When I was a kid and saw Bramble destroy Mancini on CBS Sports (?), I thought this guy was a superstar in the making. The aggression, reach, power along with heart.. You add the Rasta stylings. I thought he would define the lower weights. Granted, I was a kid at the time, but was already boxing at the local Boys Club and understood what I was seeing. In your opinion what happened to Bramble? Was it baked in the cake or fixable and a case of too much too soon?
I always felt he fell for his own hype - after winning the title, he began doing all sorts of eccentric & gimmicky things like changing his name to Ras-I & bringing exotic pets to public appearances. He also has an overall poor track record vs. big punchers.
A case of the immovable object (Bramble) meeting the irresistible force (Edwin Rosario) and something had to give. His jaw was simply never the same again.
I remember watching him coming up through the ranks and was very impressed by him. I made sure I caught him every time he was on TV. IMO success went to his head and their was no turning back. He was very impressive at one time.
Whilst I like Bramble I do think he got a bit overhyped I think I remember @JohnThomas1 telling me he was considered a top 5 P4P fighter at one point which seems a bit extreme. Bramble had a good style vs Mancini he was physically as strong as Mancini with a very good high guard defense, and Mancini whilst was a respectable puncher he wasn't a devastating puncher. So that was a good stylistic match up for Bramble who could take advantage of Mancini's aggression and lack of defense with his own high guard defense. Crawley was talented but he couldn't crack an egg so again stylistically another good match for Bramble. Rosario as we know is a devastating puncher and Bramble could not stay in the pocket and withstand the crushing power of Rosario who burst his bubble and wrecked his confidence it's a simple as that. Funnily enough though years later I do think Bramble turned back the clock vs Oba Carr in which I thought he handily won a decision and was robbed.
I don't know but what a character he was. Do we really have many of those in boxing lower weights now?
