For American boxing fans, the light heavyweight division has been dominated by three names over the last few years -- Sergei Kovalev, Adonis Stevenson, and now Andre Ward. But in their shadow a fourth man lurks: Juergen Braehmer.

Virtually unknown to American fans, but immensely popular in his native Germany, Braehmer is looking to insert himself in the mix among the best in the world.

You can see the reigning and defending WBA light heavyweight champion take on his toughest opponent in years, former WBO champion Nathan Cleverly, right here at FloBoxing on Saturday, October 1, from Neubrandenburg, Germany. The event will be streamed LIVE at 1 PM ET.

Current Fight Card*

Juergen Braehmer vs. Nathan Cleverly (for WBA World Light Heavyweight Title)
Enrico Koelling vs. Ryno Liebenberg (for WBA Intercontinental Light Heavyweight Title)
Ohara Davies vs. Chaquib Fadli
Alexander Peil vs. Grigol Abuladze
Vincent Feigenbutz vs. Guillermo Ruben Andino
Artur Mann vs. Paul Drago
Leon Bauer vs. Giorgi Khulelidze
Kai Robin Havnaa vs. Mimes Denadic

*Card subject to change

The Fighters

Juergen Braehmer

Age: 37
Record: 48-2 (35 KO)
Last 5: 5-0
Height: 5-11½ 
Reach: 71½"
Stance: Southpaw

Braehmer has held his belt since 2013, and hasn't lost a fight since 2008. Despite this run of success, Braehmer's name almost never comes up when people discuss the top fighters at 175, mostly due to his abysmal level of competition.

Braehmer's past haunts him. In 2010, he was sentenced to 16 months in prison for multiple assaults, including striking a woman at a bar. While he's stayed out of trouble in recent years, the conviction makes it slightly more difficult to get his visa paperwork done, limiting opportunities against big stars worldwide. Left as a big fish in the small pond, Braehmer has become a domestic draw and local favorite.

Although he may not be familiar to the casual boxing fan, Braehmer is a clever fighter who makes the most of his average physical abilities. He may not be the best light heavyweight in the world, but he is undoubtedly very good one.

Better still, he's entertaining to watch. Braehmer has a habit of pulling straight back and often drops his hands. While bad for his brain cells, it's good for viewers craving action. He also tends to be active in fights, which provides opposition a chance to trade. These limitations make Nathan Cleverly the kind of fighter who can provide a very stiff test for the German. On Saturday night, Cleverly will get his chance to prove it.

Nathan Cleverly

Age: 29
Record: 29-3 (15 KO)
Last 5: 3-2
Height: 6-1½
Reach: 74"
Stance: Orthodox

Having taken a year off following his scintillating contest against Andrzej Fonfara, Cleverly returns seeking some redemption and the opportunity to win a world title belt.

While many journalists dismissed Cleverly following a loss in his rematch against Tony Bellew in 2014, the back and forth battle with Fonfara resuscitated his public persona a good deal. That could be a mixed blessing. While the bout was the kind of action fight fans adore, it was also the kind of fight that changes boxers forever.

Braehmer, an outstanding combination puncher, is likely hoping that Cleverly is sufficiently spent as an athlete to be beatable. He's the best fighter the German has faced in years and a litmus test for whether he truly belongs on the world scene.

To compete, Cleverly just has to be himself -- the bigger man, someone capable of winning a war of attrition. If Cleverly shows up, this is anybody's fight.

Undercard Attraction

The co-main event between Ryno Liebenberg (21-1) and Enrico Koelling (17-3) is a fight that clearly intends to set up a future bout for the main event winner. Koelling is a former German Olympian with a forward marching style. He's not tremendously hard-hitting, but in spite of his low KO percentage, most fighters he faces choose to keep moving rather than engage him directly.

South Africa's Liebenberg is not really a mover, which makes you think he's in there to be hit. That is both good and bad for Koelling. Liebenberg has actually been involved in a number of fights where inside roughhousing and headbutts came into play.

Koelling won't likely need to travel far to find his man, but Liebenberg may present serious issues for the German when he gets there.

By Jonathan Snowden