By Cliff Rold - Some opponents make a hot prospect look better. Other opponents actually make them better. The two ideas are not mutually exclusive, but often in boxing, with the pressure of television lights bearing down, one is chosen over the other.
And the choice is too often style over substance.
This Friday night it won’t be the case for 26-year old Erislandy Lara (9-0, 5 KO) of Cuba. He’ll be stepping in with awkward, schooled veteran Grady Brewer (26-11, 15 KO) on the undercard of the WBA Light Heavyweight title rematch between Gabriel Campillo and Beibut Shumenov. Even at 39, the Contender Season Two winner Brewer represents on paper not just the stiffest test of Lara’s career but arguably the stiffest test any of the current, hot Cuban crop has faced.
That the Brewer fight has been made says his people think he can win.
That Brewer could make him look less than sensational even if he does says a lot about what his real long term prospects are hoped to be.
Brewer is likely to be motivated for the contest, unready to play the opponent. After all, he hasn’t been the luckiest fighter in recent years. His breakthrough moment didn’t break him through after years on the fringes. [Click Here To Read More]
And the choice is too often style over substance.
This Friday night it won’t be the case for 26-year old Erislandy Lara (9-0, 5 KO) of Cuba. He’ll be stepping in with awkward, schooled veteran Grady Brewer (26-11, 15 KO) on the undercard of the WBA Light Heavyweight title rematch between Gabriel Campillo and Beibut Shumenov. Even at 39, the Contender Season Two winner Brewer represents on paper not just the stiffest test of Lara’s career but arguably the stiffest test any of the current, hot Cuban crop has faced.
That the Brewer fight has been made says his people think he can win.
That Brewer could make him look less than sensational even if he does says a lot about what his real long term prospects are hoped to be.
Brewer is likely to be motivated for the contest, unready to play the opponent. After all, he hasn’t been the luckiest fighter in recent years. His breakthrough moment didn’t break him through after years on the fringes. [Click Here To Read More]
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