Adrian Broner: Why boxing needs to let him go and keep him around

   At one time, it would have been fashionable to poke fun at Adrien Broner for several things.

For one, Broner won titles in four divisions, yet the best fighter that he defeated for a title was Antonio DeMarco.

Broner won several decisions that he didn't deserve (Paulie Malignaggi, Adrian Granados, and his most recent win in February 2021 over Jovanie Santiago), didn't always come into a fight in shape, missed weight on several occasions, and usually offered a profane post-fight interview with claims that he won a fight that he clearly lost.

That's not even counting the out-of-the-ring issues and YouTube videos filled with lighting cigars with one hundred dollar bills with constant problems that made you wince with every new piece of news.

For all of the titles and all the hype from PBC (including from HBO before there was a PBC), Broner was a good boxer, not a great one, and more often than not was more sizzle than steak.

Only one of those title wins was the type of performance (the tenth-round knockout of Antonio DeMarco) that dazzled you, and Broner might have proven more in his defeats to Marcos Maidana and Shawn Porter than in any wins.

Broner showed heart in taking a punishing pounding against Maidana, and well behind on the cards against Porter, Broner hung in there and knocked Porter down in the final round.

Broner's chin and guts cannot be questioned but his speed and power always were overrated a bit and his preparation and dedication to the sport were more often than not very much in question.

In the last few years, Broner has been trotted out every year or two to fight a big name (2015 Porter, 2017 Mikey Garcia, and 2019 Manny Pacquiao) , and would say all the right things about being in the best shape of his life and dedicated to the sport), and then wouldn't throw enough punches and be handily handed a decision defeat.

And then there was the February 2021 decision win to Jovanie Santiago that most thought he lost and after a borderline gift, Broner spent the post-fight cursing, talking about his sex life, and talking about everything but why he looked slow and fortunate to win.

Fast forward to the present and yet another Broner comeback against another disappointing once thought to be future star in Omar Figueroa in a Showtime main event.

Broner-Figueroa looked like one of those fights with two faded names pitted against each other and hope that the winner looked good enough to be fed to a younger fighter in need of a former champion and major name on their record.

Today, Broner dropped out of the fight citing "mental health" issues, and forced PBC to lift former IBF junior welterweight champion Sergey Lipinets from the undercard to face Figueroa, who now will face a better fighter (at this stage) and yet a lesser name.

Broner has pulled this stunt too many times and in the ring, he's just not worth the troubles that follow along with him.

PBC, Showtime, whomever, should decide that they have had enough of Broner in the ring and not book him any further because they cannot depend on him to show up or act like a professional when he does appear.

Enough is enough.

And yet, I feel for Adrien Broner.

Mental Health may be a recent addition to sports vernacular and only now is starting to receive the attention that it deserves in the sports world but its easy to chuckle at fighters such as Broner and Ryan Garcia that seem to be using the term as an excuse for not being at their best or not reaching their contractual obligations when their past shows several setbacks.

Broner has made many mistakes away from boxing that screams mental health issues and it's not difficult to see that he needs help and likely money despite making millions in boxing.

Someone in the game could try to help Broner, perhaps starting him as an assistant trainer, or an English commentator on international broadcasts, or something in the boxing media.

Broner needs something to keep him busy and out of trouble and with his background with PBC and Showtime, there has to be something that someone can try to do to keep him busy, out of the ring but yet involved enough with what he knows best- on the condition that he receives regular treatment for help with his mental well-being.

Oftentimes, these attempts can backfire or be ignored by the person that someone is trying to help but PBC or Showtime could at least try and hope that they can keep him out of the ring and well.

And if that doesn't work, maybe it's time for the promotion that has tolerated this behavior and his issues for so long to cut him loose and minimize their losses.

"The Problem" has his problems, it would be good for him and the sport for him to keep those out of the ring from now on.