‘Big 12’ Brown on the right path, says coach

After seven professional fights, Jamaican heavyweight boxer Ricardo ‘Big 12’ Brown has already made his mark as one of the brightest upcoming prospects in the division.

His coach Dewith Frazer believes the Spanish Town-native will one day become a champion but he said the next stage for Brown, who has won all his fights in two rounds, is to go up against quality opponents who can go more round.

“First of all he is going to be a champion,” declared Frazer. “We are trying to get him to do some rounds because his next level of opponents are going to have more quality to go more rounds,” he said.

Frazer pointed out that there are also other aspects of his boxing that need working on and that he must continue to improve these areas.

“His last fight he was in too much of a hurry. I just want him to slow things down for balance and learning purposes,” he continued.

Nevertheless, securing bouts against top-rated fighters requires huge financial commitments and Frazer disclosed that his promoter is currently contemplating the options.

“He is certainly championship material. He is on the right path and just has to continue the work that he is doing, so when he has an opportunity he will be ready to excel.

“At the next stage it is not just about boxing. It is also about finance. His popularity is growing. So people are looking on and saying they will fight him but they need X (large) amount of dollars. So we are looking at the next level, it is just a matter of the finance. The promoter has to decide the move from here and that is the process we are going through right now,” he said.

However, there is no rush, he insists.

“Everyone is always in a rush. Ricardo has seven fights. You have guys fighting with 15 and zero (records) and are just stepping up. We have a few more fights to go before we can make those type of moves.

PATIENCE

“People are impatient but we have to be patient to make things work the right way. We didn’t want to move too fast because we knew his moment was coming, but we just never realised it was coming this quick. But we will continue to do what we are doing and continue to build his profile both locally and internationally,” he said.

Former World Boxing Council Caribbean Boxing Federation Welterweight champion, Sakima Mullings, concurs with Frazer.

Mullings believes Brown has shown he has graduated from this level of opponent and ready to move into the contender stage, but said he needs the experience of fighting better fighters before he is ready to challenge for a belt.

“He will have to fight better quality opponents that can offer a little more resistance to test if he can become a title challenger.

“He is flying through the prospect stage with flying colours and getting rid of this level of opponent with absolute ease.

“He will move through the rankings if he continues to win. But to be prepared for championship level fight he needs to find better opponents who offer more,” Mullings commented.

He noted that Brown has grown and matured and that his promoter has to get better opponents, who can go rounds with him.

“The heavyweight division is not deep but at the top the fighters are very good. So the rounds will only be good for him. He has been getting rid of guys he is supposed to.

“The idea now is to get him in the ring with better prospects who can go the rounds, so he can learn how to manage rounds. The guys at the top don’t go away that easy.

“So the promoter can step him up so he fights other prospects or veterans, that will put him in a position to become a contender. But he is on the right path,” he said.

livingston.scott@gleanerjm.com