By Edward Chaykovsky

Russian promoter Vladimir Hryunov, who guides Khabib Allakhverdiev (19-1, 9 KOs), ribbed their Saturday rival, Adrien Broner, with his inability to bring in a sellout crowd at the U.S. Bank Arena in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Former three-division world champion Broner (30-2, 22 KOs) is looking for a signature win in his hometown as he battled Khabib for the vacant WBA Super Lightweight world title, live on Showtime (10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT).

Hryunov is confident his fighter would have sold out an arena in Russia for such a fight and asked the question that Broner had no answer to.

"Why do we still not sell out? If we are in your hometown," Hryunov asked Broner.

Promoter Leon Margules of Warriors Boxing, who is helping promote the event, defended Broner's standing among the Cincinnati sports fans and still feels the 26-year-old boxer can achieve great things in the sport.

"Cincinnati is a great city. It is also a world class sports town. Bengals, Reds, University of Cincinnati, Xavier University and the Cyclones that play in this building. They also have Adrien Broner," Margules said.

 

"He is the most talented and naturally gifted fighter in the world today. I believe he can be the next superstar in our sport. He is 26-years-old. His finesse speed and power is unlike any I have seen in a long time. I am proud to be his partner and work with him on this fight."