Former boxing world champion Jürgen Brähmer has reached the semi-finals of the millionaire Muhammad Ali Trophy. The 39-year-old defeated the previously unbeaten American Rob Brant unanimously in the quarter-finals on Friday in Schwerin, his home town.
In the preliminary round at the beginning of next year, Brähmer will meet the British player Callum Smith. Success against Brant meant Brähmers 49. Victory at the 52nd. Professional fight (three defeats).
For Brähmer, the Ali Trophy in late autumn of his career is probably the last chance to make a big cash payment. About a year ago, he had lost his WBA title in the light-heavyweight category to Nathan Cleverly from Great Britain, who had meanwhile resigned. After ten years, he had returned to the lighter super middleweight to take part in the Ali Trophy, which was endowed with about 50 million US dollars.
Brähmer is the last German starter in the competition. The Berlin Marco Huck had failed in the second weight class, the cruiserweight, in the quarter-finals at the Ukrainian Olympic champion Alexander Usyk.
Possible opponents of Brähmer in the final in May are the British George Groves and Chris Eubank jr. who will be competing in the second semi-finals in super middleweight.