Watch CBS News

Top Pro Boxer Arrested Outside Club Liv On Miami Beach

MIAMI BEACH (CBSMiami) – A welterweight boxer did his best Mike Tyson impersonation outside Club Liv on Miami Beach early Tuesday morning when he allegedly bit a security guard who was trying to break up a fight.

Former WBO super featherweight champion Adrien Broner, who is considered boxing's "next big thing," is charged with battery on the Assistant Director of Security after an incident that happened outside the hotel at 3:03 a.m. on Monday as many people had been celebrating on St. Patrick's Day.

Miami Beach Police Sgt. Bobby Hernandez says the 23-year-old Broner and his companion, 24-year-old Michael Owensby, were involved in a fight outside the hotel when security personnel were first called.

"Well this was a full out fight on the valet ramp at the Fontainbleau Hotel," said Hernandez. He told CBS4's Peter D'Oench, "Security was summoned. They arrived on the scene."

Broner, who is 26-0 in the ring, was apparently trying to win another fight.

Hernandez referred to him as "the defendant."

"The defendant was on top of another subject that was involved with the altercation," said Hernandez. "The victim went to him to pull him off to stop the fight at which time the defendant bit him in the forearm."

"He got arrested for battery," said Hernandez. "Obviously this could get infected. He bit him. I don't know what he was thinking. He is a boxer, a professional boxer. But he did bite him in the forearm instead."

Hernandez said Owensby "kept on fighting" and so he too was charged with battery.

The incident happened after Broner posted a photo on Instagram showing him at Club Liv with R&B singer Trey Songz.

A check of records shows Broner has been arrested before, for domestic violence and intimidation.

D'Oench reached out to a family member through a number in Cincinnati, Ohio. When D'Oench told her that that he wanted to speak with Broner, she told him, "I'll pass along your message."

D'Oench also spoke by telephone with a woman in Cincinnati who said she was Michael Owensby's mother. She said she would get back to D'Oench. But that did not happen.

The Assistant Director of Security at the Hotel has not been identified. A spokeswoman for the hotel told D'Oench that she did not think that he would be allowed to speak.

Hotel Public Relations Manager Ana Lanzas added that Miami Beach Police are "handling the matter" and she said requests for further information should be directed to that department.

Miami Beach Police have been busy breaking up fights in the past.

"It's a party town," said Hernandez. "A lot of young people are here and in many cases whenever they hear the police sirens or see officers, they will leave the scene. That was not the case this time. They kept on fighting."

"No one is above the law?" D'Oench asked Hernandez.

"No one," Hernandez said firmly. "No one."

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.