Phil D. Jay
WBN Editor
WBN Editor
‘The Problem’ moves to 24-0
Former WBO super-featherweight champion Adrien Broner signed
off from the 130lb division with an easy stoppage win over an out-of-depth and
weight disadvantaged Vicente Escobedo in Cincinnati.
The 22 year-old, who lost his title on the scales this past
Friday, looked visibly bigger than the Woodland fighter in the ring and used
all his extra strength to grind down Escobedo, forcing his corner to step in.
Broner, using Floyd Mayweather’s successful defensive style,
began the fight slowly before eventually scoring success from the fourth round and
busted up Escobedo with regularity until the towel was raised to halt the fight at
the end of the fifth.
Escobedo had no answer to the power of Broner’s shots and ‘The
Problem’ is now certain to be in line for a shot at one of the world champions
at lightweight after declaring his intention to move up last week.
The fight almost never took place as Escobedo, 30, protested
Broner coming in at two separate check-weigh-ins three pounds over, but an
improved purse persuaded the Californian to take part and the former
lightweight duly fell to his fourth defeat from 30.
In chief support, Keith Thurman Jr. improved to 18-0 with a
sixth round TKO victory over Orlando Lora as ‘One Time’ continued his march
towards a world title shot at the welterweight limit.