Author: Steven Donnell

Views on upcoming fights in UK and world scene

The enigma that is Adrien Broner 

What can be said about Adrien “The Problem”Broner that hasn’t  been said ,a man who if his talent progressed as fast as his arrogance he would be going down as 1 of the “Greatest ” . If someone told me 5 years ago Broner would be fighting an unranked fighter at 140 ,in 2016 I would be enquiring what they where smoking . 

To be fair to Broner this fight was pushed by His mentor Floyd Mayweather Theophane (the Brit on a 6 fight winning streak)is a fighter for Mayweather  promotions so this fight only seemed to benefit 1 person …..the moneyman himself . Broner stripped of his WBA title for missing the weight and no longer a PPV fighter claimed “He will fight who he wants” can forget about capturing boxing fans imagination with fights like this.  

  

Just hours after Broner seen off Theophane in a 9th round stoppage for his 32nd win he made his way to the police station as part of an agreement between him and the authorities due to Broner being a wanted man. Broner (26) is accused of pulling a gun,robbing a man then knocking him unconscious after losing a “big bet” on a game of BOWLING.  

 Don’t get me wrong Broner is still a World Class fighter and at 26 still has his best years infront of him and with Spike announcing Broner vs Theophane was the most watched fight ever on there network with over 1 million viewers which shows there is still a massive interest in him but for me this is a massive point in his career to get focused,get back in shape and fulfil the potential we all know he has otherwise I can see his star falling rapidly in the next few years and leaving a legacy of unfulfilled potential.

Dino

Groves vs Brophy 9-4-16

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On the undercard of the ‘Prince’ Charles Martin vs Anthony ‘AJ’ Joshua for the IBF heavyweight title is an England vs Scotland battle in the fiercely contested super middleweight division. 3 time world title challenger and former British, Commonwealth and EBU champion George Groves (22-3-0) takes on undefeated Scottish contendor David Brophy (16-0-1)  for the vacant WBA international super middleweight title. Although not a main version of the WBA belt a victory would give the holder a ranking within the top 15 of the WBA and a potential route to WBA ‘super’ champion Arthur Abraham.

25 year old Caldercruix fighter Brophy has never fought at this level before, the biggest name on the Scottish fighters CV is welsh fighter Tobias Webb (16-5-1). Cousin of former Cruiserweight champ Enzo Maccarinelli, Webb took the fight at one weeks notice after original opponent Charles Adamu (24-8-0) pulled out. Webb was in shape and ready to go as he had been in camp for a fight in Finland that eventually fell through, the fight turned out to be a small hall cracker, with both fighters exchanging big punches in the early rounds. By the half way mark Brophy was easing ahead although caught in the 7th Brophy used his boxing brain to keep out of trouble and won the 10 round fight fairly wide on points 97-93.

George Groves on the other hand is no stranger to headlining sold out arenas and fighting for world titles. Having lost on a split decision points defeat  in his most recent attempt against Badou Jack in Las Vegas, Groves is again looking to rebuild towards another title shot. After being knockedown in the first round Groves never took control of the fight and although a split decision in my eyes he never done enough to merit taking the WBC belt back to the UK. Now with new trainer Shane Mcguigan and after a 5th round stoppage win over Italian Andrea Di Luisa (18-4-0) Groves is back on the path to glory which will surely end in a world title victory.

On paper George Groves should have to much power, ring craft and experience for David Brophy to trouble him. But with experienced trainer Billy Nelson in his corner and his trainers belief that he is destined for bigger and better things Brophy will come into this fight knowing this is his chance to propel himself into the top end of the super middleweight scene, not only in Britain where Callum Smith has recently became WBC champ Badou Jacks mandatory but across the world with WBA ‘super’ and ‘regular’ champs Abraham and Sturm in his sights if he wins.

Jay

Joshua vs Martin preview/Prediction 

Joshua vs Martin preview/Prediction 

So big fight coming up this weekend Martin vs Joshua for the IBF Heavyweight Championship. Another step up for AJ who did face his biggest test in his win against Dillian Whyte after appearing to be to be rocked early on in the fight. Although Joshua went on to win comfortably it has left big question marks over his ability to take a big hit and surly a question Charles Martin is gonna ask .

Charles Martin himself will be coming out to prove he’s a worthy champ after winning the belt in a fairly damp squib fashion with Vyacheslav Glazkov having to retire in the 3rd round with an injury to his knee for the vacant IBF title after it was stripped off of the real champ Tyson Fury controversially . The guy’s record suggests he has something with 24fights,23wins and 1 draw so I don’t think he’s to be took lightly .

For me this fight is interesting at best, hardly gets the heart pumping , it’s another “let’s no push AJ to hard” whilst asking for box office £ . I don’t think Anthony Joshua will be to troubled and think Martin will do well to see the half way mark, just hoping we see a good test of AJ’s credentials and chin so he can move onwards and upwards belt in hand and a ever growing reputation .