Get a preview here for Adrien Broner vs Ashley Theophane tonight live on Spike on PBC Boxing.
A shadow looms large over tonight’s Adrien Broner vs. Ashley Theophane fight – the shadow of Floyd Mayweather.
Both Broner and Theophane bring to the fight their own histories with the recently “retired” greatest of his generation, and those histories play a significant role in their clash. Together, the two men represent the sort of yin and yang of the at times complex persona of Mayweather.
In Broner, you have the walking embodiment of the Money Mayweather persona. There’s the talk of being the greatest in the world, the emphasis on making money, the put downs of your opponent. And of course, there’s also the outside of the ring issues as well. Tonight Broner fights while managing criminal charges, just as Mayweather did when he fought Miguel Cotto in 2012. Broner is the Brash Youth part of Mayweather – the part many are glad to see gone now that Mayweather has stepped away.
In Theophane, you have the businessman side of Mayweather. That’s not so much due to Theophane himself, who is something of a blank canvas in this fight, but instead due to his association with Mayweather. Theophane is represented by Mayweather Promotions, and is a member of The Money Team, a promotional group which Floyd (and his business partners of course) have used decently in recent years to advance younger fighters while moving into more fight promotion. Theophane then represents the Elder Statesman side of Mayweather, a hat the former champion has tried to wedge onto his head in recent years, not always with success.
As you look at these two sides, it is only fitting that Broner has recently had a very public falling out with his former idol Mayweather. After all, is it not the duty of Brash Youth to rebel against his elders? That is what we have seen from Broner lately, as he has spoken out against “Hateweather Promotions”, prompting Mayweather to attack Broner as a fighter and as a draw (asking if “AB” stands for “Always Broke”), while also calling him a “snake” in the process for good measure.
Tonight, Floyd Mayweather will certainly be ringside watching over the fight, and like two feuding brothers putting on a show for Dad, both Broner and Theophane will attempt to make their own statements to this imposing figure. For Broner, this is a chance to hurt Mayweather by taking out one of his prospects. For Theophane, it’s a chance to impress his elder with his career best win while also defending the boss’s honor.
Chances are Theophane won’t get to be the man to stand up for Floyd. He’s currently a +650 underdog to Broner’s -1100, and for good reason. Broner clearly isn’t as good a fighter as he believes he is, but he’s not as bad a fighter as many of his detractors think either. This is The Problem’s fight to lose – he knows it, and it’s likely that Floyd Mayweather knows it too. Of course, if it is Broner’s fight to lose, there are plenty of reasons for him to lose it. He is expected to turn himself in to Ohio authorities next week to face assault charges; he dropped his title on the scale after refusing to make weight yesterday; and perhaps most of all, he will have to look at the smirking face of Money all night. For a mentally weak fighter like Broner, these are big cracks – perhaps big enough to add just a dash of intrigue tonight.
Prediction: Adrien Broner, decision
PBC Boxing Broner vs. Theophane is live on Spike tonight at 9:00 p.m. ET. Join Bloody Elbow for live fight night coverage.