All Around Pennsauken

By Frank Sinatra, AAP Editor

“Big George Foreman: The Miraculous Story of the Once and Future Heavyweight Champion of the World,” is now in theatres. Movie goers will be treated to not only a biopic on the amazing life of the world famous boxer, but see a stellar performance from Pennsauken Police Officer and Township native Charles Brewer, Jr. The son of former IBF super middleweight champ Charles “The Hatchet” Brewer, Charles the younger fell into a role in the upcoming film purely by happenstance. 

“My best friend is the younger brother of Khris Davis, who plays George Foreman in the movie,” explained Officer Brewer, a proud member of Pennsauken High School’s Class of 2013 and a professional boxer since 2020. “Khris reaches out and says, ‘I’m in New Orleans shooting a boxing movie. I’ve seen your boxing stuff on social media. I think you could play one of these guys in the film.’ He shared them with the producers and the next thing I know, I’m getting a call from their talent acquisition department.”

Like any actor trying out for a role, Office Brewer had to quickly submit headshots, videos, and the like. After a Zoom meeting with the director, he found out that he had much more than a puncher’s chance of joining the production.

“The initial conversations all happened within a week. Khris told me that they really liked me. But months went by, and I didn’t hear anything,” said Brewer. “Then I get a call saying that they have my shooting schedule ready for the next week. I had to scramble to get ready to go down there and film.”

Brewer was chosen to perform the role of Michael Moorer, the three-time heavyweight world champion who beat Evander Holyfield and faced a 45-year-old George Foreman in 1994. While he had no speaking lines, the Pennsauken Police Officer had to reenact that pivotal boxing match punch for punch.

“Learning the choreography was harder than I could imagine,” explained Brewer. “The fight sheet was three pages of punching combinations. We spent every day looking at the fight and then putting the punches in order.

“When you’re just boxing, you’re reacting, hitting what’s open. For the movie, I had to mimic his style, foot work and hand placement. You had to maintain that intensity for a 12 hour workday, throwing punches all day. You really had to stay in character.”

Brewer filmed on and off from April through July of last year. And while he didn’t have an opportunity to meet George Foreman, he did have a fan boy moment.

“I’m talking with Khris between takes and I get a tap on my shoulder. I turn around and there’s Forest Whitaker, telling me that we’re doing a great job on the scene. I was just blown away.”

Brewer has settled back in to his role as a Pennsauken Police Officer. But the experience is something he won’t soon forget.

“It was definitely eye-opening to see how they make films, how to play a role and really make it look real. It was harder than I imagined. But what an experience it was. You’re around a bunch a people who followed their dreams and believe anything is possible. I would 100 percent do it again.”