By: Sean Crose
Adrien Broner officially returns to the ring. The boxer known as “The Problem” will fight Omar Figueroa on August 20. The 12-round junior fight is scheduled to be held at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida, and will be broadcast live on Showtime. Broner last fought in February 2021 when he bested Javanie Santiago through unanimous decision. It was the man’s first win since 2017. However, the problem has never been a lack of skill or talent. His antics in and out of the boxing world are notorious but no one can deny that Broner has spent the past decade or so as a remarkable boxer. The question now is whether Broner, who is now in his 30s, still has what it takes to rise to the top of the rankings.
“I went there to try and stop Figueroa,” Broner announced. “I will fight him and keep getting him out of there. What I expect from him is the same terrible Figueroa we have always seen. He will try to make it a tough fight. Every boxer is different, but I don’t think he’s going to be hard to beat.” Like Broner, Ugas is in need of a turning point in his career. The man recently lost to Abel Ramos and Yordenis Ugas respectively. His last win was in 2019.
Figueroa says: “I am excited to be entering the next phase of my life and career, especially now that my mental health is paramount in everything I do. “Having a clear mind is the best thing that ever happened to me. Now I can focus 100% on my boxing career and I can’t wait to be back in the ring on August 20.” This is a real opportunity for both men to reverse direction. Go. While Broner wants to escape a long career, Figueroa really needs a simple victory. Whoever loses will most likely be wiped out by the fans, which is never a good thing, of course.
It should be remembered that every boxer has some highlights in his career. Broner has held world titles in four tournaments. No matter how critical one might be, it’s hard to admit it’s an impressive feat. Figueroa herself is a former world player. He won the WBC lightweight belt in 2013. Add in the fact that neither of these fighters hit the exact hill and things look pretty interesting.
