Adrien Jerome Broner vs. Henry Lundy

Philly's loudest mouth versus Cincy's. February 25th at Gateway Center Arena in Georgia, co-headlining with Tevin Farmer vs. Mickey Bey on... *checks notes* PPV? Seriously, wtf?

Don't get me wrong, this would have been a banger main event on FNF or ShoBox... at lightweight, twelve years ago. It even would have made a fine third-billed supporting match on a PPV in the middle of that decade, when Broner was holding titles and Lundy contending for them at 140lbs. Now, though, in Anno Domini twenty-twenty-three? At welter? A long time (multiple presidential administrations, in fact) removed from either bagging a notable dub? Eh...

Despite campaigning in similar weight classes over a similar period of time in their careers, they have just one common opponent:

• John Molina Jr. - defeated Lundy by TKO11 in 2010, and lost a UD12 to Broner in 2015.

Lundy replaces Ivan Yurievich Redkach on just over a month's notice, but I would argue that if you look at intangibles and not just tale-of-tape, he isn't too much of a downgrade - if any. Hammerin Hank's ring IQ dwarfs that of El Terrible Ucranio, as does his heart. The only things that really make Redkach a more viable opponent are that he's a bit younger (but still a well-used 36), a bit taller (by 2½", but Lundy himself still has an inch of height on Broner, while giving up an inch of reach), and probably punches a bit harder (although Hank has always had underrated pop (not of the finishing variety, but he gets opponents' respect). Redkach is a southpaw, but Lundy can do you one better: he's a fluid switch-hitter. As for momentum, while HHL is on twice as long a skid at 4 losses, Redkach has been all but flashing a giant neon sign that he's ready to retire from the sport before apparently doing so now with this pull-out - first, he fought like a ***** and got thoroughly outpointed by Swift, and then he quit against Rougarou.

Before the reshuffling of the deck, Lundy was set to face 21 year old Californian prospect Ernesto De Jesús "Tito" Mercado, who is 8-0 with 8 knockouts. Mercado, a decent amateur, is coming directly off his biggest pro achievement to date, icing Jayson Vélez.

I propose that a) Lundy is, at worst, a lateral move from Redkach if not in fact in with a slightly better chance due to intangibles and stylistic factors of upsetting Broner and that b) someone like Mercado at this stage probably represented far more of a guaranteed brutalizing than Broner. Let's remember that "About Billions" (whose career high purse, by far, is 2.5 million - and that only because he was playing B-side to a certain Filipino senator) is just 1-2-1 in the last six years.

Now, do I think Lundy will get the nod? Probably not, because god hates us all. Broner will eke out a decision or perhaps even invite a flattering ref wave-off down the stretch in the ninth or tenth - but it'll be a harder-fought contest than Redkach would have extracted from him, IMO. And given that we're speaking of a washed fringe contention guy who is 39 as of a couple of weeks ago, that will really be telling about just how much AB deserves to be anywhere near the main event slot on even a middling PPV in 2023.

 

That is the outcome I'm hoping for (as I don't see Lundy stopping him) - just to see how big a tantrum he throws upon realizing that his charm has worn off and judges are so nonplussed with his dusty PBF tribute act they're willing to give a fair shake to a 39 year old with a dozen losses...just a complete Wonkaesque meltdown.

 

...although, y'know, if something fluky were to happen and Broner did get himself KTFO... oh man. That might actually be somehow even more satisfying than Chino giving us all the best xmas gift ever with that pistol-whipping in 2013. Which means, ipso facto, it would automatically slot in as the most satisfying outcome this millennium so far, in my book.

 

The press conference trash-talk and stare-down will be a better watch, for absolutely free, than will the fight at whatever price-point.

 

Lundy has never sucked, his potential ceiling was always just shy of elite; he just always ran very hot & cold. Like a mini Kingpin Johnson. (in fact that was my disparaging nickname for him for years)

And now he's shot, but even so he matches up almost evenly with Broner in terms of hand speed, and outpaces him in skill and work rate. But, obviously, falls short in terms of power. So uphill battle for the old man, to be sure. But gosh darn it, for one night only, sign me up for the Micro Kevin Dirrell Johnson fan club!

 

He was, at the very most, a mild curiosity, briefly. I don't think he was ever legitimately a top fifteen money draw in the sport.

 

12 years of marinated beef.
https://www.boxingforum24.com/threads/hammerin-hank-lundy-i-would-kill-adrien-broner.342519/