Adrien Broner vs. John Molina: Final Breakdown of Saturday's Marquee Fight

Boxing's attempt at a global revival begins Saturday night with a showdown between Adrien "The Problem" Broner (29-1, 22 KOs) and John Molina Jr. (27-5, 22 KOs).

The veteran vs. promising youth has been done before, yes, but the two men who will step into the ring as part of NBC's Premier Boxing Champions offer plenty of intrigue and storylines to complement what is sure to be superb in-ring action.

As two knockout artists with everything at stake and big egos who won't back down when things get heavy, Molina and Broner were the perfect pairing now that boxing has decided to step back into the limelight. 

Broner vs. Molina Fight Info

Date: Saturday, March 7

Time (E/T): 8:30 p.m. ET

Location: MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada

TV: NBC

Live Stream: NBC Sports Live Extra

Breakdown 

The Problem has a big one yet again.

Not only is Broner's opponent tough, he cannot seem to get out of his own way. As NBC Sports Network pointed out, Broner missed weight Friday:

It's a frustrating point for boxing fans around the globe. Broner's been down this path before and the inability to make weight does nothing but irk observers (go ahead, do a Twitter search on the matter or watch Sugar Ray Leonard's take on the issue).

Not helping matters is the fact this is an extremely important fight card for the sport, as financial numbers provided by ESPN.com's Dan Rafael point out:

Regardless, Broner will be in the ring Saturday night, although one has to wonder how much the tumultuous path to it will hurt him once the bell rings.

Broner is hot on a two-fight streak thanks to unanimous decisions over Carlos Molina and Emmanuel Taylor, sure, but it wasn't too long ago that Marcos Maidana knocked him down twice in an ugly, one-sided affair.

That fight alone is proof enough that Broner refuses to put his athleticism to good use and actually attempt to evade his opponent's advances.

While Molina is far from a household name and 32 years old to Broner's 25, he has the power and chin to stand in and make opponents pay.

Molina has lost two straight. In a classic for the ages last year against Lucas Matthysse, he hit the canvas a trio of times but also sent his opponent there twice. Later, he lost an ugly unanimous decision to Humberto Soto.

There's something to be said for experience, though, and losses to that pair of names is something most fighters could afford. For his part, Molina suggests Broner's loss to Maidana back in December of 2013 will play a huge role in Saturday's affair, as he told ESPN.com's Brian Campbell:

"

Yes and no. If he's smart and mature, he learned from that loss. If he's naive and ignorant, then maybe it did take a lot out of him. I don't know. I don't know him on a personal level. … I think for him, it showed that he can be in there with a guy like Maidana, who I think is a hell of a guy. I know him personally and have been in camp with him before for eight months. He's a hell of a fighter. If anyone in the world was supposed to be a fighter, Maidana was. 

"

Molina isn't a mystery. Promoter Al Haymon, picked the veteran for a reason. He's going to come in fast and isn't scared of (entertaining) violent exchanges that send either combatant to the canvas.

But Haymon also picked Broner for a reason.

Through all of his missed weights, obsessions over Twinkies, out-of-ring antics and even a suspension over an ethnic slur, Broner will take the stage Saturday because of his immense potential. He is always something of a wild card every time he steps between the ropes.

Broner isn't an easy pick, but at the same time that's the, well, problem—it's hard to get a read on his preparation and seriousness through all of the distractions.

Sheer talent is impossible to ignore. Many, including Yahoo Sports' Kevin Iole, believe Broner can still be the best in the sport. He can—he's ridiculously young, complicated and accomplished, and the sky truly is the limit.

The pursuit of that label starts Saturday night. If Broner is sharp, he'll have few issues dancing circles around a predictable, albeit dangerous opponent.

It's a big if, but one that must be banked on, perfectly showcasing why Broner has the most suitable nickname in the sport. 

Prediction: Broner via TKO.