Adrien Broner vs. Ashley Theophane: Winner, Recap and Reaction
Adrien "The Problem" Broner (32-2, 24 KO) didn't make weight, but he did batter Ashley Theophane on Friday night in Washington, D.C., en route to a ninth-round TKO victory. Even more intriguing than the fight itself was Broner's direct callout of retired pound-for-pound champion Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Before we get into that bit of business, let's break down the ridiculous mismatch we were forced to watch before the only real news of the day broke.
Broner was supposed to be defending his WBA super lightweight title against Theophane, but he was stripped of the belt on Thursday when he missed weight, per Bob Velin of Boxing Junkie. Thus, the title was only on the line for the 35-year-old from Paddington, London.
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Broner's win means the title goes vacant.
The tough but game Theophane was never in control of the fight. Broner launched a vicious head-and-body attack to systematically dismantle him. Theophane attempted to turn up the pressure with activity, but his punches didn't have any effect on Broner.
Theophane's lack of size was clear as Broner—who hydrated up to 171 pounds, per Laceup Boxing—fired hard pot shots that buckled his opponent on several occasions.
In the ninth round, a hard uppercut rocked Theophane. He didn't go down, but he began to retreat in an effort to clear his head. His face was already battered from the eight-plus rounds of punishment, and he looked worse for wear.
Broner sensed an opportunity to finish, and he went for it.
He landed a few more hard shots, but the last one strayed below the belt as Theophane backed against the ropes. He tried to escape the onslaught by skipping to his right. At the same time, he raised his hand to appeal to referee Luis Pabon about the low blow.
Pabon mistook the gesture as a surrender from Theophane, and he immediately called the fight. Technically, it was a premature stoppage, but truth be told, Theophane had no chance to win. He was already likely trailing big on the scorecards, and he clearly didn't have the power to hurt Broner.
No one expected Theophane to put up much of a fight, and things held true to form.
When the fight was over, Broner spoke loosely about the trials he's been enduring on the Spike TV broadcast. He was likely referring to a felony assault charge that stems from an incident that reportedly occurred outside a bowling alley.
Broner wasn't getting any sympathy from the crowd. He quickly transitioned from that and directed the theme of his post-fight rant at former friend and mentor Mayweather. Theophane is a member of Mayweather's Money Team fighting stable. Mayweather and Broner had traded barbs throughout the buildup to Friday's fight.
Theophane, whom I interviewed prior to the fight, seemed like a pawn in a much bigger game than the one that was played Friday night. I asked him about a potential Mayweather-Broner clash, should the latter defeat him. He said he couldn't see it happening. Perhaps the possibility looks a bit more real to him now.
Broner has said that he did not appreciate Mayweather making derogatory remarks about him. He reiterated that point on Friday during the Spike TV broadcast. Finally, he said, "Floyd has to see me. Whether it's sparring or a fight, Floyd has to see me. Let's do this."
The crowd reaction after Broner's callout was more spirited than any of The Problem's in-ring action. Mayweather, who was in attendance and standing on the ring apron near Theophane, laughed at the gesture and clapped his hands.
Many in the boxing community seemed to have a similar reaction. Sports Illustrated's Chris Mannix and Laceup Boxing weren't amused:
There's no question Mayweather would be a huge favorite if this fight takes place. Critics will bemoan the bout, but the public is likely to respond to a clash between the two most flamboyant performers the sport has seen in the last 10 years.
Mayweather hasn't responded to the callout, but if money is the motivation, and we know it is, there's a good chance Money and The Problem could happen later this year.
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