Champion boxer Broner facing assault, robbery charges, report

American world champion boxer Adrien Broner faces assault and robbery charges in his hometown of Cincinnati just one week before he is scheduled to make his first defence of his junior welterweight crown.

The 26-year-old Broner allegedly assaulted and robbed a man outside a Cincinnati bowling alley on January 21, the Cincinnati Enquirer reported on Thursday night.

The newspaper said police have issued a warrant for Broner's arrest but he was not in custody as of Thursday.

Broner is slated to fight England's Ashley Theophane in Washington, D.C. on April 1.

The Enquirer said the altercation took place outside the Cincinnati alley following a high-stakes bowling contest.

The newspaper said two men started arguing over money when one of them pulled a gun before punching the other man twice, knocking him to the ground. The man then took $12,000 from the unconscious victim.

The incident is also part of a lawsuit filed two months ago.

It is not known if next week's world title fight will go ahead as planned.

Broner (31-2, 23 knockouts) won the vacant title by knocking out Khabib Allakhverdiev in the 12th round in October.

Theophane (39-6-1, 11 knockouts) is looking to make his first world title appearance.
Source: AFP