AGE IS JUST A NUMBER
Braehmer dominates disappointing Brant to clinch Smith clash, writes Daniel Herbert
Veteran Braehmer rolls back the years to secure WBSS semi-final spot
AT the ripe old age of 39, Juergen Braehmer turned back the clock to thoroughly outbox Rob Brant over 12 rounds in their quarter-final of the World Boxing Super Series tournament at supermiddleweight. Braehmer’s unanimous victory clinched a semi-final in the New Year against Callum Smith, who was ringside at the Congress Hall with his trainer Joe Gallagher. Waiting in the final will be the survivor of the all-british semi between George Groves and Chris Eubank Jnr.
Southpaw Braehmer was having his first fight for a year and his first down at 168lbs for a decade. Brant, 27, was regarded by many as the dark horse of the super-middleweight tournament, but the German showed no signs of age or weight struggle – instead, the former world 175lbs champ looked rejuvenated as he won on scores of 119-109 (Guido Cavalleri), 118-110 (Sergio Silvi) and 116112 ( Ventsislav Nikolov).
Canada’s Michael Griffin refereed and had little to do in a fight that followed the same pattern throughout: Braehmer used good footwork to move in and out, scoring with jabs and left crosses, while Brant proved too slow to land much in return.
The American (from St Paul, Minnesota) had won all 22 fights coming in, 15 inside the distance, but he had boxed no one near world class – and it showed. He just didn’t have the experience to change his gameplan when it wasn’t working.
And having moved up from middleweight for this tournament, Brant lacked the strength to handle Braehmer when he did manage to get inside.
The early rounds saw the German make good use of his height and reach advantages to score at range. Brant, looking flat-footed in ring centre, frequently found himself having to reach too far with his punches in a bid to connect.
By the third Braehmer was letting his left hand go to his opponent’s body,
‘I SHOWED WHAT I CAN DO AT 39. I HAD TO WORK REALLY HARD TO COME BACK FROM INJURIES’
while in the next Juergen banged in two good lefts upstairs.
Brant finally enjoyed some success in round five as he bloodied the older man’s nose, but late in the session Braehmer banged in a left on the belt line that made the American back off.
As the fight wore on, the local man kept control through his greater activity and accuracy. When Brant did open up, as in round eight, Braehmer showed good skills to slip almost all the shots coming his way.
In round 10 a temporary halt was called to have the tape on Braehmer’s right glove fixed. When action resumed, it was Brant who responded as he burrowed inside and worked the body with a good burst.
But even though the older man was undoubtedly slowing down, Brant couldn’t exploit this and Braehmer took the 11th with a solid right uppercut then in the last he got back on his bike, confident he had victory sewn up.
“I showed what I can do at 39 years of age,” said Braehmer, now 49-3 (35). “I had to work really hard to come back from injuries. I had problems with my back and a muscle tear.
“Doctors told me I would have to work very hard to come back, and that’s what I did.”
Reckoned Brant, “I took a rough first loss but it’ll only make me stronger. I’m looking forward to getting back in the gym.”
In another 12-rounder, Germany’s Vincent Feigenbutz pulled out a body shot to knock out Gaston Alejandro Vega from Argentina in round 11.
A heavyweight six ended in the first round when one crunching right hand from Croatia’s Filip Hrgovic, the 2016 Olympic super-heavy bronze medallist, flattened Pavel Sour of the Czech Republic.
THE VERDICT Rejuvenated Braehmer will present Smith with a formidable hurdle in the WBSS super- middle semi- finals.