Graham vs Brewer
1. 9 - 10 Brewer. Really good opening round, Graham starting the faster and having some success throughout, but Brewer came on strong
2. 10 - 9 Graham. Brewers aggression neutralized by Grahams elusiveness. Graham landing just enough in counters to nick it. Quieter round
3. 10 - 7 Graham. Barnstormer, soft first KD, good second one for Graham. Good work from both, Brewer will be disappointed to drop 3 points in a round he put plenty into
4. 10 - 9 Graham. Good round for Herol, Brewer looks like he doesn't know what to do to deal with his unorthodox style
5. 9 - 10 Brewer. better round from Brewer, few lapses in concentration from Graham, let him through with a few straight shots
6. 10 - 10. someone came in to blether to me during this round, when I was watching it looked fairly even
7. 10 - 9 Graham. Elusiveness, counter punching, feints, tricks, classic Herol Graham
8. 10 - 9 Graham a close round, Graham moving well and landing some clever shots, Brewer getting through with some solid looking rights
9. 10 - 10. Graham probably had the better of the round and landed more, but far more authority in Brewers work when he lands
10. TKO. Hard stoppage to watch because you had a good feeling Graham could have comfortably fought on. But with him not touching down and taking shots, he leaves the ref little choice but to step in. I had Graham just ahead in that round but there is no question Brewer hurts him before laying into him.
Brewer was behind and being out boxed in spells, but he got through with those right hands throughout and was never out of the fight, it was always a possibility he would land flush with one.
88-83 Graham on my card at the stoppage
You could tell Brewer was a solid boxer but Grahams style, like with so many of his opponents, was clearly very difficult to figure out.
One aspect I never mentioned in the rbr analysis was Grahams ability to maneuver Brewer into positions. manhandling him, laying a glove on his shoulder and spinning him, moving him where he wanted. It made space for Graham when he needed it and took Brewer off balance when on the attack.
An underused tactic I feel in boxing. I've seen Virgil Hunter coach it, Mayweather was particularly good at using it to get off the ropes and Lomachenko has it down to art form, but it's something you see so few boxers use effectively
Another thing that has you thinking is Grahams power punching. there's no doubt he had power when he chose to use it, but he seldom planted his feet and put everything into a shot. Of course the counter argument is that you can't be as elusive planting your feet and you can't be so unpredictable with your shots, when you load up and telegraph them. But there were a few lead left hands he got through clean with there, that I couldn't help thinking if there was a bit extra on them, Brewer might not have been there to stop him in the 10th