MGM Grand, Las Vegas - Earlier today, Adrien 'The Problem' Broner came in at 141-pounds for Saturday's junior welterweight fight with John Molina, which is the NBC televised co-feature to the debut edition of 'Premier Boxing Champions.' Molina hit the division limit of 140.
Because there is no world title involved, the rules of the Nevada State Athletic Commission would allow Broner the luxury of an extra pound.
However, the bout agreement clearly gave both fighters a maximum weight of 140 - according to Molina's trainer, Joe Goossen.
Goossen has direct knowledge that Broner had to struggle to get down as close as possible to the junior welterweight limit.
A few months ago, several photos surfaced of Broner where the boxer looked very heavy.
Whether or not any of this will make a difference in the fight remains to be seen. The fight was originally set for ten rounds, but Goossen indicates the bout is now a twelve round contest.
"It was a plus one, but the contract was signed for 140-pounds, so you would think that both fighters would hit 140. We're professionals and we did. Broner didn't. But by Nevada law, the commission can and shall allow him that give or take of one pound and they took advantage. That being said, he did not strip down completely. Had he done that, he would have been closer to 140 and a half or [even less]. For the sake of the show, I think it was wise that we moved forward with it because Broner did have Nevada law on his side," Goossen told BoxingScene.com.
"Although, I think they came into this fight with the idea that they weren't going to make 140, and I just think he could not make it - because I know that he was in the sauna for the last three days. I know that he was working out very hard yesterday, trying to make 140. And I think he got down to as low as he could. It falls down within the parameters of being legal, at 141, so there is nothing really that could have been done about that."
...luckily for him Molina is a C fighter
