Brash Broner faces tough WBA welterweight test in Maidana

Unbeaten American Adrien Broner puts his World Boxing Association welterweight world title on the line on Saturday against ferocious puncher Marcos Maidana at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas. Brash 24-year-old Broner brings an impressive 27-0 record, with 22 knockouts in his first defence of the title he won in stepping up two weight classes to beat Paul Malignaggi by split decision in June. But the flamboyant Broner will face one of his toughest tests in Argentina's Maidana, a former junior welterweight world champion who has knocked out 31 of his 37 opponents in building a 34-3 record. "Adrien is now an established welterweight, no doubt about it," Maidana said. "But the only problem is he has not been tested by a natural welter like me. That's why this is the hardest fight of his life." Maidana said his pre-fight scouting has shown him flaws in Broner's style that he's prepared to exploit. "I won't tell you what mistakes I'm talking about, but you will see it on December 14th," the challenger said. Broner, a title winner in three weight classes and still the World Boxing Council's lightweight champion, promised "something special" against Maidana -- something even his critics wouldn't be able to fault. "It's going to be a hell of a fight," Broner said. "I don't go for knockouts, but I really feel I'm going to knock this guy out. I'm going to be his first stoppage. I'm going to stop this guy and we're going to move on to the next one. "I'm not coming to play," Broner added. "It's going to be the AB show and I'm going to be victorious." On the same card, WBA light heavyweight champion Beibut Shumenov of Kazakhstan defends his title against Slovakia's Tamas Kovacs. Shumenov, now based in Las Vegas, brings a record of 13-1 with eight knockouts to his third fight in the United States. Shumenov will be back in the ring for the first time since he posted a 12-round unanimous decision over Mexico's Enrique Ornelas in Las Vegas in June of 2012. Kovacs is unbeaten in 23 fights with 14 knockouts, but the 36-year-old, who didn't turn pro until he was 30, will be taking a step up in quality competition in his first fight against a name opponent. "I know Tamas is undefeated, he's very ambitious and he came here to take what's mine," Shumenov said. "But I'm not going to let him take my title." Also on the card, rising welterweight talent Keith Thurman will take on Jesus Soto Karass, with both fighters aiming to put themselves in the picture for a shot at the winner of Broner-Maidana. Thurman, 21-0 with 19 knockouts, said he'll be looking to stop Mexico's Soto Karass, who boasts a record of 28-8-3 with 18 knockouts. "Christmas came early and I have two presents for Soto right here -- my right and my left," Thurman said. "I'm looking forward to putting him down on that blue canvas and make sure he gets to sleep real nice." Mexico's Leo Santa Cruz defends his WBC super-bantamweight belt against Puerto Rico's Cesar Seda. Source: AFP