Broner too much, and perhaps too big for Escobedo

By Nick Bellafatto
Photo: Yahoo Sports

In the off again on again HBO televised event from the U.S. Bank Arena in Cincinnati, Ohio this past Saturday night, Adrian “The Problem” Broner (24-0, 20 KO’s) in front of a hometown crowd would prove to have too much talent, too much speed, and too much power in comparison to that of his opponent.

In essence as perhaps the slightly bigger and apparently more powerful fighter, Adrien would cause former Olympian and visiting fighter Vicente Escobedo (26-4, 15 KO’s) of Woodland, California to wilt under an all-out assault in the fifth round.

The official end came at the 2:42 mark, the result of Escobedo trainer Joel Diaz, in consultation  with team members, mounting the ring apron with towel in hand to signify surrender on the part of his charge.

And whereas Broner would cause unanticipated difficulties by initially coming in overweight by 3.5 pounds to forfeit his WBO junior lightweight title as well as plenty of cash, after not coming in the following day at the newly agreed upon weight limit, Broner would put the entire fight in jeopardy.

Suffice it to say, Vicente Escobedo with the option to pull out, would rather re-negotiate an apparently hefty deal with Golden Boy, making the fight a worthwhile endeavor. “I got a great, great deal,” stated the Mexican NABO titlist, who with a win could have traded in that NABO distinction for his first ever major world title belt.

However, it just didn’t work out that way, as “The Problem” was the visibly all around better fighter so that Escobedo would come up short in his bid to become a junior lightweight champion. This would perhaps cause the Mexican prizefighter to experience a little déjà vu, as he would similarly come up short against upper echelon fighters at lightweight to include losses to both Robert Guerrero and Michael Katsidis.

Simply put, Vicente Escobedo in putting forth his best effort against rising superstar Adrien Broner was totally ineffective. Not only was Escobedo rarely able to penetrate the tight defense of the Cincinnati fighter, but after four rounds of primarily being on the receiving end of pot shots administered by Broner, “The Problem” would turn up the heat in the fifth stanza.

Becoming the stalker to come straight at his opponent in round 5, Broner would close the distance to pummel and eventually overwhelm the away fighter. Visibly capitulating along the ropes as a result of punishment to both body and head, this turn of events witnessed by all those watching would not be lost on Escobedo’s corner, who would see fit to pull the plug on their man to prevent the inevitable.

In retrospect, there would be more drama related to the pre-fight goings on, as well as to Broner’s in the ring post-fight fake marriage proposal, as compared to that which would transpire during the course of action. And in what should be determined as a one-sided affair, an emotionally distraught Vicente Escobedo would come to grips with reality. “He talks and he backs it up. I accepted the fight with these terms and he was the better man tonight.”

As for victor Adrien “The Problem” Broner, he’s looking to make problems in the 135 pound weight division. “I’m on to the lightweights. (Antonio) DeMarco can get it, (Juan Manuel) Marquez can get it. Brandon Rios, we can meet at a catchweight and you can come get it next.”

After hard hitting Argentinian Marcos Maidana pulled out as the scheduled opponent to face undefeated rising prospect Keith “One Time” Thurman (18-0, 17 KO’s) of Clearwater, Florida, late sub Orlando Lora (29-3-3, 19 KO’s) of Culiacan, Sinaloa, Mexico would eventually pull out as well, although for an entirely different reason. That reason was non other than a solid thumping suffered at the hands of Thurman.

The end came at 1:37 of the sixth round as Lora, although the constant aggressor throughout, was totally ineffective, missing by far the majority of his blows while constantly on the receiving end of his opponents hard counters.

As a result of Thurman landing blows with precision time and again, Lora after getting wobbled and decked by a left hook in the sixth and what turned out to be final round of the fight, had decided there was no point in continuing on.

Upon rising to his feet after what looked to be a mandatory eight-count, the Mexican fighter walked directly to his corner where the white towel of surrender was already on display, so that in accord Team Lora was packing it in.

Solid performance by Thurman who would call out Paulie Malignaggi, Tim Bradley, and ultimately Floyd Mayweather Jr. “Floyd Mayweather, you’re undefeated, I think I can defeat you.”