Former WBO Light Heavyweight champion Juergen Braehmer (41-2, 31) gets a chance to once again call himself a world champion this weekend as he takes on unbeaten American Marcus Oliveira (25-0-1, 20) for the now vacant WBA Light Heavyweight title.
Due to the stupid political situation of boxing at times this is a title fight that even I'm finding it hard to be excited by. The true WBA champion, Beibut Shumenov, has been inactive for 18 months, he returns this Saturday in a total mismatch against Tamas Kovacs. Rather than forcing Shumenov into an interesting battle with Braehmer the WBA have instead allowed Shumenov his mismatch and also put Braehmer into a bout that I feel is another equally one sided bout.
Braehmer, for years, has been one of the top 10 or so Light Heavyweights on the planet. He's certainly been beatable but he's never been easy to beat as he's combined solid boxing fundamentals, experience, power and toughness into a very solid all-rounder. Little really stands out about him, but like wise there are many flaws. He's not the hardest working, or the biggest hitter but he's dangerous and does enough more often than not to win rounds.
Although aged 35 Braehmer is a relatively young 35 and has had several breaks from the ring to various issues, including legal matters which have kept him "young" in terms of boxing. He's certainly slowed due to natural aging but he's not taken the excess punishment that he perhaps could have done had he been active these past few years.
Despite Braehmer's age it's worth noting that Oliveira himself is 34 years old and more worryingly this is his first real taste of world class. With 26 bouts behind and a professional career that dates back over 7 years this is a massive step up and it speaks volumes when you consider that Oliveira's best opponent to date was Ryan Coyne, who lets be honest was not great himself.
Oliveira is having the best run of his career with victories over Coyne, Ricky Torrez and Antwun Echols in his last 3. Despite those wins there is nothing that makes me think he will be able to test the talented, if frustrating, German.
Prediction-Braehmer TKO11
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