Has Marcos Maidana Derailed Adrien Broner’s Career Path?

With a record of (27-0, 22 KOs), Adrien Broner looked like he was well on his way to being a pound-for-pound star. Unfortunately for Broner, what happened on the night of December 14, 2013 seemed to change the path of his boxing journey.

Adrien Broner, also known as AB, is a product of Cincinnati, Ohio, and made his professional boxing debut in May 2008 when he stopped Allante Davis in the first round. Broner would go on to win his next twenty fights.

Broner collected his first world title in November 2011 when he stopped Vicente Rodriguez in the third round to win the vacant WBO super featherweight belt. Unfortunately, he was stripped before his second defense due to not making weight.

AB would go on to move up in weight and defeat Antonio Demarco by 8th round TKO. With the win, Broner won the WBC lightweight title and became a two-weight world champion.
Nine months later, in June 2013, Adrien Broner tried to win a championship in a third division. The fight was close, but Broner was able to outpoint Paulie Malignaggi and win the WBA welterweight title.

At the age of 23, Adrien Broner was on the fast track to superstardom. However, six months after the fight against Malignaggi, Broner entered the ring for the 28th time, and when he left the ring he was a changed man.

During the build-up to his fight against Marcos Maidana, Adrien Broner talked trash and did his usual comic antics. Broner was supremely confident entering the bout as a 5-to-1 betting favorite.

As soon as the bell rang to start the opening round, Maidana rocked Broner as he landed a big left hook. Maidana continued to swarm Broner with a barrage of punches throughout round one.

At the 2:40 mark of round number 2, Maidana landed a big left hook that sent Broner to the canvas. Broner was able to get up, but Maidana continued his aggressive attack.

From rounds 3 to 7, Maidana set the pace of the fight. With 1:29 left in the eighth round, Maidana knocked Broner down for a second time when he connected with another hard left hook.

For the rest of the fight, Maidana continued to overwhelm Broner with his work rate. At the end of the 12-round world title contest, Marcos Maidana won by unanimous decision.

After the Maidana championship fight, Broner was not the same fighter. The loss changed Broner’s fighting style as he became more hesitant. Broner continued to go down in weight and bounced back by winning three fights in a row.

Next, Broner faced Shawn Porter in a 144-pound catchweight bout. Broner once again fell short on the scorecards in a big fight.

Broner decided to go back to 140 when he beat Khabib Allakhverdiev and won the vacant WBA super lightweight title. AB won two additional fights, and then lost another big fight when he fought Mikey Garcia.

AB had one last fight against an elite fighter in January 2019 when he was outpointed by Manny Pacquiao. Five years later, Broner would make a final ring appearance, and it didn’t go well, as Blair Cobbs defeated him by unanimous decision.

Adrien Broner (35-5-1, 24 KOs) is a four-division world champion, but the fight against Marcos Maidana changed his career to the point that if that fight never happened, AB could have been even more legendary.

Before the Maidana fight, AB was a skilled pressure fighter who threw combinations. After the Maidana fight, Broner became a passive boxer who appeared cautious and reluctant to throw punches for fear of being countered.

Currently, Adrien Broner has found success in the streaming world by partnering with Misfits boxer Deen the Great. 36-year-old Adrien Broner’s boxing career is currently on hold, but rumors are swirling about a possible return to the ring to face Chris Eubank Jr.