Former four-division title-holder Adrien Broner believes a return to the super lightweight division gives him the opportunity to secure his first knockout victory in over six years.
Broner, who last fought in February 2021, ends his latest ring sabbatical when he faces volume puncher Omar Figueroa next month at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, FL. The return to super lightweight will be Broner’s first fight in the division since a 2017 decision loss to Mikey Garcia. However, Broker last knockout victory, a ninth round stoppage over Ashley Theopane, happened at the weight in 2016.
Against Figueroa, whose high punch output is accompanied by a porous defense, makes Broner confident his counterpunching is formidable enough to overcome his opponent’s roughhouse tactics.
“I’m going in there to try to stop Figueroa,” said Broner. “I’m going to take the fight to him and go ahead and get him out of there. What I expect from him is the same gruesome Figueroa that we always see. He’ll try to make it a rough fight. Every fighter is different, but I don’t think he’ll be hard to hit. So, I’ll see y’all on August 20.’’
Figueroa, having suffered back to back losses to Abel Ramos and Yordenis Ugas at welterweight, is looking to secure his first win since 2019 and believes his in-ring confidence will return at super lightweight.
“I’m excited to move on to the next phase of my life and career, especially now that my mental health is at the forefront of everything I do,” said Figueroa. “Having a clear mind has been the best thing to happen to me. Now I’m able to focus 100% on my boxing career and I can’t wait to be back in the ring on August 20.”
The Showtime / Premier Boxing Champions card opens with WBA super featherweight title-holder Roger Gutierrez defending against unbeaten Hector Garcia, and another super lightweight bout between undefeated Alberto Puello against Botirzhon Akhmedov as the co-main event.
Beats, Boxing and Mayhem 