Harold Brazier: Boxing’s unsung hero

One of my favorites and actually one of the few who actually got better as he aged because he learned the craft.
His fight vs Mayweather was great and he came really close to winning.
His two fights with Pompey were excellent as well.
One of his first biggest wins was vs John Meekins who at the time was a highly touted prospect and considered the next champion by all the experts.
Brazier put on a clinic on infighting and beat the hell out of Meekins.
He was outclassed by Whitaker easily so Brazier was never on that level but he was a very soild contender.

 

I have his fight when he came back in his fifties and ended up losing a decision. What was amazing is at that age he managed to go the distance against a much younger opponent who was trying to knock him out.

 

He came to London and gave Lloyd Honeyghan a hard 10-rounder.

 

Will never forget his fight with Roger Mayweather. Really wanted Brazier to win.

Fought well against Coggi in his 2nd World title shot but the crafty Argentinean was just too good.

Didn´t see him again until he his 1st USBA Welter fight against Kevin Pompey. Good fight but Harold seemed a clear winner.

The stink from that decision got him a return where he put in his last great performance to ko the always exciting Pompey.

Classy fighter with great wins over Micky Ward and Robin Blake. A great Espn fighter and a real fan favourite.

 

He gave Ward a pretty good beating to the body.
He also got flat out robbed vs Larry Barnes when Barnes was a contender.
Beat Brian Baronet in the rematch and had a pretty exciting fight with Robin Blake.
I have many of his fights and he was a pleasure to watch.
He adopted the high guard defense.

 

Brazier was a staple on USA Tuesday night fights

 

ESPN fighters could be fun to watch at times,Harold Brazier was part of them.

 

He was a very good fighter and was in some exciting, and skillful, battles.

 

Class guy who was a great reflection of the sport and someone that we all unanimously probably wished would have won a title, made the big money, and could've quit his day job at the body shop.

 

Extremely solid legitimate top 10 contender.

I would put his career on a par with someone like Terrence Alli - very good fighters just not quite World Champion material. Though, it should be said both could have won titles against the right opponent. Worse fighters have won titles.

He lost close title fights to Juan Coggi and Roger Mayweather. He was also outpointed by rising Meldrick Taylor and prime Pernell Whitaker.

Good wins over John Meekins, Brian Baronet, Charlie "White Lighting" Brown and Robin Blake.

The fight with Roger Mayweather was very exciting with both guys hurt numerous times.

 

Guys like Brazier and Terrence Alii were more than journeymen. They lost only to the top guys. They were network level guys they just liked to keep very busy and make some money between big fights. They were legitimate top 10 contenders for an extended period of time.

 

He also fought Buck Smith to a 15 round no decision (I wonder who if either was announced as the winner originally?)