From Riches To Rags: Can Adrien Broner Fight His Way Back To The Top?

Adrien Broner posted on social media today that he’s going to dedicate his life to boxing “for the next 3 to 5 years.” AB added that he’s “Going for broke.” That part might refer to his current finances.

In the video clip that Broner posted last week, he looked pretty hard, like he’d been living under a bridge or in Los Angeles’ skid row section at Central City East. AB looked in bad shape, scruffy, haggard, and worn down.

The Desperate New Start

The former four-division world champion Broner (35-5-1, 24 KOs) has been experiencing hard times for the last eight years, posting a dismal 2-3-1 record during that time. If Adrien is lucky, Turki Alalshikh will take an interest in him and set him up for a fight against Ryan Garcia or Devin Haney. The payday Broner would get from fighting them would give him a new start. 

With the mileage that Adrien has put on his body both inside and outside of the ring, it’s doubtful that he can recapture his early success. When Broner is in shape, he still looks youthful at 36, but it’s questionable whether he can clean up his act, take off the weight, and give up his vices. We know he likes to eat.

“Man, I’m about to give my life to boxing for the next 3 to 5 years. Going for broke. If you’re with me, I love you. If not, f*** you,” said Adrien Broner on Instagram today.

A Question of Commitment

If Broner is serious about his comeback, he needs to get a good nutritionist and train in the mountains away from the temptations of rich food and drink. AB was at his best when he fought at super featherweight in 2011.

His career went into decline when he moved up to welterweight in 2013. Although Adrien made good money, he wasn’t the same fighter he’d been at 130. He needs to return to super featherweight because he doesn’t have the size or the power to fight at welterweight. He never will. At 130, Adrien was a big puncher, but power didn’t carry up.