ADRIEN BRONER has promised to become a world champion again – having won his first fight in FOUR YEARS.
The US star made his return against Puerto Rican Jovanie Santiago, having not fought since defeat to Manny Pacquiao in January 2019.
Adrien Broner won his comeback fight after two years out
Adrien Broner had not fought since defeat to Manny Pacquiao in January 2019
Broner emerged victorious on his comeback in a close fought battle and afterwards vowed to win a world title at super-lightweight.
He said: “I knew he was going to be tough because he’s 14-0.
“And anybody with that ‘0’ wants to keep that ‘0’ so they’re going to fight like a bum fighting for a sandwich. I came in and I got the job done.
“There is a lot of work out there at 140. Right now we’re going to the drawing board with Al Haymon to see what’s best for me.
Adrien Broner won his first fight in four years
Jovanie Santiago was beaten on points
“But I’m definitely going back to the gym and I’m looking forward to getting one of those titles this year at 140.”
Broner, 31, was scheduled to face Santiago, also 31, at the 140lb super-lightweight limit.
But a day before the weigh-in, it was changed to a welterweight headliner at 147lb.
Broner came into the fight with his last win coming against Adrian Granados in February 2017.
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A loss to Mikey Garcia, draw with Jessie Vargas and failed world title attempt against Pacquiao followed.
Floyd Mayweather’s former protege admitted he was just relieved to finally get his hands raised once again.
Broner said: “That was cool. I want to go home and really look at my fight. I haven’t fought in two years.
“But I felt good, I felt like I won the fight. I felt like I beat him with the jab, honestly. But it felt good to get my hand raised though.”
The American, who last reigned as champ in 2016, was comfortably outlanded by Santiago, who connected with 207 of 697 shots, 109 more than Broner.
Adrien Broner has not been world champion since 2016
Adrien Broner vowed to win a world title again
But the four-division champion threw the more telling and eye-catching punches, and connected with 29 per cent, opposed to Santiago’s 30 pet cent.
Santiago said: “No, the decision doesn’t surprise me.
“Broner did a nice job in there. The decision could have gone both ways. He fought a great fight. We were in it to win this fight and he got the decision.
“I think boxing fans know who I am now, but in this fight I should have applied more pressure and the fight would have gone my way.”
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Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
