Brian Vera

Bryan Lee Vera (born December 28, 1981) is an American professional boxer currently competing as a super middleweight. He is best known for his memorable and notable victories over then-undefeated Andy Lee in 2008, former world champion Sergio Mora (twice, in 2011 and 2012) and Serhiy Dzinziruk in 2013. Vera currently trains in Cedar Park, Texas.

Early life and education Vera attended Westwood High School and lettered in football, a sport he had played since a child in Pop Warner. His brother, Gilbert "Boogie" Vera, is a professional boxer, and his father was a two-time IBA champion in the heavyweight division.

Amateur career

Vera's amateur career saw him clash with (among others), Jonathon Banks (in a losing effort), and then saw him returning in December 2005 (after beginning his professional career in 2004), when he returned for one last amateur fight against Ivan Stovell (in a losing effort).

Professional career Vera began his professional career in 2004 with a four-round unanimous decision win over Avien Cooper. He would win his next thirteen bouts, including a decision victory over Darnell Boone (who would later knockout the future lineal light heavyweight champion Adonis Stevenson), before signing up with the ESPN television series The Contender.

The Contender He is one of the featured boxers on the third season of the boxing reality TV series, The Contender, which premiered September 4, 2007, on ESPN. Vera suffered his first professional loss in the opening fight of the contest to the shows runner-up Jaidon Codrington.

Vera vs. Lee In 2008, Vera fought then-undefeated and highly touted prospect Andy Lee. In a fight that he was supposed to lose according to most critics, Brian Vera pulled up the upset win and would defeat Lee by TKO in the seventh round. Although the stoppage was regarded as controversial, Vera was behind on points up until that point, though Lee himself appeared to be battered and exhausted from Vera's relentless assault in the 7th.

Vera vs. Kirkland Vera's career would hit a standstill soon after when he was matched against light-middleweight contender James Kirkland. Kirkland was vicious in his assault against Vera, battering his outmatched opponent all over the ring for the duration of the fight. Vera was knocked down twice in preceding rounds before the faithful eight round, in which a devastating combination from Kirkland put Vera down for a third time. Vera managed to rise up, but was immediately cornered and beaten on until referee Vic Drakulich called a halt to the match, with Vera losing by an eighth-round technical knockout. In the match, Kirkland had managed to land 283 out of 532 thrown punches, whereas Vera only landed 64 out of 470.

Vera only fought once in 2009, losing a definitive decision to Craig McEwan. McEwan was landing combinations nearly at will from the start of the fight, and Vera had no answer for his opponent's boxing ability. In 2010 Vera would go 1–2, first losing a unanimous decision against Isaac Rodrigues before scoring a third-round technical knockout over Sebastien Demers, and finally dropping a twelve-round unanimous decision to middleweight contender Max Bursak.

On February 4, 2011, Vera would defeat fellow Contender competitor Sergio Mora. Vera would win a close but definitive split decision over Mora, and followed up his success with an eighth-round knockout over Eloy Suarez.

Vera vs. Lee II Later that year Vera would rematch his old foe Andy Lee, this time losing by a wide margin. Lee used his height and reach to excellent effect, keeping the bullish Vera off of him all night, and even scoring a knockdown in the second. Lee displayed excellent boxing tactics and skills by controlling the distance of the fight and continuously blasting Vera with power punches from all angles.

Vera vs. Chávez Jr. I-II Vera would score four more wins following his defeat to Andy Lee, including a wide unanimous decision against former foe Sergio Mora, as well as a technical knockout victory over Serhiy Dzinziruk before being matched against former WBC middleweight champion Julio César Chávez, Jr. Vera surprised many when he dominated the bout, easily outboxing and out-landing his much larger and sluggish foe. When it was announced after the fight that Chavez had won a unanimous decision, the decision was roundly booed. It was later revealed that not one press row scorer had scored the bout for Chávez Jr., all scoring it definitively for Vera.

Chávez Jr. and Vera would rematch six months later over a twelve-round bout. This time Chavez would use his size and strength more effectively, outboxing and outscoring Vera with relative ease. Vera would lose a far clearer unanimous decision.

Professional boxing record 45 Loss 28–17

UD 8 N/a 17 Apr 2021

44 Win 28–16

TKO 1 (4) 1:24 14 Nov 2020

43 Win 27–16

KO 1 (4) 1:01 29 Aug 2020

42 Loss 26–16

TKO 6 (10) 1:15 28 Dec 2019

41 Loss 26–15

UD 6 N/a 9 Feb 2019

40 Loss 26–14

UD 8 N/a 8 Dec 2018

39 Loss 26–13

UD 6 N/a 8 Dec 2017

38 Loss 26–12

TKO 6 (10) 2:21 9 Sep 2017

37 Win 26–11

RTD 5 (8) 3:00 24 Jun 2017

36 Win 25–11

TKO 2 (6) 2:10 11 Jan 2017

35 Win 24–11

MD 6 N/a 15 Oct 2016

34 Loss 23–11

UD 8 N/a 26 Jun 2016

33 Loss 23–10

TKO 2 (12) 1:39 26 Jun 2015

32 Loss 23–9

UD 10 N/a 16 Jan 2015

31 Loss 23–8

UD 12 N/a 1 Mar 2014

30 Loss 23–7

UD 10 N/a 28 Sep 2013

29 Win 23–6

RTD 7 (10) 3:00 29 Mar 2013

28 Win 22–6

TKO 10 (12) 1:50 25 Jan 2013

27 Win 21–6

MD 12 N/a 11 Aug 2012

26 Win 20–6

UD 8 N/a 21 Apr 2012

25 Loss 19–6

UD 10 N/a 1 Oct 2011

24 Win 19–5

KO 8 (8) 0:30 24 Jun 2011

23 Win 18–5

SD 10 N/a 4 Feb 2011

22 Loss 17–5

UD N/a 4 Sep 2010

21 Win 17–4

TKO 3 (10) 1:57 11 Jun 2010

20 Loss 16–4

MD 10 N/a 6 Feb 2010

19 Loss 16–3

UD 10 N/a 8 May 2009

18 Loss 16–2

TKO 8 (10) 1:45 22 Nov 2008

17 Win 16–1

TKO 7 (10) 2:17 21 Mar 2008

16 Win 15–1

UD 6 N/a 6 Nov 2007

15 Loss 14–1

KO 2 (5) 1:32 8 Sep 2007

14 Win 14–0

UD 10 N/a 15 Jun 2007

13 Win 13–0

MD 10 N/a 11 May 2007

12 Win 12–0

TKO 3 (10) 1:58 4 Nov 2006

11 Win 11–0

KO 3 (8) ? 18 Aug 2006

10 Win 10–0

TKO 5 (8) 2:05 9 Jun 2006

9 Win 9–0

UD 8 N/a 16 Feb 2006

8 Win 8–0

KO 2 (6) 0:40 16 Dec 2005

7 Win 7–0

KO 1 (8) 2:47 26 Nov 2005

6 Win 6–0

TKO 2 (6) 2:05 22 Jul 2005

5 Win 5–0

TKO 3 (6) 2:36 16 Jun 2005

4 Win 4–0

UD 4 N/a 17 Mar 2005

3 Win 3–0

TKO 2 (4) 1:10 26 Feb 2005

2 Win 2–0

TKO 2 (4) ? 30 Sep 2004

1 Win 1–0

UD 4 N/a 27 Aug 2004

Big Knockout Boxing record

Loss 0–1