Last Week in Boxing: Flo Steps into the Void with Cleverly vs. Braehmer
Last Week in Boxing: Flo Steps into the Void with Cleverly vs. Braehmer
For FloBoxing, Saturday was a big deal. We had two boxing cards air live and were the only game in town.
Tyson Fury's disgraceful exit from the Wladimir Klitschko world title rematch left a major void on the calendar for the sport of boxing. In fact, the only English-language cable network stepping in with any fights for the entire month of October was CBS Sports Network, a second-tier sports channel known as much for FBS college football as its boxing broadcasts. With few options on the table outside of Spanish-language television, hardcore boxing fans turned as it all too often does to an alternate form of viewing: internet streaming.
For FloBoxing, Saturday was a big deal. We had two boxing cards air live and were the only game in town. One of the shows, headlined by the WBA Light Heavyweight Title bout between Nathan Cleverly and then champion Juergen Braehmer, is likely the most significant boxing card for all of October. In addition to the title fight, a number of European prospects graced the screen, from super middleweight Leon Bauer to former Olympic medalist David Price. All took on fairly light competition, and all picked up their expected Ws.
Enrico Koelling and Ryno Liebenberg faced off in a light heavyweight fight which will likely decide a future contestant to the main event's title for the co-feature attraction. Koelling, a straightforward, plodding, stereotypical European boxer, was outthrown nearly 3-1 by Liebenberg. However, Liebenberg made critical errors that prevented him from winning the contest cleanly. His punch output was largely limited to jabs and right crosses which were blocked by Koelling, and while he occasionally had success throwing the left hook to the body, he rarely followed up. In the end, the harder individual punches scored Koelling a split decision victory that was unpopular with fans in the arena and those watching at home.
In the main event, Cleverly and Braehmer went toe-to-toe, trading power shots for five rounds of excellent action. Cleverly was the bigger and younger man, but Braehmer was outworking and punishing him for most of the fight. Following a huge flurry from Braehmer in the closing minute of the fifth round, Cleverly rallied for the last 15 seconds, suggesting some sort of significant change. Indeed, it turned out Braehmer's right elbow had given way, and he shocked fans in the arena by quitting before the bell for the seventh, essentially handing the world title to Cleverly.
Nathan Cleverly vs. Juergen Braehmer
A rematch clause was invoked almost instantly, and it can be expected we'll see the two lock horns again in what will likely be an exciting rematch early in 2017. Still, there was a disappointing way to end a bout with such a promising start.
Notes:
-Flo completed the evening with a broadcast of Grand Fight Night Boxing from the Grand Casino Hinckley. No world titles were at stake, and, to be frank, if you see 100 boxing matches this year it seems likely you'll see 99 better fights than the main event between Brian Howard and Phil Williams. But the undercard did have one entertaining fight, a contest between Lorenzo Selectmon and Ryan Watson, two young cruiserweights. The fourth round in particular featured some excellent back-and-forth action. Selectmon won the decision in Watson's hometown, something that may have been a first in modern boxing history. It can happen! If you have a subscription, you might want to check it out.
-Joseph Parker continued his run towards a heavyweight title fight with a third-round stoppage of Alexander Dimitrenko, a solid contender back in the mid-2000s before suffering a brutal defeat at the hands of Eddie Chambers. Dimitrenko teetered between gatekeeper and straight up retired in the intervening years, reappearing in 2016 as a potential opponent for several prospects and big fight hopefuls.
Ultimately, Parker landed the bout and had the 6-foot-8 baby-faced Ukranian head to New Zealand. Unfortunately, Dimitrenko fell to the mat with almost every punch and did little to impress anyone. In the third, Dimitrenko was hit while kneeling, then rolled over as if he were totally done. Had the ref called this correctly, he likely would have won by DQ. Instead, he called Parker the winner by KO. From start to finish, and even after, a farce.
Additional Reporting by Alan Conceicao.
For FloBoxing, Saturday was a big deal. We had two boxing cards air live and were the only game in town. One of the shows, headlined by the WBA Light Heavyweight Title bout between Nathan Cleverly and then champion Juergen Braehmer, is likely the most significant boxing card for all of October. In addition to the title fight, a number of European prospects graced the screen, from super middleweight Leon Bauer to former Olympic medalist David Price. All took on fairly light competition, and all picked up their expected Ws.
Enrico Koelling and Ryno Liebenberg faced off in a light heavyweight fight which will likely decide a future contestant to the main event's title for the co-feature attraction. Koelling, a straightforward, plodding, stereotypical European boxer, was outthrown nearly 3-1 by Liebenberg. However, Liebenberg made critical errors that prevented him from winning the contest cleanly. His punch output was largely limited to jabs and right crosses which were blocked by Koelling, and while he occasionally had success throwing the left hook to the body, he rarely followed up. In the end, the harder individual punches scored Koelling a split decision victory that was unpopular with fans in the arena and those watching at home.
Enrico Koelling vs. Ryno Liebenberg
In the main event, Cleverly and Braehmer went toe-to-toe, trading power shots for five rounds of excellent action. Cleverly was the bigger and younger man, but Braehmer was outworking and punishing him for most of the fight. Following a huge flurry from Braehmer in the closing minute of the fifth round, Cleverly rallied for the last 15 seconds, suggesting some sort of significant change. Indeed, it turned out Braehmer's right elbow had given way, and he shocked fans in the arena by quitting before the bell for the seventh, essentially handing the world title to Cleverly.
Nathan Cleverly vs. Juergen Braehmer
A rematch clause was invoked almost instantly, and it can be expected we'll see the two lock horns again in what will likely be an exciting rematch early in 2017. Still, there was a disappointing way to end a bout with such a promising start.
Notes:
-Flo completed the evening with a broadcast of Grand Fight Night Boxing from the Grand Casino Hinckley. No world titles were at stake, and, to be frank, if you see 100 boxing matches this year it seems likely you'll see 99 better fights than the main event between Brian Howard and Phil Williams. But the undercard did have one entertaining fight, a contest between Lorenzo Selectmon and Ryan Watson, two young cruiserweights. The fourth round in particular featured some excellent back-and-forth action. Selectmon won the decision in Watson's hometown, something that may have been a first in modern boxing history. It can happen! If you have a subscription, you might want to check it out.
-Joseph Parker continued his run towards a heavyweight title fight with a third-round stoppage of Alexander Dimitrenko, a solid contender back in the mid-2000s before suffering a brutal defeat at the hands of Eddie Chambers. Dimitrenko teetered between gatekeeper and straight up retired in the intervening years, reappearing in 2016 as a potential opponent for several prospects and big fight hopefuls.
Ultimately, Parker landed the bout and had the 6-foot-8 baby-faced Ukranian head to New Zealand. Unfortunately, Dimitrenko fell to the mat with almost every punch and did little to impress anyone. In the third, Dimitrenko was hit while kneeling, then rolled over as if he were totally done. Had the ref called this correctly, he likely would have won by DQ. Instead, he called Parker the winner by KO. From start to finish, and even after, a farce.
Additional Reporting by Alan Conceicao.