppage. I see the latter scenario as being the most probable. Broner wins by late round stoppage.
Prediction: Broner
Zuri Lopez, Contributing Writer
This is probably my favorite fight of the night asAdrien Broner meets John Molina. Molina gave us a tremendous fight of the year alongside Lucas Matthysse last year.
I didn’t expect Molina to take so much damage, but after that fight I knew certainly that he is tough as nails. Broner should have some trouble on his hands with Molina, who is a decent opponent and has good offense.
Molina will chase Broner down and Broner must be ready to move, which he will do quite well. This is certainly an exciting matchup to see but I do see Broner being the faster of the two and that will definitely have a huge play in the fight. I don’t think Molina has enough speed in his arsenal for Broner.
Prediction: Broner
Alex McLeish, Staff Writer
John Molina Jr. IS NOT Marcos Maidana, and he is not going to do to Adrien Broner what Maidana did to him back in December 2013.
Molina has lost four of his last seven fights, including two losses in a row. A knockout defeat to power puncher Lucas Matthysse in Ring Magazine’s Fight of the Year back in April, and most recently when he was clearly out-boxed by Humberto Soto in September.
Since learning the biggest lesson of his career at the hands of Maidana, Broner’s bounced back with an easy win over the smaller Carlos Molina in May, and with an impressive unanimous decision victory, sealed with an electrifying 12th-round knockdown over fringe-contender Emmanuel Taylor in September.
Molina does have heavy hands, he’s knocked out 70 percent of the opponents he’s defeated, but I’m convinced Broner will be able to out-box him intelligently and soundly.
Just because Molina was able to put Matthysse down twice in their fight, doesn’t mean he’ll be able to do the same to the less hittable Broner on Saturday.
Expect a big swing and miss for Molina.
Prediction: Broner
Juan Carlos Galvez, Photographer
Adrien Broner by 11th round TKO.
Prediction: Broner
Alex Burgos, Editor-in-Chief
I really like this matchup and see it as a tough matchup and good progression fight for Adrien Broner. Broner wants to be a superstar, and while he is not quite there, winning these types of fights emphatically will help people remain interested in him.
I think this fight really boils down to which John Molina shows up on Saturday night. Will it be the star struck guy who last less than one minute against Antonio DeMarco? Will it be the bad ass who went toe-to-toe with Lucas Matthysse and dropped him twice? Or will it be the shop worn fighter who couldn’t get it right against the 102 year old, Humberto Soto.
I think if Molina has anything left in the tank, he can push Broner into uncomfortable spaces early on and make this thing fun for about six rounds. I think Broner is smart enough to move around and will “ah ah ah ah” pot shot his way to victory.
Prediction: Broner
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Keith Thurman
vs.
Robert Guerrero
Lou Catalano, Senior Writer
Keith Thurman has been calling out Robert Guerrero for awhile now, but he had better things to do, like lose every second of every round to Floyd Mayweather.
He then went to war with Yoshihiro Kamegai, taking a lot of shots but clearly winning a fun fight. Thurman has been waiting for this chance his entire career, and now he’s on the big stage. He looked less-than-stellar in his last performance, even though he shut out 87-year-old Leonard Bundu.
Something wasn’t right with “One Time” that evening, and maybe it was just an off night. But I’m thinking he’s going to have trouble with Guerrero’s southpaw stance and movement, at least for awhile.
While he can punch like a mule, he’s never been in with a guy this good. I like Guerrero to take an early lead, but gradually break down as the much harder punching Thurman pounds on him. Guerrero just gets hit too often lately. Thurman by unanimous decision.
Prediction: Thurman
Tony Calcara, Staff Writer
This is a very interesting matchup. At 26, Keith Thurman is undefeated and has many pundits and fans talking about him as the heir apparent of the Welterweight division. He is coming off a less-than-spectacular 12-round decision over Leonard Bundu in December.
A big win against Guerrero thrusts his name into the conversation with the elite power brokers at Welterweight.
Guerrero, 31, has faced his share of adversity both in and out of the ring. His southpaw style may give Thurman an uncomfortable look, however, he has fought only once in the last 22 months where Thurman has been the more active fighter.
Thurman has the speed and power to deal with the tough and rugged Guerrero. I expect Guerrero to fight well, just not well enough. I like Thurman to win.
Prediction: Thurman
Brandon Glass, Contributing Writer
Keith Thurman says he’s a star and this is the opportunity to take a big step closer to that goal. Robert Guerrero is a tough guy who’s not great at any particular thing.
He has tons of experience and is crafty, but I think Thurman possesses more ability all around. If Guerrero can stay close to Thurman and smother his offense, he has a shot. I just don’t think Guerrero will create it.
Thurman will use his movement, power and speed to frustrate Guerrero, but Guerrero’s chin keeps him upright to lose by decision.
Prediction: Thurman
Zuri Lopez, Contributing Writer
Keith Thurman vs. Robert Guerrero is a fight I’ve been excited about for some time now. Both fighters come to fight and always give boxing fans a good show.
I do see Thurman having more stamina and condition than Guerrero. Thurman will go to Guerrero’s body and unleash his attack on him, Guerrero will also give Thurman some of his own treatment.
Although, I see Thurman winning this fight in untimely fashion.
Prediction: Thurman
Alex McLeish, Staff Writer
On paper, Robert Guerrero is Keith Thurman’s toughest opponent to date, but stylistically, Thurman has the potential to win this fight easily.
Thurman is coming off one of the most grinding victories of his career, even though he routed Leonard Bundu by points on the judge’s scorecards back in December, the awkward Italian made things uncomfortable for Thurman by being in survival mode for most of the fight. All in all, it was a very educational night for the potential Welterweight star.
Guerrero is riding a streak of inactive years, only fighting once in 2013 against Floyd Mayweather Jr., and once in 2014 in a grueling war with Japan’s Yoshihiro Kamegai. Guerrero is now 31 and looking for the type of win that gets him yet another big money title shot.
Unfortunately for Guerrero, he’s starting to resemble a sitting duck, a grinding brawler being set up to be out-punched by the younger, more talented and heavier hitting Thurman.
It’s very possible Guerrero’s toughness gets him to the final bell, but sometimes it’s a fighter’s toughness that puts him directly in the line of fire.
Prediction: Thurman
Juan Carlos Galvez, Photographer
Robert Guerrero by decision.
Prediction: Guerrero
Alex Burgos, Editor-in-Chief
These are the types of matchups that have people saying–and meaning–“Thanks, Al Haymon.” Keith Thurman vs. Robert Guerrero gives us a great headlining bout on PBC’s inaugural card on NBC and I expect to see some ups and downs for both men.
This is no gimme for Thurman, but it’s a fight that can catapult him into a household name. Can he drop a bomb on Guerrero and stop him? That’s what the whole “One Time” show is about, right?
While I don’t see Guerrero wilting under the pressure and getting knocked out, I do think Thurman will impress and box his way to victory.
Prediction: Thurman
