While Floyd Mayweather Jr. is still mentioning Marcos Maidana as a potential opponent on May 3rd, reports have emerged that his "lil bro" Adrien Broner has exercised a rematch clause to face "El Chino."
While Broner's courage in stepping back in the ring with the power puncher is laudable, some boxing veterans think he's making a mistake. One analyst, HBO's Roy Jones Jr., thinks stepping into the ring with Maidana the first time was an error in judgment.
"I thought the fight was too early for him as a welterweight," Jones Jr. said. "His first fight as a welterweight was against Paul Malignaggi, who put up a much better fight than people expected against Adrien. No disrespect to Paul, but he's one of the lightest punchers in the welterweight division."
Indeed, that was Maidana's selling point throughout the buildup to his December 14th clash with "The Problem." Maidana promised that Broner had never felt the kind of power he possesses, and Chino proved it by sending Broner to the canvas twice, and belting him with power shots throughut the bout.
"You should take a few fights to ease your way up to get used to the stiffer size," Jones Jr. said. "I know he's been in the gym with a lot of strong punchers and all, but in the gym it's a little bit different. I would rather him go from a light punching guy to a mediocre punching guy then to a Maidana. Not go from the lightest punching guy to arguably the hardest punching guy in the division because that's a big gap."
Broner's mentor Mayweather has even said a quick rematch would be a mistake. "I think what would be a good move for him is this," Mayweather said. "On May 3rd fight on my undercard. You know, fight a solid guy at 140, get back on track, get your career in order."
Broner has other plans, saying his first loss has "created a monster." "I'm taking boxing back to what it used to be. (The loss) woke up a monster."
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