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
http://www.wedgies.com/question/54fb3c50bb4a4d14000184a4
