Monday, April 12, 2004
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

HEAVYWEIGHT BOXING: King, Brewster laugh last

Promoter correct in calling underdog's KO over Klitschko

By KEVIN IOLE
REVIEW-JOURNAL

Lamon Brewster kisses his wife Juwanna, right, and hugs mother Pamela Blakey after he knocked out Wladimir Klitschko to win the WBO heavyweight title Saturday night at Mandalay Bay. Photo by John Locher. Referee Robert Byrd, left, jumps in to save Klitschko, stopping the fight after the fifth round. Photo by John Locher.

Everyone laughed and largely ignored promoter Don King last week when he predicted Lamon Brewster would knock out Wladimir Klitschko in Saturday's heavyweight fight at Mandalay Bay.

Klitschko was an overwhelming favorite in the battle for the WBO title, while Brewster was little more than a journeyman with one-sided losses to Clifford Etienne and Charles Shufford sullying his record.

But Brewster left King crowing "I told you so," and might have turned Klitschko into an also-ran with his fifth-round stoppage of the 1996 Olympic super heavyweight gold medalist.

Boxing has been waiting for years for Klitschko to take over the division, hoping his charisma, looks and power could boost the sport's popularity. Klitschko has a doctorate in sports science and philosophy, is unfailingly polite and friendly, and has the one-punch knockout power fans love.

He was trying to re-ascend the mountain after questionable losses to Ross Puritty in 1998 and Corrie Sanders last year. But Klitschko showed the same weak chin Saturday that has hurt him throughout his career.

"Wladimir is a good man and we shall miss him," King said, cackling. "But this is Lamon Brewster's time now."

King now controls three of the four heavyweight titles. He promotes Brewster, who holds the WBO title. He also has Chris Byrd, who defends the IBF belt against Andrew Golota on Saturday in New York, and John Ruiz, who risks his WBA belt against Fres Oquendo on the same card.

The only major belt King doesn't control is the WBC, which Lennox Lewis vacated when he retired. Sanders will meet Klitschko's older brother, Vitali, for that belt on April 24 in Los Angeles.

The Klitschkos had hoped to become the first brother combination to hold a simultaneous share of the title, but Brewster ended those dreams with one of the most unlikely upsets in recent heavyweight history.

While Brewster survived a series of hard Klitschko rights, Klitschko didn't show a lot of the improvement promised by trainer Emanuel Steward. He appeared stiff and unsteady and clearly lacked confidence in his chin.

Klitschko's longtime co-trainer, Fritz Sdunek, had said his fighter should retire if he lost. After the fight, Klitschko was taken to University Medical Center for a precautionary CAT scan, and the results were fine.

Klitschko did not return to Mandalay Bay to address reporters Saturday, and also declined to speak Sunday. There probably wasn't much for him to say, anyway.

Brewster offered encouragement to his beaten foe.

"I've been down before and I know it's not easy, but you have to continue to believe in yourself and stay mentally tough," Brewster said. "People said all kinds of things about me after I lost (to Etienne) and there were a lot of really down times. But I believed, and look where I am. I wouldn't give in. I guess he'll have to dig down and find a way to come back."