:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/313325/148478685.jpg)
HBO announced a November 17 matchup between Adrien Broner and WBC lightweight champion Antonio DeMarco on tonight's Boxing After Dark, apparently ending the minor saga of whether the fight would actually happen or not, after a couple of weeks of everyone saying it was "close."
It's a great fight for HBO, for both fighters, and for boxing fans. DeMarco is coming off of a 44-second win over John Molina on September 8, while Broner was last seen in July beating Vicente Escobedo in a fight that drew a lot of criticisms due to Broner's weight issues.
Broner (24-0, 20 KO) will be stepping up to the lightweight division for the first time as a serious competitor if the fight comes through as expected, and DeMarco (28-2-1, 21 KO) will be his toughest and most legit opponent since Daniel Ponce De Leon, which is the last time Broner struggled in a fight.
The fight is scheduled to take place at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, and will be paired with a heavyweight clash between prospect Seth "Mayhem" Mitchell (25-0-1, 19 KO) and Johnathon Banks (28-1-1, 18 KO), which could be a real slugfest.