With little more than one week until his title defense on April 1, 2016 at the DC Armory in Washington, DC of his WBA Super World super lightweight title belt against contender Ashley Theopane (39-6-1, 11KOs), boxing superstar Adrien “The Problem” Broner (31-2,23KOs) would seem to have a very serious legal problem by way of a warrant issued for his arrest for felonious assault and aggravated robbery in his home town of Cincinnati, Ohio stemming from an incident in the early morning hours on January 21, 2016 involving high stakes betting.
As per The Cincinnati Enquirer, Broner and the alleged victim, Christopher Carson had been bowling against one another at Madison Bowl that evening, wagering amounts that escalated to as high as $6000.00 a game. According to court documents attained by The Enquirer, Carson won $8000.00 to Broner, who then ran out of cash and made another bet on credit for $6000.00, which Broner then also lost to Carson. $14000.00 down, Broner suggested to Carson that they make another wager for $6000.00. When Carson refused, according to these same court documents, Broner subsequently “became upset and left the bowling alley.”
When Mr. Carson left Madison Bowl later that night at around 3:30 AM, as reported originally by The Cincinnati Enquirer, Broner was lying in wait for Carson in the alley of Madison Bowl with eight other men. It is then alleged that Broner physically assaulted Carson with his bare hands, nearly knocking Carson unconscious. Then, according to court documents attained by TMZ Sports, Broner “retrieved a handgun from his vehicle, approached the victim, demanded money, then struck [the victim] in the face with a closed fist a second time, this time causing the victim to be rendered unconscious.”
Carson claims that when he finally regained consciousness from the assault that left him with a split chin, the $12000.00 in cash that he had previously had on his person was gone. The suit also states that witnesses saw Broner taking money from Carson’s pockets while Carson was still unconscious.
While Broner has downplayed the whole incident via a less than eloquent text response to ESPN reporter Dan Rafael, which Broner has posted on his instagram account, it would seem that Carson’s legal defense team via attorney Chris Finney is looking to paint a detailed pattern of abuse as a key part of it’s defense and method of recourse from Broner:
“Adrien seems to have a penchant for walking around town and slugging people,” said Finney, per the Enquirer, adding, “We want it to stop.”
As of this report, Broner has not been taken into custody and it would appear that his fight on April 1st, set to be televised live on Spike TV, is not in jeopardy.
