By Jake Donovan

No matter your thoughts on the title at stake or the means in which it became available, there's no denying that Adrien Broner and Khabib Allakhverdiev figure to push each other to the limit. 

The pair of former champs collide in the Showtime-televised main event Saturday evening at U.S. Bank Arena in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Both fighters are coming off of losses, but come in with championship aspirations and every intention of inflicting as much pain as possible upon one another. 

For Broner (30-2, 22KOs) it's perhaps the last chance to prove that he can leave up to early press clippings of serving as the future of boxing. The brash Cincinnati boxer has claimed titles at super featherweight, lightweight and welterweight, but finds himself on the hot seat following losses in two of his past four starts.

His unbeaten ways came to a close in a decisive and pain-inflicting loss at the hands of Marcos Maidana in Dec. '13. The fight resulted in his welterweight title reign going one and done. The same can be said of his previous two title reigns, although it can be argued his previous exits came on his own terms.

Broner attempted to have a catchweight bout with Shawn Porter on his terms, demanding a catchweight and other stipulations prior to the fight. All of it blew up in his face, as Porter scored an upset win on free-to-air NBC in primetime this past June. 

Allakhverdiev (19-1, 9KOs) also hopes to move past a loss, although he's been forced to sit on his previous setback much longer.

The aggressive boxer from Russia has been out of the ring since his close points loss to Jessie Vargas last April. The defeat ended a 17-month title reign that began with a technical decicision win over former two-division champ Joan Guzman. 

Read on to see how the staff at krikya360.com believes the action will go down tonight in Queen City. 

BOXINGSCENE STAFF PREDICTIONS: ADRIEN BRONER vs. KHABIB ALLAKHVERDIEV

Ryan Burton (Broner UD): Broner looks like he is training more seriously and the fact that this fight is at 140 pounds and in his backyard, I believe he will look good and win a competitive decision around a 116-112 type score against a game Khabib.

Michael Gibbons (Broner TKO9): Broner back in the right division for him.

Peter Lim (Broner SD): The cocky Broner doesn't appear to have been humbled by his losses to Porter and Maidana and underestimates Allakhverdiev's ability and determination. He struggles to eke out an unimpressive split decision against the unheralded and inexperienced Russian, reaffirming what has been the writing on the wall since 2013 - that Adrien Broner is the most overrated, over-hyped, under-performing fighter in that weight region since Zab Judah. 

Takahiro Onaga (Broner Split Dec.): Controversial win for Broner who just gets it on cards against busy Russian

Cliff Rold (Broner Dec.): Broner will struggle in spots with the sound Allakhverdiev. Will he make 140 lbs.? We'll find out Friday. There's no real power or strength disadvantage for Broner here so he should be able to win.

Victor Salazar (Broner TKO11): Both guys are coming off losses and fighting for a world title. Complain all you want but if this was anyone other than Broner, would people be in such a bad mood about the title shot? Yeah it stinks but that’s boxing. Broner will not be up with a big puncher and should be able to get the win against Allakhverdiev who does not have the power to hurt the flatfooted boxer.

Reynaldo Sanchez (Allakhverdiev mid rds KO): I think Maidana finish the Broner hype career. In this weight I think he does not have many opportunities. Allakhverdiev is a powerful puncher and also southpaw, I think it will be a long night for Broner.

Alexey Sukachev (Allakhverdiev Unan. Dec.): It's a risky pick but I'm no believer in Broner. He has shown his weakness, and he is coming off a loss. Khabib will chisel his opponent and deny him of a free breath to disappoint the Problem once again.

Jake Donovan is the managing editor of krikya360.com.
Twitter: @JakeNDaBox
Facebook Page: JakeBScene