It is too easy to criticise Adrien Broner but the best you can say about Saturday night is that he's got another win under his belt.
I think perhaps he under-estimated Paulie and thought that as soon he as he turned it on he would be able to shut him out. But he realised and Malignaggi's speed made things very awkward, because not only was he in and out, he landed plenty of punches.
Arrogance
They weren't powerful shots but it left Broner trying to block shots and then try and land counters as well. We never really saw him dominate, or even try and dominate the fight because he couldn't.
The one thing that might have helped him do that was the jab, which we barely saw. When a fighter respects the opponent the jab is the key because it can slowly get them into the fight and then set them up to let off the combinations and that is something Broner couldn't get going. I think he just under-estimated the step up in weight and above all, Paulie Malignaggi.
If there had been a bit of fear, even a bit of respect there, we would've seen a better performance and we would have seen him use that jab and that boxing ability and his movement. Instead all we saw was him going for the KO throwing those big right leads and not using anything we know he can do.
When you are moving up two weight divisions to face the world champion, why do you think you don't' even need the jab? Normally you find out the hard way but just to prove the point about Broner's attitude, he thought this was going to be a lot easier.
I think it all boils down to arrogance and he thought it was a done-deal. He is only 23 though and he will be learning from each fight and I think even though he got that win, he is sitting there now kicking himself because he knows he could've done better.
Some will put it down to him jumping up to welterweight, others will put it down to Paulie boxing out of his skin but he came through it. He didn't box at his best but the one person who can be blamed for that is Adrien Broner. And his arrogance.
Prevent
But, I still think America is on his side... at the moment. If you don't follow boxing and hear the occasional thing he's said in a press conference then you don't like him but if you are a boxing fan in America, I think you want Adrien Broner to come through and be a superstar. All the unpleasant things he does and says mean he really does need to put on a show to catapult himself into the nation's imagination.
America needs another star and, in all honesty, he is the only one you can see making that giant step up, after Floyd Mayweather - who is a massive influence on him and seems to be preparing him to fill that void.
Floyd is in his ear all the time and Broner will admit that. People are always criticising him for trying to look and box like Mayweather and if you saw that rolling shoulder defence, then you will see what I mean.
But they are friends and they do socialise and Money has set the trend for a lot of modern-day fighters so Broner is no different, but is very fortunate in that respect.
Mayweather was at ringside watching on Saturday night and no doubt he has been giving him a helping hand. But when he calls it a day, only one fighter can take over the mantle and that is Adrien Broner. And there is only one person who can prevent that happening... The Problem.
