ADRIEN BRONER defeated John Molina Jnr via lopsided unanimous decision at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
Like the other stars on Al Haymon’s NBC show, Broner entered the ring without an entourage yet still drew boos from the crowd at the Nevada hotel and casino. The 25-year-old smiled like the cat that got the cream and had few problems containing his opponent’s menace.
Broner – who has now won three in a row since his shocking 2013 loss to Marcos Maidana – boxed intelligently, jabbing with purpose while largely staying out of harm’s way. However, Molina managed to tag his cocksure opponent now and again to keep the contest interesting but could not deliver the upset the crowd craved.
“First of all, Adrien fought a good fight and did what he had to do,” Molina said. “But he should have kept his word when he said he was going to sit there and fight me. He did what he had to do to win, but I thought he was a tough fighter. He boxes well, but he doesn’t exchange well.
“He moves a lot and doesn’t like to exchange too much. When I get on the inside, he is holding me or saying I lead with my head. I’m a professional in there and am trying to do what I want to do.”
Broner, though, cared little for his opponent’s opinion, nor the fans’ displeasure.
“Listen to them [the fans], he said. “Like always, a lot of them not on my side. But at the end of the day, the last time I fought for the crowd, I took my first loss. So no disrespect to anybody, but I had to do what I had to do to win today.
“Even a vicious guy like Molina, I didn’t go nowhere. I jabbed and took every shot he threw and gave back mine. And I won unanimously.”
At the end there was no doubt about who had won. Scores of 120-108 (twice) and 118-110 reflected Broner’s dominance. The three-weight champion will be hard to beat at light-welterweight.
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