The 22 year-old has promised to allow the fans the biggest input into whom he shares the ring with in his next outing, although one fighter that wouldn’t be on any shortlist is great friend Floyd Mayweather Jr.
‘Money’ was ringside at the Barclays Center to witness Broner score a split decision win over Malignaggi and at one point astonishingly engaged in some mid-round banter with the ‘Magic Man’ from his seat.
Even prior to the fight though, Broner had already stated that he would not oppose the world’s number one fighter for ‘any amount of money’ as the Cincinnati boxer classes Mayweather as ‘family’ and categorically ruled out any future meeting.
Early names in the frame for Broner later this year include Marcos Maidana, Jessie Vargas, Victor Ortiz and Robert Guerrero, all of which are current 147lbers, meaning a drop back down to 135 or even light-welterweight looks unlikely to happen.
Broner has now, if he hadn’t already, arrived as a huge world player on the pound for pound stage and with his antics outside of the ring, is obtainig a wider fanbase than most young fighters on the fringe of breaking into the massive PPV money.
For Malignaggi, the Italian-American faces another rebuilding job at the age of 32, but will once again rue the distinct lack of power that has held him back from making it to superstar status in the sport despite world titles at two weight classes.
The likeable New Yorker has a huge fanbase for his exploits on social media and the like outside of the ring, although ultimately fell short from the first bell against Broner as nothing he threw deterred the up and comer from coming forward.
There is no doubt that Broner is a potential suitor to the ageing Mayweather as king of the sport, although he may need to put his family ties aside to gain the full status that his ego requires and a meeting in the ring would certainly be the only way.
