Prenice Brewer, the former professional boxer and trainer of Delante “Tiger” Johnson is serving as a second voice for heavyweight Jared “Big Baby” Anderson.
Anderson (16-0, 15 KOs) fights Ryad Merhy (32-2, 26 KOs) on April 13 at the American Bank Center, Corpus Christi, Texas, and also as the main event on ESPN.
“I have known Jared for a while – ever since he was a kid,” Brewer told BoxingScene. “After Tiger [Johnson’s] last fight, he reached out and was interested in bringing me in to help with his childhood coach, Darrie Riley.”
After spending the camp in Texas with Anderson, Brewer was left amazed by Anderson’s speed. He compared it to that of a middleweight – and witnessed what he considered the reflexes of an all-time great like Roy Jones Jr. Despite only being involved with Anderson for one full training camp, Brewer believes the world is in for a treat when Anderson reaches the highest level.
“I always knew he was special because he moves like a small guy,” Brewer recounted. “I knew his hands were fast, but I didn’t know they were as fast until I got behind the mitts with him. He has really, really fast hands for a heavyweight.”
Merhy is coming off the biggest win of his career. He won a split decision over the 2016 French Olympic gold medalist Tony Yoka. He fought at cruiserweight before moving up to heavyweight in 2022. Brewer regardless believes that Anderson will be the faster fighter.
“There isn’t a heavyweight slicker than him, or faster than him,” Brewer bragged. “If you look at the heavyweight division, it is cool, but he is different. He is like the Roy Jones [Jr.] of the heavyweight division because he is so athletic, gifted, and can fight in both stances – and he has power in both hands.”
Brewer last fought in 2019 before shifting his focus to coaching. Many who knew him when he was in camp with his friend and teammate Willie Nelson in San Carlos, California, might have said Brewer was becoming a coach before he knew it himself.
“This is only the beginning for Jared,” he continued. “The world hasn’t even seen what he is capable of yet. He is going to be unlocking new levels I am telling you – his ceiling [potential] is so crazy.”