Juergen Braehmer, Germany's 'Bad Boy' of boxing returns to the ring at the Grand Elysee Hotel in Hamburg on Saturday night after an injury enforced 21 month layoff, and takes on talented but relatively untested Spaniard Jose Maria Guerrero in what may turn out to be an eliminator for a crack at Nathan Cleverly's WBO light heavyweight title. Braehmer is notorious in Germany for his regular run-ins with the law, and has served several terms in prison. Guerrero was initially lined up to fight Britain's James DeGale for the European super middleweight title on a Frank Warren bill that was originally scheduled for December, then switched to January, but ultimately fell through. 

Despite his extended layoff, Braehmer is not expecting to be too rusty come fight night, and told the German press: ''The preparation was better than expected, and I To fix the whole time. Of course, the first week of sparring was a bit bumpy. I initially wanted to work with a lot of power, but then the timing quickly got better.'' 

33-year-old Braehmer  [36-2, 29 KOs] turned pro in 1999 after a stellar amateur career that saw him lose just five of 100 bouts. During his amateur career, Braehmer scored victories over Ricky Hatton [twice, including a first round knockout], two-time WBC super middleweight champion Carl Froch and current WBA middleweight king Felix Sturm.

Braehmer boxed as a super middleweight in his first 28 bouts, only losing to 6'4'' Mario Veit [twice a victim of Joe Calzaghe in WBO title fights], though that defeat was avenged the following year when Braehmer KO'd Veit in four rounds.

Stepping up to light heavyweight in 2008, Braehmer challenged Argentina's Hugo Garay for the WBA belt but lost on points. The following year Braehmer won the interim WBO light heavyweight title with an 11th round knockout over Poland's Aleksy Kuzmienski, and was subsequently elevated to regular champion when previous title holder Zsolt Erdei chose to move up to cruiserweight.

Braehmer defended the WBO belt twice, outpointing Dmitri Sukhotsky in December 2009, and knocking out Mariano Plotinsky in five rounds in April 2010, his last ring appearance. 

In 2011, Braehmer withdrew from fights against WBA light heavyweight champion by Beibut Shumenov and then European champion and WBO no.1 contender Nathan Cleverly, both at short notice. Following his withdrawal against Cleverly, Braehmer  were stripped of the title, which was subsequently awarded to the Welshman.

Despite his undoubted ability as a boxer and vaunted punching power, Braehmer has gone some way short of fulfilling his potential, mainly due to his various run-ins with the German police. In 1998, Braehmer  was sentenced to four years youth detention for aggravated assault and robbery. In 2002 he was convicted of aggravated assault and hit and run after causing a car accident while driving without a license. As a result of these charges, Braehmer spent the years between 2002 and 2005 in prison. 

After his 2005 release, Braehmer continued his boxing career, but it didn't take long before he was in trouble again. He was twice charged with assault in 2008, including an accusation of breaking a woman's nose. One case was settled out of court, but in 2010, a court found him guilty of the other charge and sentenced him to 16 months in prison. On appeal, this sentence was commuted to a €5000 fine.

Braehmer's opponent on Saturday night is 35-year-old Spaniard Jose Maria Guerrero [29-2-1, 11 KOs], a tall, skillful boxer who despite his youthful countenance is actually entering his 15th year in the pro ranks. 

Guerrero turned professional in 1997, and was unbeaten in his first 19 fights [1 draw]. In 2003, he lost for the first time, dropping a decision to the aforementioned Mario Veit in a challenge for the European Union super middleweight title.

Following the loss to Veit, Guerrero proceeded to mark time with a series of inconsequential bouts against poor opposition, a practice that was to backfire on him spectacularly when he was KO'd in three rounds by Georgian Mamuka Khutuashvili, a fighter who had entered the ring sporting a record of 4-5-1.

The loss to Khutuashvili clearly took a heavy toll on Guerrero's confidence, and the Spaniard was to take a four year hiatus from the ring. He returned in 2009, and has fought four times since.  He is currently unrated by the E.B.U, and ranked only 14 in the EU rankings. On that basis, one wonders how Guerrero could have been considered for a crack at DeGale's European crown. 

The truth is that Braehmer will have have to have deteriorated as a fighter spectacularly if he is to lose to Guerrero on Saturday. The Spaniard is a good-looking boxer, and at 6'3" with a correspondingly long reach, could present Braehmer with some physical problems, but he just does not have the experience to deal with a fighter of the talent and punching power of the German.

Braehmer wins this one on points or a late stoppage, although he may need several rounds to shake off 21 months of the ring rust.