Harold Brazier honored

On Friday, May 26, Mayor James Mueller, of South Bend, Indiana, held a street naming ceremony for former world title challenger Harold Brazier. The ceremony was held on the corners of Broadway and St. Joseph Street in Brazier’s hometown of South Bend, Indiana. Signs were erected on the corners St. Joseph and Broadway, Sample and Fellows, Broadway and Fellows, and Ewing Avenue.

Brazier, who emerged from the Midwest club scene in the 1980s and worked his way from a game, rugged club fighter into a world-class world title contender that faced the best of the best of his era. On the heels of his being honored with a street named after him, it was a good time to look at 2 (of his many) career highlights – his 2 world title shots. 

It was 35 years ago this month that former world title contender Harold Brazier got his first world title shot.

Looking back over the career of former 2-time world title challenger, Harold Brazier, (105-18-1, 65 KO’s) the first thing that jumps out is the number of fights. Also, the number of fights against world-class opposition. This is the classic old-school resume. Stay busy and sharp with club-level opposition, between big fights, and then fight every big name that you are offered. That is what fighters are supposed to do, stay busy and then test themselves against the best they can to leave their mark during their time in the game.

Harold Brazier did that and more.

It is not surprising that Harold had a lot of fights, as many Midwest-based boxers did in that era. What is impressive is the fact he rose from being a virtual novice to a highly respected, world class fighter, and popular TV attraction, who fought some great opposition in building an outstanding resume.

When Harold Brazier turned pro, he was green as grass, didn’t have an extensive amateur career to draw from, and was literally learning on the job. What he did have was an incredibly disciplined work ethic. He had an astute ability to pick up and develop his skills as he trained and learned on the job, and he was very disciplined in all areas of his life outside the ring.

Brazier, a success in the auto industry in his hometown of South Bend Indiana, and a married father, was willing to work as hard as he had to learn the fundamentals and build on them.

His career-long manager, Pete Susens, used the philosophy of keeping him buy as he learned more by fighting than just continually training. As a result, there were some early peaks and valleys on his ledger. However, once he started to develop as a fighter, he would soon start to show off world class skills with crisp, countering shots, a tight, disciplined defense, and the ability to study, dissect and respond to different styles of opponents. 

In the first couple of years, after turning pro in 1982, he was busy banking 25 fights but boasted an unremarkable 19-6 record. However, it was during this time that he made huge gains in his understanding of the key fundamentals that are vital in a fight, and he found his pace, style, and strengths in the ring. It should also be noted that in this run he faced undefeated Top Rank prospect Billy Collins Jr., rugged Canadian Mario Cusson (in his hometown), future world champion Lloyd Honeyghan (in his hometown), and South African star Brian Baronet (in his hometown). While these fights didn’t do anything to inflate his record, they provided an invaluable apprenticeship to his life in the ring.  

From 1984 to 1998, Brazier would fight often and face some outstanding fighters. For a guy who got his start in the boxing hotbed of South Bend, Indiana, he was showing the world that if you work are willing to work hard enough, and continue to develop, anything is possible. 

Over the next 14 years, he would beat popular prospect Charlie “White Lightning” Brown, go the distance with world champion Meldrick Taylor, beat world title challengers, John Wesley Meekins and Robin Blake, face world champion, Livingstone Bramble, lose a razor-thin, and disputed split decision to Roger Mayweather in a WBC world super lightweight title fight, lose a close decision to WBA champion Juan Martin Coggi in his hometown in Italy in a world title bid, beat Massachusetts star Micky Ward, go the distance with superstar Pernell Whitaker, and world champion Vince Phillips, to name a few. Harold would return for a couple of fights later in the early 2000s after retiring in 1998, finally retiring for good in 2004. 

Spotlight on Brazier’s 2 world title fights

Roger Mayweather. June 6/1988. Las Vegas, Nevada. WBC world super lightweight title. Virtually an away game facing the Vegas-based Mayweather who was a hugely popular fighter known for concussive power and a long, lean stance. The scores were very close with 2 judges coming in with a 1-point difference in the fight. Brazier fans would see it for Harold while a Mayweather supporter would think he had done enough to keep his title. While Brazier may have done enough to win, he fought with his calculated, measured discipline that may have been effective but not explosive enough to sway the judges and secure the victory in such a close fight. However, he gained everybody’s respect and cemented his place as a true world-class fighter and contender.

Juan Martin Coggi. January 21/1989.  Palazzo Dello Sport, Vasto. Italy. WBA world super lightweight title. Brazier earns another title shot 7 months later after stacking 5 straight wins in between. Not as close as the Mayweather fight, Brazier loses by 3 points and 4 points on the cards but turns in a solid performance against a very experienced champion in his hometown. Did nothing to harm his world-class reputation. Despite never contesting for a world title again he did go on to have many more great nights including bouts with Micky Ward, Pernell Whitaker, Vince Philips, and Livingstone Bramble.    

Brazier didn’t appear to have the resume when he started boxing to develop much beyond the Midwest club level. However, through talent, discipline, and a lot of hard work, he put together an outstanding, world-class career, that provided a lot of great nights under the lights for fight fans.

Brazier, always supremely conditioned, with great defense, good power and movement, and a solid chin went from novice-level beginnings to a world-class fighter who faced the best of his era and twice contested for a world title. Impressive to say the least. 

Brazier, still living and working in his hometown of South Bend, Indiana, also opened a gym with his son a few years ago to pass along his years of knowledge to young Indiana hopefuls.

Well done, Harold. A class act out of the ring and an outstanding fighter in it.