"I took Malignaggi's title and his girl."
Adrien Broner took that verbal stab at former welterweight champion Paul Malignaggi after beating the hometown hero by split decision in the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y., and now, he deserves a blockbuster fight.
This fight was surrounded by verbal barbs and arguments that were better suited for the playground than the professional boxing ring. However, after it was all said and done, Broner earned the controversial victory on Saturday.
Malignaggi, as Broner put it after the fight, "couldn't hit" Broner, who went on to say that Malignaggi "was shadowboxing." According to Compubox, Malignaggi was able to stick Broner but couldn't land anything significant. Broner worked the veteran through 12 rounds and was simply too much for the champ to handle, earning the split-decision victory and the belt when it was all said and done.
Maybe you don't like Broner's abrasive style, maybe you don't like the judges' decision. One thing remains: That was an absolutely huge victory for "The Problem."
The dude also makes for great TV.
The new champ remains undefeated at 28-0, with 22 of those wins coming by KO, but there is still one question on everyone's mind: What's next?
Promoter Richard Schaefer discussed Broner's possible opponents with Michael Woods of ESPN, saying that there were quite a few possibilities. Some of the names included were Marcos Maidana, Devon Alexander, Amir Khan, Shane Mosley or the winners from possible Andre Berto-Jesus Soto Karass and Danny Garcia-Lucas Matthysse fights.
After Broner's impressive win on Saturday, he deserves a blockbuster, and in the boxing world no one says blockbuster like Floyd "Money" Mayweather. Money is getting set to tangle with Saul "Canelo" Alvarez, but after that they should go for the big money and give the fans what they want to see: role model vs "little bro," Adrien Broner against Floyd Mayweather. The Problem vs. The Pretty Boy. Let's see Broner back up all his trash talk and take on the best in the world.
The fight would be a blockbuster. Who doesn't want to see the student take on the mentor? The young grasshopper take on the master? These two are both automatic money. Both overconfident and not scared to say what they're thinking, they would make for compelling TV.
Broner has said more than once that Money is like a big brother to him, even calling him "Big Bro" on occasion. While it seems like it's all respect and mutual appreciation between Broner and Mayweather, Broner has said that he doesn't want to fight his mentor because he wants him to retire undefeated. He doesn't want to beat him. There's some fuel right there.
Broner wouldn't go into who he wants next after the fight with Malignaggi but said that he wants his fans to pick his next opponent. Some fans want to see him face 34-3 Marcos Maidana.
Other fans are hoping for a matchup with the current WBC Intercontinental Light Welterweight Champion Lucas Matthysse.
Whether Broner can get a fight with Mayweather or not, he deserves something huge. He's gone all 28 of his professional fights without losing and, after earning his third championship, he's earned a shot at a big-name opponent.
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