If there was one thing most fight fans could agree on prior to the night of December 14th, it was that 2013’s pugilistic upsets were done and dusted. The shockers, jaw droppers – they were over.
Prior to the action in the Alamodome, San Antonio, Texas, Marcos Maidana was the clear outsider with odds-makers. And the majority of boxing reporters and fans alike wouldn’t have argued much otherwise. Like him or loathe him, the toxic-mouthed talent that is Adrien Broner was not scripted to lose his WBA Welterweight title to Marcos Maidana.
Known as ‘The Problem’, Broner was tipped to solve Argentina’s ‘El Chino’ – not the other way around. And so when just that happened, one of the year’s most unlikeliest upsets did. That night, Maidana wasn’t the predictable bull running into the matador’s traps. He was a bull all right – but a smart one, who handed Broner a beating and two knockdowns en route to a Unanimous Decision. Scorecards read 115-110, 116-109, 117-109.
(see our Live Round-by-Round updates)
Had Broner underestimated Maidana? Had he spoke the words “easy money” into too many microphones? That we’ll never know.
Maidana vs Broner: The Fight
One thing we do, however, is that Broner has a good chin and a lot of heart. The other is that Maidana despised Broner enough to want to concuss him seconds after he left his stool in round 1. And things remained that way for the duration of the fight. Maidana managed to connect with a staggering number of power shots – a surprising feat, given Broner’s reputation as one of boxing’s best defensive fighters.
Maidana’s game plan worked. And after dropping the Cincinnati native with a jaw crunching left hook to start the 2nd round, there was clearly no need to change it. Broner was down for the first time in his professional career, the shot itself cleverly disguised as a jab to the body.
Broner started to find some comfort in the ring, landing some decent punches through some of the middle and later rounds. His punch-output was much overshadowed by that of Maidana, however, and Broner’s chin continued to be on the receiving end of punishing blows.
One punch in particular Broner seemed highly susceptible to was the Maidana lead left hook. And in the 8th round it put him down once more. Clearly hurt and soon on wobbly legs, Broner held on, restricting Maidana’s assault. It was at this point that things got a little ‘un-Queensberry’ and ‘theatrical’.
Being the emotional character Maidana is, he head-butted his spoiling foe. What followed was Broner throwing himself across the ring, a little ‘dramatically’, and Maidana being deducted one point. It was bad news for Maidana – but also for Broner when his plight fell flat and the referee let Maidana continue his mauling. (Maidana vs Broner Highlights)
Following the result, Broner immediately fled the ring – something his detractors won’t have warmed to particularly. His unbeaten record may have been forever tarnished, but a humbled interview may have earned him new-found respect. The man was dominated that night, sure. But he also demonstrated to the world guts and fortitude – a key ingredient in great fighters.
As for Maidana, he is sitting atop the world right now. After quieting one of boxing’s loudest figures, many fighter’s will want a piece of Maidana pie. So then, could we see Mayweather vs Maidana in the new year? Mayweather will be looking to announce his next opponent soon, and Maidana’s band of Argentine followers could equal big enough bucks for boxing’s most lucrative fighter to get involved.
Maidana vs Broner: Undercard
That evening’s undercard saw another powerful Welterweight on the rise. Keith Thurman employed his familiar lighting attacks to take out gatekeeper Jesus Soto-Karass at 2:21 of the 9th round. Leo Santa Cruz defended his WBC Junior Featherweight title, dropping challenger Cesar Seda in the 5th en route to a Unanimous Decision. Beibut Shumenov also retained his WBA Light Heavyweight title by dropping overmatched Tamas Koyacs three times before the bout was stopped in the 3rd.
What did you think of the Maidana vs Broner upset? Is this the greatest performance of Maidana’s career to date? Could have Broner been more competitive, or even defeated Maidana had he took the challenge more seriously? Will the defeat haunt Broner and lead to a future rematch?
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