Thomas Oosthuizen’s quest for Juergen Braehmer’s WBA World light heavyweight title has been canceled for a second time. The 12-rounder was scheduled to take place at Jahnsportforum in Neubrandenburg, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany, on Saturday, March 12. The bout was originally set for November of last year, postponed because of a hand injury suffered by Braehmer.
This time it’s Oosthuizen who’s the cause, promoter Rodney Berman calling it off because of perceived bad behavior on the part of the South African challenger.
“I pull him out of bars, I bail him out of police stations, I get him out of street fights,” said Oosthuizen trainer Harold Volbrecht. “My wife Michelle and I feel betrayed. We’ve tried for so long to keep him on the right road. As soon as he comes right, he veers off again. We’ve looked after him daily, doing the things his parents should be doing…he could have become one of the greatest in South African boxing, but he’s wasted everything. We’ll always wonder what might have been.”
Thirty-seven-year-old Braehmer is a 17-year pro (47-2, 35 KOs) who won the vacant title in December 2013 by beating Marcus Oliveira via unanimous decision. The German southpaw has successfully defended his title five times, most recently last September by retiring Konni Konrad in the seventh.
Also a southpaw, 27-year-old “Tommy Gun” is an eight-year ring vet (25-0-2, 14 KOs) who most recently fought last June, beating Robert Berridge by unanimous decision. Despite the win, Oosthuizen, ninth-ranked by the WBA, failed to make weight and thus failed to retain the IBO World light heavyweight title he’d won by beating Ryno Liebenberg via split decision last March. The title is now vacant.
Braehmer plans on defending his crown on March 12 against an opponent yet to be named.
This article was penned by the author who is not related to the WBA and the statements, expressions or opinions referenced herein are that of the author alone and not the WBA.
