By Jeff Aranow: Juergen Braehmer (48-3, 35 KOs) weighed in at 75.7 kg for his fight this Friday night on October 27 against unbeaten middleweight Rob Brant (22-0, 15 KOs) in the quarterfinals of the World Boxing Super Series in Schwerin, Germany. The 27-year-old Brant weighed in at 75.3 kg.
(Photo credit: World Boxing Super Series)
Braehmer looked a little drained a little drained at the weight in from the water weight he had to take off to come down in weight to make the 168lb weigh-in limit.
Brant is moving up from middleweight to take the fight with the 39-year-old Braehmer. It’s a tough fight to predict a winner. If this were a younger more active Braehmer, then he would be a huge favorite over the inexperienced Brant, who isn’t viewed as a major player at 160.
Brant is just one of many contenders in the middleweight division, and he’s not faced anyone beyond the journeyman stage. That’s why it’s difficult to know how Brant will be able to stand up against his first world class fighter in Braehmer. The boxing fans are going to be on Braehmer’s side in this fight, as the match is taking place in his hometown in Schwerin, Germany.
Braehmer is moving down a weight class from light heavyweight to super middleweight to take this fight with Brant. The potential for big money is what has attracted Braehmer to make this move.
At Braehmer’s age, he likely won’t win another world title at 175 against the big punching young lions in the division. But by moving down I weight to 168, Braehmer a least has a chance to possibly capture the World Boxing Super Series tournament and make big money.
It’s still a long shot for Braehmer to win the tournament, as he’ll need to get past Brant, and then big punching Callum Smith. If Braehmer can win those 2 fights, he would then face the winner of the George Groves vs. Chris Eubank Jr. fight. Those 2 guys are thought to be the best fighters in the WBSS. We’ll see though. Eubank Jr. and Groves are both flawed fighters, and neither of them has any real high-quality wins on their resumes.
“I haven’t had any problems making weight,“ said Braehmer. “I am very proud that the World Boxing Super Series came to Schwerin. I am fit, I am ready and I can’t wait to entertain my fans!”
If Braehmer isn’t feeling the effects of making weight, he could be a problem for Brant on Friday.
Braehmer hasn’t fought in a year though since his 6th round injury stoppage loss to Nathan Cleverly on October 1, 2016. Braehmer was winning that fight, but an elbow injury caused him to pull out after round 6. At the time of the stoppage, Braehmer was ahead on the scorecards by the scores 58-56 x 3. Boxing News 24 had Braehmer ahead by the score 58-56 at the time the fight was stopped.
“I am very confident that I will win tomorrow,” said Brant. “Whether the fight was in Dallas, New York or here in Germany I would feel very confident. A victory will help boost my name in the sport. I can’t predict when I am going to get the victory. Whether it’s in the second round or 12th round, I will get the victory.”
Braehmer is a former 2-time light heavyweight world champion with loads of talent. How much Braehmer has left in the tank at this point in his career is the magic question. Is Braehmer too old to beat a young lion like Brant or does have enough left in the tank to turn back another young and terribly inexperienced fighter.
Brant’s last 10 victories have come against these fighters:
• Alexis Hloros
• Chris Fitzpatrick
• Delray Raines
• Decarlo Perez
• Louis Rose
• Lekan Byfield
• Ernesto Berropse
• Dionisio Miranda
• Ryan Davis
• Eric Draper
Those are all journeyman level fighters that Brant has fought. Based on Brant’s resume, he’s easily the least qualified of the participants in the World Boxing Super Series tournament.