Broner made this surprising admission in a recent interview with Premier Boxing Champions. The boxer, who grabbed world honors at super-featherweight, lightweight, super-lightweight, and welterweight, became the second youngest four-division champion in history.
But Broner's career hasn't been smooth sailing. He's faced questions about his discipline, dealt with legal issues outside the ring, and suffered multiple defeats that derailed his career. He's been inactive lately, with only three fights since 2019. His most recent bout in June 2024 ended in a unanimous decision loss to Blair Cobbs.
Looking back at his career, Broner pointed to his December 2013 fight against Marcos Maidana as a pivotal moment. Maidana dropped Broner during the fight and won by unanimous decision, becoming the new WBA welterweight champion and ending Broner's undefeated record.
Despite the loss, Broner sees it as a blessing in disguise. In an interview with Premier Boxing Champions, he shared his thoughts:
"What people don't realise is that that was one of the highest points of my career. I got more recognition from my loss than I had ever gotten for one of my wins.
I look at that fight, and I'm like, 'Man, that fight made me who I am today.' Everything happens for a reason. I'm kind of glad that I lost that fight. If I had won that fight, I'd probably be dead or in jail."
Broner believes the loss shaped who he is today and suggests winning might have led to negative life outcomes.
After beating Broner, Maidana went on to face Floyd Mayweather twice. The first fight ended in a narrow majority decision win for Mayweather, while the rematch four months later saw Mayweather win by unanimous decision.
Broner's career took a different path after the Maidana loss. He suffered notable defeats against big names like Manny Pacquiao, Shawn Porter, Mikey Garcia, and most recently, Blair Cobbs in 2024.
Despite these setbacks, Broner's reflection on the Maidana fight shows he's found value in defeat and uses it as motivation to keep moving forward in his career.