The typically stoic, all-business Chris Chatman found himself hyped up at Thursday’s pre-fight weigh-in until he stood toe-to-toe with his opponent, Grady Brewer, for the first time.
“I saw that seriousness in his eyes,” Chatman said. “He looked right at me and pretty much said, ‘Motherfucker, I’m not playing.’”
Neither is Chatman (11-3-1, 5 KOs). The 5-foot-8 southpaw from Jersey City, N.J., will face Brewer (30-18, 16 KOs), The Contender Season 2 champion, Friday night in the main event of Classic Entertainment & Sports’ professional boxing event Twin River Casino, arguably the biggest fight of his career.
Having recently signed a promotional agreement with CES, the nomadic Chatman has finally found a home after years of relocating, first from his birthplace of Chicago to California, then to Jersey City, where he now lives and trains. At 29, he’s entering the prime of his career and is looking for the kind of signature win that could put him on the fast track to a world title.
“Tomorrow night, it’s about to go down again,” said Chatman, who last fought at Twin River in July when he beat hometown favorite Thomas Falowo. “I expect to see the same Grady Brewer we’ve grown to know and love through the years.
“That being said, he can expect a meaner, vicious Chris Chatman, because there’s only one thing in my way right now, and that’s him. He needs to get out of the way, or I’ll put him out of the way.”
Chatman will be making his fourth appearance at Twin River, which has become his second home in recent years. In 2009, he lost a close, unanimous decision to former Olympian Demetrius Andrade and then won his next two bouts at the same venue, including last summer’s unanimous decision win over Falowo in Falowo’s first career eight-round bout.
“To be a world champion, that’s the only thing I’m here for,” Chatman said. “Sleep world champion, wake up world champion, eat world champion, take a shit world champion – that’s what I live and breathe for. That’s my goal.
“All pleasantries and jokes aside, it’s going down tomorrow night. I can guarantee that.”
Brewer, 43, is no stranger to New England; the Lawton, Okla., native fought in 2008 on the undercard of the CES and the Tournament of Contenders’ co-promotion at The Dunkin’ Donuts Center in Providence, beating Season 2 teammate and former light middleweight world champion Cornelius Brundage by split decision.
In 2009, he stopped unbeaten Nigerian prospect Albert Onolunose in the second round of their scheduled 12-round bout and two years later handed world-title challenger Fernando Guerrero – 21-0 at the time – the first loss his career via fourth-round knockout. Brewer has also faced World Boxing Association (WBA) light middleweight champion Erislandy Lara, current World Boxing Organization (WBO) champ Andrade and unbeaten Russian prospect Matt Korobov in his 15-year career.
“It’s been a while since I’ve felt the way I feel right now,” Brewer said. “I’m looking forward to tomorrow.”
Full weigh-in results
CHRIS CHATMAN
Jersey City, N.J.
11-3-1, 5 KOs
159 ½
GRADY BREWER
Lawton, Okla.
30-18, 16 KOs
159 ½
ZACK RAMSEY
Springfield, Mass.
6-0, 3 KOs
146
SHAKHA MOORE
Norwalk, Conn.
11-19-3, 2 KOs
147
JOSH BEEMAN
Providence, R.I.
5-14-3, 2 KOs
148
NICK DELOMBA
Cranston, R.I.
2-0
144
KJ HARRISON-LOMBARDI
Providence, R.I.
4-0-1
162 ½
JASON BAKANOWSKI
Worcester, Mass.
0-1
162
GLENN THOMAS
East Stroudsburg, Pa.
1-1
228
JESSE BARBOZA
Hyannis, Mass.
7-1-1, 5 KOs
244
JUSTIN ROBBINS
Springfield, Ill.
2-5, 1 KO
137
RYAN MARTIN
Chattanooga, Tenn.
3-0, 2 KOs
138
