Saturday, April 21, 2018, Adrien “The Problem” Broner makes his return to the ring and takes on Jessie Vargas in the main event bout live from the Barclay’s Center in Brooklyn, NY.
Broner, the heel of the boxing world, will seek to silence his doubters by putting on a show in Brooklyn one way or another. Opening up the Showtime telecast will be Gervonta “Tank” Davis, as he takes on Jesus Cuellar for a vacant Jr. Lightweight title.
Also on the card is Houston’s Jermall Charlo. Charlo will challenge Hugo Centeno for a vacant Middleweight title and a shot of becoming Gennady Golovkin‘s mandatory challenger.
The fights are scheduled for 12 rounds and can be watched on Showtime starting at 9:o0 pm, EST.
Read on for Round By Round Boxing‘s staff predictions for on the entire Adrien Broner vs. Jessie Vargas televised card and let us know who you think wins.
Round By Round Boxing Staff Predictions - 2020
| Name | Win | Loss | Total Fights | Win Percentage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alex Burgos | 3 | 3 | 6 | 0.5 |
| Hans Themistode | 4 | 2 | 6 | 0.66666666666667 |
| R.L. Woodson | 4 | 1 | 5 | 0.8 |
| Robert Contreras | 6 | 0 | 6 | 1 |
Gervonta Davis vs. Jesus Cuellar
Ty Paul, Staff Writer
I’m most interested in seeing how Gervonta Davis is going to handle the pressure of Jesus Cuellar.
Cuellar, being the pressure fighter that he is, will likely try to force the issue against the young, undefeated fighter.
For the few first rounds, this could be ugly, but once Davis figures out Cuellar, I think he’ll go on to a unanimous decision and win the vacant WBA Super World Super Featherweight title.
Prediction: Davis
R.L. Woodson, Staff Writer
Gervonta “Tank” Davis was on top of the boxing world at 22 years old. Endorsement deals. Sharing the company of world-famous rap stars. The kid’s not in denial though, he admitted that he mishandled aspects of his newfound stardom.
The shoes of world champions are hard to fill! I like Jesus Cuellar to mix it up, bring the fight to Davis and win some rounds. But, over six-to-eight rounds we start seeing that the young Baltimore kid is better in the ring than he is out on the streets. Davis by KO in the eighth.
Prediction: Davis
Joseph Rodriguez, Staff Writer
Jesus Cuellar is coming into the fight with over a year layoff and Gervonta Davis is coming off a lackluster performance against Francisco Fonseca.
Davis is in need of looking great to merit the boxing superstar label some are rushed to stamp him with. Cuellar and Davis both possess great power which could make for some highly-entertaining exchanges.
The difference in the fight will be Davis’s speed and lateral movement. Cuellar struggled with movement and cutting the ring off against Abner Mares and Saturday will be no different.
Prediction: Davis
Brianna Rodriguez, Videographer/Reporter
Prediction: Davis
Peter Nieves, Senior Writer
Gervonta Davis certainly has a lot of talent and very few can deny that. Focus and out of the ring distractions have caused many to question Davis’s determination in the sport.
I’d like to see a showcasing performance from Tank and hopefully refocus his mindset back to boxing.
Jesus Cuellar is certainly a game opponent despite not getting much credit. I think Davis, if focused, can really shine in the opening bout and get a flashy KO victory.
Prediction: Davis
Alex Burgos, Editor-in-Chief
Jesus Cuellar is moving up and midway through this fight he’ll probably be going down–on the canvas.
While Cuellar has been busy saying that “Tank” is overrated and not Floyd Mayweather, he should be focused on who exactly Gervonta Davis really is.
I think Davis’ speed and precise punching will be too much for Cuellar–and you don’t have to be Mayweather to outbox Cuellar. I’ll take Davis by mid-to-late rounds stoppage.
Prediction: Davis
Jermall Charlo vs. Hugo Centeno Jr.
Ty Paul, Staff Writer
Lions only. The Charlo Bros. have seemed to take the boxing world, well at least, boxing Twitter, by storm. Their brash, but ultra confidence in and out of the ring have gathered a legion of fans across platforms.
“Mall,” the former IBF Junior Middleweight champion takes his turn to roar Saturday night against a very live Hugo Centeno Jr. Centeno is coming off the biggest win of his career when he knocked out former Middleweight contender Immanuwel Aleem last August.
This has the chance to be the most action-packed fight of the Showtime card on Saturday night. I believe Centeno will stand his ground and trade with Charlo.
The Oxnard native will no show no fear, but Jermall Charlo is no Immanuwel Aleem. Charlo stops Centeno late and goes on to call out Daniel Jacobs or Gennady Golovkin in the post-fight interview.
Prediction: Charlo
R.L. Woodson, Staff Writer
Hugo Centeno Jr. has some good size, he displayed some great power in his Immanuwel Aleem knockout, and he has a reach advantage on Jermall Charlo.
Unfortunately, I’m starting to feel Barclays Center is being fashioned into a lions den by the Charlo twins. Charlo has all the tools and he’s singularly focused, both of the brothers are hungry for stardom and stardom-sized fight purses.
I see Charlo by KO in either Rounds 5 or 6.
Prediction: Charlo
Joseph Rodriguez, Staff Writer
Of all fights on the on Saturday’s card, I am looking forward to this matchup the most. Hugo Centeno Jr. has been an interesting prospect for the last few years. He is tall and has the power and skill to match.
But Centeno has yet to face anyone who is the caliber fighter of Jermall Charlo. Charlo is considered one of boxing’s fastest rising stars.
I believe this fight will be fought at a measured pace in which Centeno can be competitive enough to make the fight interesting going into the middle rounds. Charlo will close strong with possibly a late knockdown to win by unanimous decision.
Prediction: Charlo
Andrew Kang, Contributing Writer
I have not seen enough of the challenger Hugo Centeno Jr. to suggest he poses any real danger to Jermall Charlo.
I just feel Charlo has too many advantages. Charlo will first outwork, then outclass Centeno.
Prediction: Charlo
Brianna Rodriguez, Videographer/Reporter
Prediction: Charlo
Peter Nieves, Senior Writer
Jermall Charlo has steadily improved with every performance and certainly carries the momentum heading into his clash with Hugo Centeno Jr. Centeno is a live dog in this one, but I feel he still lacks experience with top competition.
Charlo has his eyes on bigger-and-better opportunities and with the win, he’s that much closer to big payday bouts with the likes of Daniel Jacobs and Gennady Golovkin.
I like Charlo by knockout in or around the seventh round.
Prediction: Charlo
Alex Burgos, Editor-in-Chief
Putting all of the hype, hoopla and Instagram videos aside, we still don’t know what Jermall Charlo can offer at Middleweight.
He fought a one-legged dog in Jorge Sebastian Heiland last July, and since then he’s just talked a lot of shit online.
Enter Hugo Centeno Jr., who delivered one of the most bone-chilling knockouts of 2017 when he starched Immanuwel Aleem in August. It was just the thing that Centeno Jr. needed to catapult himself back into the mix of contenders at 160 pounds.
We’ve seen Centeno Jr. look really good against the likes of Aleem and James De La Rosa, but we’ve also seen him look a little suspect against Julian Williams and Maciej Sulecki.
Not that Sulecki or Williams are bad fighters, but Centeno Jr. will have to be on his A game to compete with Charlo who is a step above those guys. If Centeno Jr. can take some of Charlo’s heavy shots early one and not fold then this might develop into a boxing match–and that’s a fight that Centeno Jr. can win.
I’m just not fully convinced that’ll happen so I’ll take Charlo by decision.
Prediction: Charlo
Adrien Broner vs. Jessie Vargas
Ty Paul, Staff Writer
Being that this fight is at a catch weight (144 pounds) Adrien Broner still gets to call the shots. Too bad they can’t fight the fight for him. Interesting to see Broner’s most success in his last fight–a unanimous decision loss to Mikey Garcia–was when he stood in the pocket and was able to land with his quick hands.
This is a huge fight in the career of Jessie Vargas. A win and he could get a title shot again. Broner has a new trainer in Kevin Cunningham and has supposedly cut out the BS.
But, did you see his IG video earlier this week to the rapper 6ix9ine? I just can’t see it. Jessie Vargas gets a big win in his career in a close, fun fight via split decision.
Prediction: Vargas
R.L. Woodson, Staff Writer
It. Was. All. Good. Just. A. Week. Ago. Adrien Broner held a quiet camp down in West Palm Beach, splitting new trainer Kevin Cunningham with his partner Gervonta Davis.
Broner didn’t clap back at Jermall Charlo’s soc med attacks a couple of weeks ago. He and “Tank” were doing wind sprints on the beach. And then all hell broke loose as beef exploded out of nowhere between Broner and NYC rapper Tekashi69 or 6ix9ine.
The six-figure bet between Broner and 6ix9ine notwithstanding, Broner enters the ring fighting for his career, and still holding onto dreams of taking boxing over in 2018.
I think Cunningham gets some more activity out of Broner, but I don’t expect him to take the lead or anything. I like Jessie Vargas to bring some pressure to convince AB he’s the same old AB, but if he’s not smart, Broner connects with his counter shots and uppercuts inside.
This is a pretty good 12-round fight, Cunningham gets more activity out of Broner earlier than his previous late-fight runs, but Broner only makes a push in the second half of the fight to earn a majority draw.
Prediction: Draw
Joseph Rodriguez, Staff Writer
Adrien Broner is in desperate need of a win to get his career back on track. Much of the headlines Broner dominates lately center on his antics outside the ring rather than his accomplishments in the ring.
It’s largely why much of the boxing public has written Broner off as a serious threat to becoming an elite fighter. Vargas has the height and reach to box behind his jab but he often gives up his height to trade on the inside. I believe Broner has properly prepared for the fight and it will show.
Broner will use his speed to effectively counter Vargas and be busy enough to take the majority of rounds.
Prediction: Broner
Andrew Kang, Contributing Writer
I would have seen this fight being much more competitive a couple of years ago. I believe Adrien Broner has seen his best days now behind him. He’s been listless and woefully inconsistent since then whereas the fire still burns in Jessie Vargas’ belly.
This will be the difference. I like Vargas to control the fight from the outset and attack the body more under the tutelage of trainer and mentor Mike “the Bodysnatcher” McCallum.
Prediction: Vargas
Brianna Rodriguez, Videographer/Reporter
Prediction: Broner
Peter Nieves, Senior Writer
Adrien Broner is the epitome of a heel in professional sports and loves the role. I personally think Broner possesses a great amount of raw talent but his antics outsid of the ring have always overshadowed his skill. Jessie Vargas, to me, has always been a solid B to B+ fighter.
Coming into this fight, I feel Vargas does a lot of things good but thing great. Broner on the other hand has a bit more upside if he’s truly focused but we never know what we’re going to get with him. Ultimately, I’m going to give AB one last chance to get it together and I see him winning a close but clear MD victory.
Prediction: Broner
Alex Burgos, Editor-in-Chief
It’s always a tough call when you’re picking Adrien Broner vs. anyone. I like Kevin Cunningham and think the move was right on time for Broner. I’m going with Broner based on the premise that Cunningham–who is miles ahead of Mike Stafford in terms of coaching–will get the very best out of Broner who needs to use his speed and combinations to befuddle Jessie Vargas.
Vargas has a chance, especially if Broner turns into the feint and don’t throw until the last couple rounds version of himself that showed up against Mikey Garcia.
I’m taking Broner, but wouldn’t be surprised if he underwhelmed us–again.
Prediction: Broner
All photos by Marilyn Paulino/RBRBoxing
