Paul-John Ramos
03.08 - Mashantucket, Connecticut - He has lost two split decisions to Sven Ottke in Germany. He has been knocked out by Antwun Echols after sending Echols down three times in the prior round. Charles Brewer has found strange ways to lose, and it nearly happened again in his sloppy six-round TKO win over Scott Pemberton at Foxwoods Hotel and Casino on Friday.
Brewer (38-9, 27 KOs) entered the action off a unanimous decision loss to Joe Calzaghe for the WBO Super Middleweight belt. As a former IBF Super Middleweight champion who has fought regularly on the world stage, most looked at the Philadelphia native's bout with Pemberton (24-3-1, 20 KOs) as a tuneup. But thanks to Pemberton's resolve and Brewer's take-it-easy attitude, Foxwoods ticket holders were treated to action that swayed back and forth before the green Pemberton ultimately caved in to Brewer's experience and brute strength.
It appeared that Brewer, 169, would have an easy night during rounds one and two, as Pemberton, 168, was slowly worn down by punches to his body. After five minutes of relentless pushing and pounding, Pemberton, unable to move away or clinch, sagged onto the ropes and was given a standing eight count by referee Steve Smoger. Round two ended with Pemberton on both wobbly legs and the edge of a Brewer victory. But in round three, incidentally the same round as when Antwun Echols came back in spades, Pemberton surprised the audience as he hurt Brewer during two exchanges. The resident of New Bedford, Massachusetts, worked on Brewer's flank aggressively through rounds 3, 4, and 5, with Brewer looking exhausted and nagged by a cut above his left eye. Brewer's gash was examined, causing a delay of round six that helped him to regain energy. The honeymoon ended for Pemberton in that frame when Brewer, back on sturdy legs, resumed the punishment from earlier on and sent his opponent down twice. The first time was a standing eight in which Pemberton again slumped onto the ropes. Smoger waved the fight off after the second knockdown at 2:03, resulting from more body shots that forced Pemberton down in the middle of the ring.
Once again, Brewer has proven sturdy and careless at the same time. Brewer was physically dominant, but almost cost himself dearly by slacking off against an obscure opponent. Yet Brewer made an impressive recovery, and another KO, his 27th, should not hurt any future title chances.
