By Nick Bellafatto
Set to debut on American soil, once defeated Welshman and European lightweight champion Gavin Rees (37-1-1, 18 KO’s) of Newport, Wales, U.K. is about to take on his toughest assignment yet when he meets Cincinnati, Ohio’s undefeated Adrien “The Problem” Broner (25-0, 21 KO’s) in Adrien’s first ever 135 pound WBC title defense taking place this weekend in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
And in the eyes of those who can see, after an iffy performance against Ponce De Leon, Broner has definitively and emphatically joined the ranks of boxing’s elite as a result of his latest demolition jobs done on Vicente Escobedo and Antonio DeMarco, two skilled former world titlist’s whom he made look quite ordinary.
With that said, it’s hard to see anything but more of the same this weekend before an HBO viewing audience as the short armed sometimes face first brawler Rees looks to be a lamb headed to the slaughter.
Stated Broner, “ I don’t get hit that much and my fights don’t last that long. I’m not saying that I’m coming in looking for a knockout, but I’m just blessed with the best of both worlds. I’ve got the speed and I’ve got power in both hands, so it only takes one mistake.”
In lieu of a unification match with WBO champion Ricky Burns who continues to elude “The Problem,” in steps Rees, a one fight major belt holder at 140 pounds who in the first defense of that title would get TKO’d by the light hitting Andrey Kotelnik. Combine this with the fact that the Welshman hasn’t fought anywhere near the level of competition as Adrien’s past few opponents and this contest looks to be a forgone conclusion.
Of course stranger things have happened in boxing but unless Gavin has overnight developed the power of a similarly reach deficient Rocky Marciano, then trying to get to an ultra skilled opponent with an 84% knockout ratio should no doubt play into the hands of an awaiting Broner who’s expected to take care of business without a hitch.
However, despite the odds being stacked against him Rees appears supremely confident. “I’m a fighter, I’m a real fighter. I’ll go in there to fight anybody,” said Gavin. “I know he’s a great fighter. I’m going over there to give out the fight of my life and I know it’ll be one hell of a fight so I’m fully confident. I’ve got a game plan, so we’ll see on the night what happens.”
In light of this I expect a game effort from the challenger for as long as it lasts, of which it will be surprising if it goes past the midway point. Otherwise I look forward to boxing’s latest prodigy facing nothing but the top fighters at 140 as Adrien Broner already looks like a shoe-in to clean out the 135 pound division, something he openly aspires towards so that fight fans may have to wait to see him in more competitive match ups at junior welter.
That’s not to say there aren’t any intriguing bouts for “The Problem” at 135. I just don’t suspect that his skill level will let him down against the likes of a Miguel Vazquez, a Sharif Bogere, or a Richard Abril, so that future potential contests with the Danny Garcia’s, the Brandon Rios’s, and the Lucas Matthysse’s of the world look to be of a more formidable nature as well as on a par with the pound-for-pound Broner.
