Adrien Broner
Adrien Broner is an American professional boxer who has won world championships in four weight divisions, including the WBO super featherweight title from 2011 to 2012, the WBC lightweight title in 2013, the WBA super lightweight title in 2015, and the WBA welterweight title in 2013.[1][2] Known by the ring name "The Problem," he is recognized for his flamboyant personality, defensive skills, and high-profile bouts against fighters such as Manny Pacquiao and Marcos Maidana.[1] With a professional record of 35 wins, 5 losses, and 1 draw—including 24 knockouts—Broner debuted in 2008 and last fought in 2024, competing primarily as an orthodox stance fighter at 5 feet 6 inches tall with a 69-inch reach.[3][4] Born Adrien Jerome Broner on July 28, 1989, in Cincinnati, Ohio, he began boxing at age six as a way to avoid trouble on the streets, earning the nickname "The Problem" from his parents due to his mischievous behavior as a child.[1] His amateur career was highly successful, compiling a record of 300 wins and 19 losses, highlighted by National Silver Gloves championships in 2002 and 2003, and a bronze medal at the 2005 National Junior Olympics.[1] Broner turned professional on May 31, 2008, securing a first-round knockout victory over Allante Davis in his hometown, and quickly rose through the ranks with an undefeated streak that led to his first world title win over Vicente Escobedo in 2011.[3][1] Broner's professional achievements include becoming a three-division champion by age 23, with victories over notable opponents like Paulie Malignaggi, though his career has been marked by setbacks, including unanimous decision losses to Maidana in 2013 and Pacquiao in 2019.[1][3] He captured the WBA welterweight belt in a 2013 win over Malignaggi and later the super lightweight title against Khabib Allakhverdiev in 2015, demonstrating his adaptability across weight classes from 130 to 147 pounds.[2][5] As of November 2025, Broner remains inactive following a unanimous decision defeat to Blair Cobbs on June 7, 2024, in what was his most recent bout, holding a career knockout percentage of approximately 68.57%.[3][4]Early years
Early life
Adrien Broner was born on July 28, 1989, in Cincinnati, Ohio, to parents Thomas Knight and Dorothy Broner.[6] He grew up as one of five children, including a twin brother named Andre, in the crime-ridden English Woods neighborhood, a subsidized housing area plagued by poverty and violence.[7][8] This environment exposed Broner to street life at a young age, where he and his siblings navigated daily hardships and the temptations of local gangs.[9] Influenced by his father, who recognized his physical talents and combative nature, Broner began boxing at the age of six as a means to channel his energy and escape the dangers of his surroundings.[10] He trained initially at the Mount Auburn PAL gym in Cincinnati, where the sport quickly became a structured outlet amid the chaos of his upbringing.[11] His family provided early support, with his parents encouraging regular training sessions to keep him off the streets, viewing boxing as a potential path to a better life.[6] Broner has often credited boxing with saving him from a destructive trajectory, recalling how he and his twin brother would fight neighborhood kids before discovering the gym, which instilled discipline and offered a way out of poverty.[12] This foundational period shaped his resilience, as the sport not only honed his skills but also fostered a sense of purpose in a community where opportunities were scarce.[13]Amateur career
Broner began his amateur boxing career in Cincinnati, Ohio, under the guidance of trainer Mike Stafford at a local gym, where he amassed an extensive fight experience with a claimed record of 300 wins and 19 losses over more than 300 bouts.[1][14] This rigorous schedule helped hone his technical skills, including a defensive, counterpunching approach reminiscent of Floyd Mayweather Jr., whom Broner idolized, combined with a flashy, showmanship style that featured taunting gestures and precise combinations.[15][8] Among his notable amateur opponents was Rau'shee Warren, a three-time U.S. Olympian, to whom Broner lost early in his career, an experience that underscored the competitive intensity of his development.[15] His competitive highlights included winning the National Silver Gloves championships in 2002 and 2003 at featherweight, establishing him as a top youth prospect.[1] In 2005, at age 16, Broner earned a bronze medal at the National Junior Olympics in the 132-pound division after reaching the semifinals.[1] Entering the 2008 Olympic Trials, Broner was on track to represent the United States at the Beijing Games and served as an alternate, but was derailed by legal troubles, including an arrest for aggravated robbery and felonious assault in 2007, leading to a 14-month jail sentence that interrupted his training and ultimately prevented his selection.[16][8] At age 18, he opted to turn professional in May 2008, signing with manager Al Haymon and debuting with a first-round knockout victory in his hometown.[16][15] This transition marked the end of a formative amateur phase that built the foundation for his professional success across multiple weight classes.Professional career
Super featherweight career
Broner made his professional debut on May 31, 2008, at the Millennium Hotel in Cincinnati, Ohio, where he faced Allante Davis and secured a technical knockout victory just 32 seconds into the first round. This quick finish set the tone for his early career, as he quickly amassed a string of knockout wins against opponents including David Warren Huffman (KO1, August 2008), Ramon Montaño (KO1, September 2008), and Terrance Jett (KO2, November 2008), building an undefeated record of 21-0 with 16 knockouts by early 2011. His aggressive style and hand speed, honed from an extensive amateur background, allowed him to dominate regional competition and earn opportunities on major platforms.[1] On March 5, 2011, Broner faced former world champion Daniel Ponce de León at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California, in a bout for the vacant WBO Inter-Continental super featherweight title. Broner won a controversial unanimous decision over 10 rounds (96-94, 96-94, 99-91), outlanding Ponce de León in the later rounds despite the Mexican veteran's early pressure. This victory elevated his profile, leading to a June 18, 2011, fight against Jason Litzau in Tlajomulco de Zúñiga, Mexico, where Broner claimed the vacant WBC USNBC super featherweight title with a first-round technical knockout at 2:58, overwhelming Litzau with a barrage of punches. These regional titles positioned Broner as a top contender in the division.[17] Broner's breakthrough came on November 26, 2011, at U.S. Bank Arena in Cincinnati, when he challenged Vicente Martín Rodríguez for the WBO super featherweight world title. He knocked out Rodríguez in the third round at 1:43, becoming a world champion at age 23 and extending his record to 22-0 (18 KOs). He made his first successful defense on February 25, 2012, against Eloy Pérez at Scottrade Center in St. Louis, Missouri, stopping the undefeated prospect via technical knockout in the fourth round at 2:24 after three knockdowns. In his next outing on July 21, 2012, against Vicente Escobedo in Cincinnati, Broner weighed in at 133.5 pounds, missing the super featherweight limit by 3.5 pounds and getting stripped of his WBO title prior to the fight; he still won by fifth-round technical knockout at 1:09 but could not claim the vacant belt.[18] Broner concluded his super featherweight run undefeated at 24-0, with 20 knockouts, before moving up to lightweight later that year.[19]Lightweight career
Following his success at super featherweight, where he captured the WBO title, Adrien Broner moved up to the lightweight division in 2012 to pursue greater challenges and opportunities against top competition.[20] This transition positioned him for his first world title bout at 135 pounds against the reigning WBC lightweight champion Antonio DeMarco. On November 17, 2012, at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey, Broner dominated the fight, dropping DeMarco multiple times before securing a technical knockout victory in the eighth round at 1:49, claiming the WBC lightweight title and improving his record to 25-0 with 21 knockouts.[21][22] Broner made his first title defense on February 16, 2013, against former WBA super lightweight champion Gavin Rees, also at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City. Despite a competitive start where Rees pressed forward aggressively, Broner adjusted and took control, scoring two knockdowns before Rees' corner threw in the towel in the fifth round at 2:59, retaining the WBC belt and advancing to 26-0 with 22 knockouts.[23][24] These victories fueled significant media hype around Broner, with outlets frequently comparing his undefeated record, defensive style, showmanship, and charisma to Floyd Mayweather Jr., positioning him as a potential heir to Mayweather's legacy in the sport.[25] Following the Rees fight, Broner opted to vacate the WBC lightweight title in pursuit of bigger fights and higher weight classes, announcing plans to campaign at welterweight later in 2013.[26] His time in the lightweight division concluded with a perfect 2-0 record, both wins by knockout.First welterweight stint
In 2013, Adrien Broner transitioned to the welterweight division (147 pounds) after vacating his lightweight title, seeking to expand his championship pedigree.[27] On June 22, 2013, at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, Broner faced Paulie Malignaggi for the WBA welterweight title in his divisional debut. Broner won a controversial split decision (115-113, 117-111 for Broner; 115-113 for Malignaggi), capturing the belt and becoming a three-division world champion at age 23.[28][29] The fight was marked by Broner's effective counterpunching against Malignaggi's higher volume, though ringside stats showed Malignaggi landing more punches overall (214 of 843) compared to Broner's 246 of 524.[30] Broner's first title defense came on December 14, 2013, against Marcos Maidana at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas. Maidana dominated with aggressive pressure, knocking Broner down twice (in rounds 2 and 8) and winning a unanimous decision (115-113, 115-113, 117-111), stripping Broner of the WBA title in his first professional defeat.[31][32] The loss exposed vulnerabilities in Broner's defensive style against relentless forwards.[33] Following the defeat, Broner took a hiatus from welterweight, competing in lower divisions before returning to challenge Shawn Porter on June 20, 2015, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. The bout, fought at a 144-pound catchweight, ended in a unanimous decision loss for Broner (118-108, 115-111, 114-112), as Porter's high-volume aggression overwhelmed him despite Broner scoring the fight's only knockdown in round 1.[34] This marked Broner's second welterweight setback in the stint. These consecutive losses—his first in the professional ranks—challenged Broner's self-proclaimed "Problem" persona of invincibility and showmanship, leading to increased scrutiny of his preparation and focus, which began to hinder his trajectory as a top contender.[27] Broner's record during this initial welterweight period stood at 1-2.[3]Super lightweight career
Following consecutive losses in the welterweight division, including defeats to Marcos Maidana in December 2013 and Shawn Porter in June 2015, Broner returned to the super lightweight class in 2014 to rebuild his career. Broner began his super lightweight resurgence on May 3, 2014, defeating Carlos Molina by unanimous decision over 10 rounds at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, capturing the vacant WBA International super lightweight title with scores of 99-91, 97-93, and 97-93.[35] He defended that title in his next bout on September 6, 2014, against Emmanuel Taylor at U.S. Bank Arena in Cincinnati, winning a unanimous decision after 12 competitive rounds by scores of 116-111 twice and 115-112, despite being knocked down in the 12th round. On February 28, 2015, Broner faced John Molina Jr. at the MGM National Harbor in Oxon Hill, Maryland, securing another unanimous decision victory over 12 rounds with dominant scores of 120-108 twice and 118-110, showcasing his superior hand speed and ring control.[36] Later that year, on October 3, 2015, he challenged for a world title against Khabib Allakhverdiev at the MGM Grand, winning the vacant WBA super lightweight belt via a 12th-round technical knockout after overwhelming the Russian with a barrage of punches that prompted the referee's stoppage.[37] Broner's first title defense came on April 1, 2016, against Ashley Theophane at D.C. Armory in Washington, D.C., where he stopped the British challenger in the ninth round with a technical knockout. However, Broner weighed in at 140.4 pounds, 0.4 pounds over the limit, forfeiting the WBA title on the scales while it remained at stake only for Theophane; he was subsequently stripped of the belt due to the weight miss.[38][39] Seeking to reclaim a world championship, Broner moved up to challenge WBC super lightweight titleholder Mikey Garcia on July 29, 2017, at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, but suffered a unanimous decision loss over 12 rounds with scores of 117-111, 116-112 twice, as Garcia's precise counterpunching neutralized Broner's offense.[40] In his final super lightweight outing on April 21, 2018, against Jessie Vargas at Barclays Center, Broner battled to a majority draw over 12 rounds, with scores of 115-113 for Broner and 114-114 twice, in a closely contested fight marked by mutual exchanges.[41] Throughout his super lightweight phase, Broner grappled with weight management challenges, notably the 2016 miss that cost him his title, contributing to perceptions of inconsistency in the division despite his technical prowess.[42] He compiled a record of 5-1-1 with 2 knockouts in the weight class during this period.[3]Later welterweight stints
Following his time campaigning at super lightweight, Broner returned to the welterweight division for a second stint, facing Adrian Granados on February 18, 2017, at the Cintas Center in Cincinnati, Ohio. The non-title bout, contested at a catchweight close to the welterweight limit, saw Broner secure a split decision victory after 10 rounds, with scores of 96-94, 97-93 for Broner and 93-97 for Granados.[43][44] The fight was a competitive affair, marked by Granados' aggressive pressure and Broner's counterpunching, though Broner outlanded his opponent 168-148 in total punches according to CompuBox statistics.[45] After suffering a unanimous decision loss to Mikey Garcia at super lightweight later that year, Broner made a third attempt at welterweight amid a period of career uncertainty and declining momentum, highlighted by his majority draw with Jessie Vargas at a 144-pound catchweight in April 2018. This result, scored 115-113 and 114-114 twice, stalled Broner's progress and underscored challenges in reclaiming elite status at 147 pounds.[46][47] Broner's most prominent fight in this later welterweight phase came against Manny Pacquiao on January 19, 2019, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, where he challenged for the WBA welterweight title. Pacquiao dominated the 12-round unanimous decision, winning with scores of 117-110, 116-111, and 116-111, landing 144 more punches than Broner (175-31 in power shots alone).[48][49] The high-profile pay-per-view event, promoted heavily by Premier Boxing Champions and Showtime, generated approximately 400,000 buys, grossing around $30 million domestically and marking a commercial success despite Broner's performance.[50][51] Across these later welterweight outings from 2017 to 2019, Broner compiled a 1-1 record (excluding the draw), reflecting a mix of resilience in victory over Granados and struggles against top-tier opposition like Pacquiao, which further highlighted his career's downward trajectory at the division.[3]Comeback and recent fights
Following his unanimous decision loss to Manny Pacquiao in January 2019, Adrien Broner entered a two-year hiatus from professional boxing, attributed to ongoing personal struggles and legal challenges, including a civil judgment against him for sexual assault in a Cleveland nightclub incident.[52][53] Broner did not fight again until February 20, 2021, when he returned to the ring at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut, defeating Jovanie Santiago by unanimous decision over 10 rounds (98-92, 97-93, 96-94) in a welterweight bout headlining a Showtime Championship Boxing card.[54] Broner remained inactive for over two years after that victory, before making another comeback on June 9, 2023, at Casino Miami Jai Alai in Miami, Florida, where he outpointed Bill Hutchinson by unanimous decision over 10 rounds (79-73 x3) on a FITE PPV card promoted by Don King.[55][56] This win improved his record to 34-4-1 (24 KOs) but highlighted concerns about his activity level and ring rust at age 33.[1] On June 7, 2024, Broner faced Blair Cobbs in a 10-round welterweight bout at the Hard Rock Live in Hollywood, Florida, on a TrillerTV card; Cobbs dominated the fight, dropping Broner in the second round and securing a unanimous decision victory (97-91, 96-93, 96-93), marking Broner's fifth professional defeat.[57][58] Broner later attributed the loss to injuries, including a fractured elbow and torn shoulder, though the scoring was not widely disputed as Cobbs controlled the pace and output.[59] Following the Cobbs defeat, Broner entered another extended absence of 17 months, during which he dealt with further personal issues, including bankruptcy filings and public incidents related to substance use.[60] In early November 2025, at age 36, Broner announced his return to training, posting videos from the gym and expressing dedication to boxing for the next 3-5 years, with discussions of a potential rematch against Cobbs amid his opponent's own inactivity.[60][61] As of November 2025, Broner's professional record stood at 35-5-1 (24 KOs), and he remains inactive pending confirmation of his next bout, raising questions about his longevity in a sport demanding consistent activity.[1][62]Boxing career highlights
Championships and accomplishments
Adrien Broner is recognized as a four-division world champion in professional boxing, having captured major titles in super featherweight, lightweight, welterweight, and super lightweight divisions, a feat accomplished by age 26 that places him among an elite group of fighters.[63][64] This multi-division success underscores his versatility across weight classes, with a total of seven world-level belts, including four major world championships and three regional titles that served as stepping stones to global contention.[65]Major World Titles
- WBO Super Featherweight Championship (2011–2012): Broner won the vacant title by third-round knockout against Vicente Martin Rodriguez, marking his first world championship and establishing him as a rising star in the 130-pound division.[64][65]
- WBC Lightweight Championship (2012–2013): He captured the title with an eighth-round technical knockout over Antonio DeMarco, solidifying his move to 135 pounds and earning him the top ranking in The Ring magazine's lightweight division.[64][63][66]
- WBA Welterweight Championship (2013): Broner secured the belt via split decision against Paulie Malignaggi in his debut at 147 pounds, highlighting his adaptability to higher weight classes despite the stylistic challenges.[64][2]
- WBA Super Lightweight Championship (2015–2016): He claimed the title with a 12th-round stoppage of Khabib Allakhverdiev at 140 pounds, later defending it before vacating due to weight issues in subsequent bouts.[64][63][5]
Regional and International Titles
- WBO Inter-Continental Super Featherweight Title (2011): Broner won this regional belt by unanimous decision over Daniel Ponce de Leon, using it as a platform to build momentum toward his first world title shot.[65][2]
- WBC USNBC Super Featherweight Title (2011): He claimed the vacant North American title with a first-round knockout of Jason Litzau, further enhancing his credentials in the super featherweight division.[65][17]
- WBA International Super Lightweight Title (2014): Broner won this international belt by unanimous decision over Carlos Molina during his transition to 140 pounds, contributing to his preparation for world-level competition in the division.[67][2]