Adrien Broner-John Molina: BScene Staff Predictions

By Jake Donovan

Boxing returns to primetime on NBC for the first time in nearly 30 years. Al Haymon’s time-buy slots on the free TV network paved the way for the launching of “Premier Boxing Champions,” which begins Saturday evening at MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

The first televised fight of the night features one of the sport’s biggest TV draws, former three-division titlist Adrien Broner in a crossroads bout with veteran spoiler John Molina Jr.

The bout was originally thought to be at the 140 lb. junior lightweight limit and scheduled for 10 rounds. Fight week – including Friday’s weigh-in – revealed otherwise, as the two are now scheduled for 12 rounds, and with a +/- 1 lb. allowance on the weight, which meant Broner – who checked in at 141 lb. – was spared having to shed the extra pound or pay a fine.

But what will it mean on Saturday evening?

The brash once-beaten boxer has racked up title belts at junior lightweight, lightweight and welterweight. The latter feat came at the expense of leapfrogging the junior welterweight division, though he wisely dropped back down in weight after a humbling points loss to Marcos Maidana in Dec. ’13.

Two wins have come of the move, outpointing Carlos Molina over 10 rounds last May and then scoring a late knockdown to ride out a well-earned win over Emanuel Taylor in their 12-round thriller last September in his hometown of Cincinnati, Ohio.

Molina Jr. (27-5, 22KOs) has been on one big roller coaster ride over the past few years. Once a rising prospect, the Californian has endured his share of setbacks and letdowns over the years, though mixed in with thrilling moments.

A points loss to Martin Honorio stripped him of the new penny shine that came with being an unbeaten prospect on the rise. More of the same seemed to come of his July ’10 clash with then-unbeaten Hank Lundy, where he was hopelessly trailing on all three scorecards before rallying to stop the Philly boxer in the 11th round.

It was deja va all over again three years later – almost to the day – for Molina, who rallied to stop then-unbeaten Mickey Bey in the 10th and final round of their July ’13 clash.

The win over Bey led to what would ultimately land in some circles as the best fight of 2014. Molina Jr. stared down the barrel of a gun, twice dropping Lucas Matthysse before suffering two knockdowns of his own, losing a heartbreaking 11th round stoppage of their savage war last April. Not as kind to his career was a 10-round points loss to Humberto Soto last September, never letting his hands go as he succumbed to the former three-division champ.

Can Molina pull one more rabbit out of the hat and shock the world in front of a live free-for-TV audience? Or will Broner show why he remains one of the most watched fighters in the U.S., and move closer towards a coveted title in a fourth weight class?

Read on to see how the staff at Boxingscene.com believes the action will play out.

BOXINGSCENE.COM STAFF PREDICTIONS: ADRIEN BRONER vs. JOHN MOLINA, JR.

Ryan Burton (Broner TKO9): I think Broner hits the canvas early then rights the shipping leading to a stoppage win.

Jake Donovan (Broner UD): This fight seems less about what Broner can do in the division – I’m not convinced he can run with the best at this weight - than which Molina will show up. The Californian is known for his late-round heroics, but his lethargic performance in last September's loss to Humberto Soto just doesn't sit well with me.

David Greisman (Broner TKO): We've come to love Molina for his fan-friendly style and his Hail Mary comebacks, but he'll be in against a refocused Broner whose talent level remains much higher than Molina's, while Molina last year took major punishment from Lucas Matthysse and then underwhelmed against Humberto Soto. Molina is no Marcos Maidana; he'll be closer to Antonio DeMarco, and I see Broner pulling off a similar stoppage.

John MacDonald (Broner KO9): A fight that could be exciting at times. Molina will have success at times - maybe even dropping Broner - but Broner's better more accurate work will pay dividends in the end.

Takahiro Onaga (Broner TKO9): Molina takes fight to Broner who grits teeth and eventually sees off spirited Molina.

Cliff Rold (Broner KO): Molina may have moments here but he's not as good as Maidana. Broner takes over for the stoppage with more accurate punches in a crowd pleaser.

Reynaldo Sanchez (Broner by MD): Broner isn’t a real welterweight, he need to be more time at the GYM and fight at the 140 lb. limit. Broner by MD in a bored to tears fight.

Alexey Sukachev (Broner UD12): John Molina is officially a spent bullet with the only question remaining: is he shot or not? He can be a shot fighter indeed but Broner has been very "peaceful" lately, going the ditance with some guys he would have been smoked in the past. Molina - to go the distance 9maybe with a couple of KD's).

Totals (8):

Jake Donovan is the Managing Editor of BoxingScene.com, as well as a member of Transnational Boxing Ratings Board and the Boxing Writers Association of America. Twitter: