Boxing: Boxing: Oldie Brähmer: Someone has to do it

Jürgen Brähmer was world champion, one of the best boxers of his generation. Before the quarter-finals of the new Ali Trophy, the 39-year-old is also the biggest German brand in a troubled sport.

Schwerin/Berlin (SID) Jürgen Brähmer is no longer the almost hard boxer of the past, at least no longer exclusively. At the age of 39, it is time to think about the future. The former world champion can still fight, but Schwerin is not enough on his own.

As a trainer he is looking for the new elite. The fighters that the German boxing sport lacks. But until he finds them, Brähmer can’t help but climb into the ring himself.

Next time it’s Friday. Then he fights in his home country in the quarter-finals (23.00 hrs/sky and ranfighting. de) of the new Ali Trophy against the American Rob Brant. Up to seven million euros await the winner of the tournament initiated by promoter Kalle Sauerland.

For Brähmer, however, it is above all the way back to his old strength, as he had lost his WBA title in the light-heavy weight to the British Nathan Cleverly over a year ago. In order to start at the Ali-Trophy, Brähmer changed back to the lighter super middleweight after ten years.

Brant, who is almost completely unknown in Germany and twelve years younger than Brant, is Brähmer’s ticket back to the concert of the greats:”I’ve never underestimated an opponent and I’ve done well with it so far,”says Brähmer.

He is the favourite despite his age. Because he’s a boxer. Formative figures such as the ex-world champion Felix Sturm and Arthur Abraham have survived in sport, and everything is said about his prison past. At the same time, Brähmer sets the course for the future.

“We have so much potential in Germany, but because of the wrong emphasis on funding, there is unfortunately a lot of things that fall by the wayside,”says Brähmer. The Berlin Tyron Zeuge is the only German who is currently allowed to wear a world champion belt.

He managed it thanks to Brähmer, who has been coaching him since last year and led him to the WBA title last November:”It really is a gift to see how young athletes are getting involved in training, listening, putting things into practice and developing successfully,”says Brähmer.

He has always remained in touch with his city of Schwerin. He bought an old waterworks at Medeweger See and is currently converting it into a state-of-the-art training centre for his boxers.

“Since I live with my family in Schwerin, where I am rooted, another location was never an option for me,”says Brähmer. In the heart of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Brähmer has created his nest. And nothing pulls him away from there.

The fact that the fight against Brant is now actually taking place in Schwerin, where he has so far fought five of his 51 professional fights (48 victories, three defeats) makes Brähmer particularly happy:”You can already see in the city that people are looking forward to the fight and the event. Expectations are naturally high,”said Brähmer.

After all, the local hero is still the biggest brand in German boxing.