RSR Looks Back at Simon Brown
By Joe Wilson
Professional boxing has juggled its popularity between weight divisions; just as good as the American Idol has judged its contestants. Even then in boxing, the welterweights, middleweights and heavyweights seems to never shine at the same time. When one is up, the other is down.
I wonder why that is?
After the Sugar Ray Leonard, Roberto Duran, Marvin Hagler and Tommy Hearns era passed, it seemed, then, that the smaller weight divisions took a back seat to the heavyweight division. The names echoing around the sport were Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield, Lennox Lewis, Riddick Bowe and Buster Douglas.
During that time, a rising star was shimmering amongst the welterweights. A Jamaican born by the name of Simon Brown, known as “Mantequilla” surfaced. Brown had unbelievable talent and heart. He was once labeled the pound-for-pound best boxer in the world.
Simon Brown heated up the welterweight division with pure style and finesse. He was a welterweight fighter who held titles in multiple weight divisions. He could box when needed to, or slug with power in both hands.
At that time, he was one of the most exciting fighters to watch. He always went for the knockout, if it was available.
The career began in 1982 at age 19. He won 21 consecutive fights before losing a split decision against Marlon Starling. Brown then won three consecutive bouts including a victory against undefeated former Olympian Shawn O’Sullivan. It was that fight that lined up a shot at the vacant IBF Welterweight Title against Tyrone Trice, which he won in round 14 by TKO.
After that win, Simon Brown went on to successfully defend his title 9 times, including a unification bout with WBC title holder Maurice Blocker who was a friend from his neighborhood; they trained in the same gym. Blocker lost that bout by TKO in the tenth round. It was said that: “The two knew someday, they would have to fight.”
In the ring it was all business.
Brown ended up losing his belts in his next fight to James “Buddy” McGirt. After losing to McGirt, the move was made to light middleweight. In 1993, Brown defeated Light Middleweight Champion Terry Norris for the WBC Title with a devastating knockout in round 4. This fight was proclaimed as the “1993 Upset of the Year” by Ring Magazine. This was definitely the highlight of Simon Brown’s career.
Where was the media during these fights? Were all cameras so zoomed in on the heavyweights?
I must admit during that time “Iron” Mike Tyson was the center of attention, when boxing was the subject. Tyson had cameras following him to the restroom, so it seemed at that time. His in the ring and out of the ring behavior had all eyes on him.
In 1994, Brown lost a rematch and his title to Terry Norris via decision. In 1995, Brown lost another fight for the IBF Light Middleweight Title, against Vincent Pettway; he was knocked out in round six. Afterwards, Brown channeled his interest toward the middleweight division. He decided to move up again.
Brown moved up and took on IBF Middleweight Title holder Bernard Hopkins in 1998. He lost by TKO in round 6. This was Brown’s last title fight. After the Hopkins defeat, he went on a five fight losing streak, including defeats by David Reid and Omar Sheika. His record was 47-12, 34 KO’s.
After the defeat of Sheika, Brown retired in the year 2000. There are still many boxing fans around the sport who have never heard of Simon Brown. That era was kept quiet in many ways. A young and up and coming Roy Jones, JR., did his part to create some noise with some astonishing knockouts. Was it enough to shine light on those divisions?
There were some great fights during those years in the welterweight and middleweight division that did not get the press it deserved. Thank God for Youtube and some of the other video sites on the web today, that has allowed us to review those great fights of yesterday. During that time, most of the fights in the smaller weight divisions were fights we read about, not watched.
Fighters today have access to the public like no other time before. If a fighter is good, more than likely a fan of the sport knows of him. Fighters today enjoy a wide range of marketing tools such as; HBO, Showtime, ESPN2, other cable networks; then there is the Internet, magazines etc.
Today, how can a good fighter go unnoticed, especially if he can fight? I wonder what difference would it had made in Simon Brown’s career had he had the same attention?
That been said, if nothing else; his name is still a strong contender for Boxing Hall of Fame.