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.

Brian Vera
Born	Bryan Lee Vera (1981-12-28) December 28, 1981 Fort Worth, Texas, U.S.
Statistics
Weight(s)	Light middleweight Middleweight Super middleweight Light heavyweight
Height	6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Reach	74 in (189 cm)
Stance	Orthodox
Boxing record
Total fights	45
Wins	28
Wins by KO	18
Losses	17

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 fights	28 wins	17 losses
By knockout	18	5
By decision	10	12

Boxing record

No.	Result	Record	Opponent	Method	Round	Time	Date	Location	Notes
45	Loss	28–17	Kendrick Ball Jr	UD	8	N/a	17 Apr 2021	New England Sports Center, Derry, New Hampshire, U.S.	For vacant WBC USA Silver super middleweight title
44	Win	28–16	Francisco Ariri Neto	TKO	1 (4)	1:24	14 Nov 2020	New England Sports Center, Derry, New Hampshire, U.S.
43	Win	27–16	Mike Anderson	KO	1 (4)	1:01	29 Aug 2020	New England Sports Center, Derry, New Hampshire, U.S.
42	Loss	26–16	Ahmed Elbiali	TKO	6 (10)	1:15	28 Dec 2019	State Farm Arena, Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
41	Loss	26–15	Marcus McDaniel	UD	6	N/a	9 Feb 2019	New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
40	Loss	26–14	Sena Agbeko	UD	8	N/a	8 Dec 2018	Mid-TN Expo, Murfreesboro, Tennessee, U.S.
39	Loss	26–13	Jas Phipps	UD	6	N/a	8 Dec 2017	Round Rock Sports Center, Round Rock, Texas, U.S.
38	Loss	26–12	Mike Gavronski	TKO	6 (10)	2:21	9 Sep 2017	Emerald Queen Casino, Tacoma, Washington, U.S.
37	Win	26–11	Milton Nuñez	RTD	5 (8)	3:00	24 Jun 2017	San Antonio Shrine Auditorium, San Antonio, Texas, U.S.
36	Win	25–11	Larry Smith	TKO	2 (6)	2:10	11 Jan 2017	Alzafar Shrine, San Antonio, Texas, U.S.
35	Win	24–11	Juan Carlos Rojas	MD	6	N/a	15 Oct 2016	Zaragoza Park, Austin, Texas, U.S.
34	Loss	23–11	Matvey Korobov	UD	8	N/a	26 Jun 2016	The Bomb Factory, Dallas, Texas, U.S.
33	Loss	23–10	Rocky Fielding	TKO	2 (12)	1:39	26 Jun 2015	Echo Arena, Liverpool, Merseyside, UK	For WBC International Silver super middleweight title
32	Loss	23–9	Willie Monroe Jr.	UD	10	N/a	16 Jan 2015	Turning Stone Resort & Casino, New York, U.S.	For NABA & NABO middleweight titles
31	Loss	23–8	Julio César Chávez Jr.	UD	12	N/a	1 Mar 2014	Alamodome, San Antonio, Texas, U.S.
30	Loss	23–7	Julio César Chávez Jr.	UD	10	N/a	28 Sep 2013	StubHub Center, Carson, California, U.S.
29	Win	23–6	Donatas Bondorovas	RTD	7 (10)	3:00	29 Mar 2013	Turning Stone Resort & Casino, Verona, New York, U.S.	Retained NABO middleweight title
28	Win	22–6	Serhiy Dzinziruk	TKO	10 (12)	1:50	25 Jan 2013	Turning Stone Resort & Casino, Verona, New York, U.S.	Retained NABO middleweight title
27	Win	21–6	Sergio Mora	MD	12	N/a	11 Aug 2012	Illusions Theater, San Antonio, Texas, U.S.	Won vacant NABO middleweight title
26	Win	20–6	Taronze Washington	UD	8	N/a	21 Apr 2012	Convention Center, Fort Worth, Texas, U.S.	Won vacant WPBF International middleweight title
25	Loss	19–6	Andy Lee	UD	10	N/a	1 Oct 2011	Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
24	Win	19–5	Eloy Suarez	KO	8 (8)	0:30	24 Jun 2011	Dr Pepper Arena, Frisco, Texas, U.S.
23	Win	18–5	Sergio Mora	SD	10	N/a	4 Feb 2011	Convention Center, Fort Worth, Texas, U.S.
22	Loss	17–5	Max Bursak	UD	12	N/a	4 Sep 2010	Sportpalace Meteor, Dnipropetrovsk, Ukraine
21	Win	17–4	Sebastien Demers	TKO	3 (10)	1:57	11 Jun 2010	Uniprix Stadium, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
20	Loss	16–4	Isaac Rodrigues	MD	10	N/a	6 Feb 2010	Turning Stone Resort & Casino, Verona, New York, U.S.
19	Loss	16–3	Craig McEwan	UD	10	N/a	8 May 2009	Sundance Square, Fort Worth, Texas, U.S.
18	Loss	16–2	James Kirkland	TKO	8 (10)	1:45	22 Nov 2008	MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
17	Win	16–1	Andy Lee	TKO	7 (10)	2:17	21 Mar 2008	Mohegan Sun Casino, Uncasville, Connecticut, U.S.
16	Win	15–1	Max Alexander	UD	6	N/a	6 Nov 2007	TD Banknorth Garden, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
15	Loss	14–1	Jaidon Codrington	KO	2 (5)	1:32	8 Sep 2007	Contender Arena, Los Angeles, California, U.S.	Fight aired as part of ESPN2's "The Contender" series.
14	Win	14–0	Darnell Boone	UD	10	N/a	15 Jun 2007	Chevrolet Centre, Youngstown, Ohio, U.S.	Retained IBA Intercontinental super middleweight title
13	Win	13–0	Samuel Miller	MD	10	N/a	11 May 2007	Buffalo Run Casino, Miami, Oklahoma, U.S.
12	Win	12–0	Etianne Whitaker	TKO	3 (10)	1:58	4 Nov 2006	Coushatta Casino Resort, Kinder, Louisiana, U.S.	Won vacant IBA Intercontinental super middleweight title
11	Win	11–0	Antonio Garcia	KO	3 (8)	?	18 Aug 2006	American Airlines Center, Dallas, Texas, U.S.
10	Win	10–0	Marcus Hicks	TKO	5 (8)	2:05	9 Jun 2006	Sundance Square, Fort Worth, Texas, U.S.	Won vacant United States Texas State middleweight title
9	Win	9–0	Antonio Garcia	UD	8	N/a	16 Feb 2006	Cowtown Coliseum, Fort Worth, Texas, U.S.
8	Win	8–0	Jeremiah Chapman	KO	2 (6)	0:40	16 Dec 2005	Austin Convention Center, Austin, Texas, U.S.
7	Win	7–0	Cardyl Finley	KO	1 (8)	2:47	26 Nov 2005	Music Hall, Austin, Texas, U.S.
6	Win	6–0	Freeman Taft	TKO	2 (6)	2:05	22 Jul 2005	Gold Coast Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
5	Win	5–0	Trenice Brown	TKO	3 (6)	2:36	16 Jun 2005	Sundance Square, Fort Worth, Texas, U.S.
4	Win	4–0	Javier Diaz	UD	4	N/a	17 Mar 2005	Cowtown Coliseum, Fort Worth, Texas, U.S.
3	Win	3–0	Juan Jose Ruiz	TKO	2 (4)	1:10	26 Feb 2005	Dodge Arena, Hidalgo, Texas, U.S.
2	Win	2–0	Bert Montez	TKO	2 (4)	?	30 Sep 2004	Frank Erwin Center, Austin, Texas, U.S.
1	Win	1–0	Avien Cooper	UD	4	N/a	27 Aug 2004	Renaissance Worthington Hotel, Fort Worth, Texas, U.S.	Professional debut

External links

• Boxing record for Brian Vera from BoxRec (registration required)
• Brian Vera on Myspace