When I got hold of Grady Brewer this evening I was prepared to ask questions about Saturday’s match-up with Anthony “The Messenger” Thompson for the vacant IBO junior middleweight belt. I immediately learned, however, that he is being thrown another curve in a career that has been full of them.
Hello Grady. Thanks for speaking with 15 rounds.
Grady Brewer – Sorry for the wait. I just got word that Anthony Thompson pulled out.
John Gleeson – Do they have anyone in mind to replace him?
Grady Brewer – Well, yeah, some guy named Albert Onolunose. 18 – 0 with 7 KO’s.
John Gleeson – Did they say what happened with Thompson pulling out?
Grady Brewer – They said he pulled out because he just doesn’t want to fight. They say he doesn’t want to fight me. They can’t explain why. He’s not hurt or anything. Unless he just got hurt or something, but I guess, evidently he must be having some nightmares or something and just doesn’t want to fight.
John Gleeson – He might be having flashbacks to 2004. (Note: Brewer knocked out the previously undefeated Thompson in February of 2004 on the under card of Erik Morales versus Jesus Chavez at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.)
Grady Brewer – Maybe that’s what it is, but it’s kind of upsetting to me to prepare and train for a hard fight like that and then have him pull out. I just gotta . . . and now were not even fighting for the IBO belt. It might be the IBC belt. It pisses me off.
John Gleeson – That’s frustrating that they’re taking the IBO belt out of the equation.
Grady Brewer – Yeah, definitely. It takes it off the line because they don’t want to sanction now because they don’t know who this guy really is. They haven’t verified it. They say it could change tomorrow, and it’s possible, but I doubt it. As of right now we’re fighting for the IBC belt because they had to have a fight with a title at the casino. So the IBC belt will be on the line.
John Gleeson – Can you tell us a little bit about your team? Who have you been working with to get ready for this weekend?
Grady Brewer – I have been working with Andy Pierce, Edward Halligan, and Chris Davis.
John Gleeson – Are you still in Oklahoma right now? When do you head to California for the fight?
Grady Brewer – I leave for California on Wednesday.
John Gleeson – I had intended to ask whether you felt you had a mental advantage, coming into the fight, because of your previous TKO win over Thompson, but now that he is out I’ll ask whether anyone on your team has any knowledge, or frame of reference, for Albert Onolunose?
Grady Brewer – Nobody’s heard anything about him. We’re pulling his name up on Boxrec here in just a second to see if we can find anything about him. The matchmaker was telling me the guy is nobody but he’s 18 – 0 so he’s got to be somebody. Definitely somebody. I’m baffled by this. The whole situation is kind of crazy but I gotta go with what I’ve got. I’ve been training. I’m ready to fight. It kind of sucks that I won’t be fighting the guy I was supposed to be fighting, but I am definitely going to go ahead and continue to get ready. You know? I was hoping to have the IBO title and a little leverage. It’s frustrating.
John Gleeson – There are a handful of guys like Bernard Hopkins, Roy Jones, and Glen Johnson that are continuing their careers at forty plus years old. You’ll be 39 in December. How much longer do you want to keep fighting?
Grady Brewer – Well, with stuff like this, probably not long. I was hoping I’d have the IBO belt and be able to fight to defend it and maybe have another three or four years in boxing if my body allows me to.
John Gleeson – This Saturday will be your fourth fight since winning the second season of the Contender in 2006. Do you still have promotional ties to The Contender people?
Grady Brewer – Yes, I do. I believe I’m obligated to them through next year so I’m going to go on with what they’ve got lined up for me.
John Gleeson – If things go well this Saturday do you have an ideal opponent that you would like to be matched up with in the future?
Grady Brewer – Anybody that can give me some better leverage and opportunities.
John Gleeson – Would a match up with Contender Season 1 winner Sergio Mora interest you?
Grady Brewer – Definitely. I would think that would be a good opportunity for me. I would love that.
John Gleeson – I read that you and your wife operate a gym in Lawton, OK. How is that going? Do you get a chance to work with any young fighters at the gym?
Grady Brewer – Yes, I do. We’re probably going to have an amateur event next month to give them a showcase. It’s coming along pretty good right now.
John Gleeson – I heard you’d had a knee surgery some time back. Do you still do a lot of running leading up to fights or do you substitute anything to spare some of the wear and tear on the legs?
Grady Brewer – I’ve been running. It definitely gave me issues before I got the surgery done but since I had the surgery I’ve been able to get in all of my running and sparring
John Gleeson – I’ll get you out of here on an easy question. What do you have in your Ipod now when you’re in the gym or out running?
Grady Brewer – Rap music. Lil’ Wayne. Right now he’s the hottest one out.
John Gleeson – Best of luck this Saturday. Thanks for taking the time to speak with us.