Photos/weights: Braehmer, Krasniqi Ready For War
Mar 20, 2015 • 12:03 PM ET
By Jake Donovan
Juergen Braehmer continues to do his part to make sure he is remembered amidst a crowded light heavyweight field. The 36-year old makes the fourth defense of his alphabet title as he faces countryman Robin Krasniqi this weekend in Rockstock, Germany.
Both fighters made weight for Saturday's headliner, which airs live on SAT1 in Germany and Sky Sports in the UK. Braehmer (45-2, 33KOs) tipped the scales at a trim and ready 173.2 lbs. Krasniqi (43-3, 16KOs)—who has won four straight since a failed title bid versus Nathan Cleverly in April '13—was also well within the light heavyweight limt at a fit 173.9 lbs.
The bout is sandwiched in between major light heavyweight action at the division's top level. Unbeaten three-belt titlist Sergey Kovalev confirmed his place as the best 175 lb. fighter on the planet with an 8th round stoppage of former light heavyweight king Jean Pascal last weekend in Montreal, Canada. The win marked Kovalev's fifth defense of at least one belt since crashing onto the scene with his 4th round knockout of Nathan Cleverly to win a belt in Aug. '13.
World light heavyweight king Adonis Stevenson defends his lineal championships on April 4, facing former super middleweight titlist Sakio Bika in Quebec City, Canada. The hard-hitting southpaw has defended his world crown four times thus far, but has fallen behind Kovalev in the court of public opinion, primarly due to his unwillingness to face the Russian knockout artist at the present time.
For as long as the two fighters' careers run parallel rather than the collission course for which most fans hope, Braehmer has a chance to emerge as a viable option for either fighter. The 15-year fight veteran comes in riding a 14-fight win streak, including a 55-second blitzing of Pawel Glazewski in his most recent outing last December.
The win marked just his second career stoppage in a title fight, the other coming in a one-sided five-round blitzing of faded former cruiserweight titlist Enzo Macarrinelli last April.
Jake Donovan is the Managing Editor of BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox
Jake Donovan is an award-winning journalist who served as senior writer for BoxingScene from 2007-2024, and news editor for the final nine years of his first tour. He was also the lead writer for The Ring before his decision to return home.
