Seven of the eight first round World Boxing Super Series fights are in the books. With the cruiserweight division through to the semifinals, all that remains is one super middleweight bout between longtime contender Juegen Braehmer and unbeaten prospect Rob Brant. The winner will face Callum Smith in the second round.
27 year old Minnesota native Rob Brant (22-0, 15 KOs) is undefeated, but he is also very much untested. He hadn’t as much as even started fighting opponents with positive records until five fights ago. Brant made what little name he has in a pair of late 2015, early 2016 ShoBox wins. While he only got the nod in the first bout by majority decision, he forever etched himself in Showtime boxing highlight reels with a spectacular knockout that left his opponent Decarlo Perez limp over the second rope. Since then he has taken three fights against similar opposition, but none of which have had any real sort of media reach beyond an online broadcast. You’d figure a knockout like that would have launched his career upward, but for whatever reason that did not happen.
Juergen Braehmer (48-3, 35 KOs) is a weirdly both similar and dissimilar story. While the 39 year old has had two separate light heavyweight title reigns with multiple defenses and was a contender at super middleweight as well, he also really never stepped all the way up either. Directly compared Braehmer’s competition is undoubtedly superior to Brant’s without question, but in all these title fights the German’s best wins have been over the likes of Eduard Gutknecht, Enzo Maccarinelli, and Robin Krasniqi. Good fighters, for sure, but more European level foes than world class contenders. Last time out in October, Braehmer took on a higher level opponent in Nathan Cleverly and lost, but he was doing pretty well in a fun, even fight until an elbow injury forced him to bow out after six.
To me there are two major subplots here: weight and age. Braehmer is dropping back down from light heavyweight here. This is getting a big reaction as he has not fought at that weight in an actual decade and older fighters suddenly dropping in weight historically hasn’t ended well. Yet, I would point out that Braehmer basically always weighs in one or two pounds under the light heavyweight limit. Clearly he isn’t struggling to cut to 175. It might not be that difficult for him to make 168 either. Conversely, Brant is moving up to super middleweight here. Will he retain his power?
If he does drain himself, the German is going to lose. I will not mince words there. Brant is untested, but he is a good athlete with some power. In fact, he is more physically dynamic than most anyone Braehmer has fought in his lengthy career. He also holds a twelve year youth advantage without being a too young fighter. Juergen cannot afford to be both old and drained here. If he is fine at the weight, however, he still isn’t a guaranteed win. I really struggle to get by the fact that he is nearing 40.
When I looked at all the first round matchups of the World Boxing Super Series in both weight classes, I thought that this fight had the best odds of a lower seed winning. So far, none have. I don’t think Rob Brant is some blue chip can’t fail prospect, but I also have never really thought Juergen Braehmer was a true world level fighter over the course of his career. I don’t think Brant can get by Callum Smith in the second round, but I do think he gets a shot to try. I like him to score a stoppage here in the upset. Don’t bet the farm on my word though. This is a well matched fight. Plus, there could be some German scoring shenanigans even if Brant deserves the win over the distance.
As always with the WBSS, ITV Box Office and the Audience Network have the call in the UK and the US.
