Lamon Brewster

Lamon Brewster
Brewster in 2011
Statistics
Real name	Lamon Tajuan Brewster
Nickname(s)	Relentless
Rated at	Heavyweight
Height	6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Reach	77 in (196 cm)
Nationality	American
Born	June 5, 1973 Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S.
Stance	Orthodox
Boxing record
Total fights	41
Wins	35
Wins by KO	30
Losses	6
Medal record Representing  United States Men's boxing Pan American Games 1995 Mar del Plata Heavyweight

Lamon Tajuan Brewster (born June 5, 1973) is an American former professional boxer who held the WBO world heavyweight title. He is best known for scoring an upset knockout victory over Wladimir Klitschko in 2004. He also defeated notable opponents in Kali Meehan and Andrew Golota. After his retirement from the sport, he became an entrepreneur and founded "Fighting Connection Consulting" in 2011.

Amateur career

Brewster was the 1995 US Heavyweight Champion as an amateur. Additional highlights include:

• 1995 2nd place at the Pan American Games in Mar del Plata, Argentina. Results were:
  • Defeated Moises Rolon (Puerto Rico) PTS
  • Lost to Félix Savón (Cuba) RSCH-2
• Brewster failed to qualify for the 1996 Atlanta Olympics after he lost to Nate Jones and DaVarryl Williamson in the trials.

Professional career

1996-2003: Prospect to Contender

Brewster turned professional in 1996 and was undefeated for his first three years as a pro until losing decisions to Clifford Etienne and Charles Shufford in 2000.

2004-2005: WBO Heavyweight Champion & Title Defenses

On April 10, 2004, Brewster faced Wladimir Klitschko in a fight for the vacant World Boxing Organization championship that had been vacated by Corrie Sanders, who had upset Klitschko by knocking him out in the second round of their fight in 2003, when he decided to challenge Vitali Klitschko for the World Boxing Council title vacated when Lennox Lewis retired.

Brewster was dominated in the early going, knocked down once in the fourth round. In the fifth round, Brewster hurt Klitschko with a left hook that forced the Ukrainian fighter to use the ropes to hold himself up, which resulted in a knockdown. As the round ended, Brewster hit Klitschko with a combination of punches that caused him to go down after the bell sounded. Seeing Klitschko struggle to return to his feet, referee Robert Byrd stopped the fight and awarded a technical knockout victory to Brewster. Klitschko claimed foul play resulted in his defeat but an investigation found nothing.

For eleven years, Brewster remained the last boxer to defeat Klitschko in the ring, until Tyson Fury defeated Klitschko in a 2015 heavyweight fight. Brewster remains the last boxer to knock Klitschko out in a bout.

2006-2007: Liakhovich & Klitschko II

Brewster lost his WBO title by unanimous decision on April 1, 2006 to Sergei Liakhovich from Belarus in an action-packed fight. In an interview following the fight, Brewster said that he could not see with his left eye after the first round. It was later confirmed that he had suffered a detached retina in his left eye and he had to undergo surgery.

Lamon Brewster returned to the ring on July 7, 2007, losing his rematch against Wladimir Klitschko after trainer Buddy McGirt stopped the fight after the sixth round. The fight took place in Köln (Cologne), Germany, for the IBF & IBO heavyweight title.

2008-2010: Tail-End of Career

After two tune-up bouts, he was upset by Gbenga Oloukun by an eight round points decision. The following year he was stopped by rising contender Robert Helenius. At one point in his career, Brewster was managed by The Simpsons co-creator, professional poker player and philanthropist, Sam Simon,^[1] living rent-free on a guest property Simon owned.^[2] Brewster later left Simon and signed with manager Al Haymon.^[3]

Championships

• WBO World Heavyweight Champion (3 Defenses)
• WBO Continental Americas Heavyweight Title
• NABO Continental Americas Heavyweight Title
• WBC Continental Americas Heavyweight Title

Retirement

On January 9, 2011, Lamon Brewster officially announced his retirement as a professional boxer.^[4] Brewster cited an eye injury from his last fight with Helenius as the reason for this retirement. Further, he indicated that he believes that Helenius tampered with his gloves which caused the resulting injury to Brewster. He has undergone four unsuccessful surgeries to restore sight in his left eye.^[5]

Professional boxing record

Entrepreneurship

Brewster founded "Fighting Connection Consulting" in July 2011 providing expertise to professional fighters on training methods, psychology, nutrition, conditioning, team building, and publicity.

Personal

From 1992–95 he was married to actress Tichina Arnold (or Martin and Everybody Hates Chris fame). Brewster has three children with his wife and one from his previous relationship. He has three girls and a boy. He is also a first cousin of former WBO and IBF heavyweight champion Chris Byrd. Brewster has also starred in public service announcements against dog fighting.

References

1. "Sam Simon's profile". Sam Simon Foundation.
2. "What we know about Al Haymon: Part 2". The Ring Magazine.
3. "What we know about Al Haymon: Part 2". The Ring Magazine.
4. "BOXINGTALK : LAMON BREWSTER RETIRES".
5. "Brewster Announces Retirement". Boxing News.
6. "BoxRec - Lamon Brewster".
7. "BoxRec - Luan Krasniqi".

External links

• Professional boxing record for Lamon Brewster from BoxRec
• Lamon Brewster - Profile and pictures
• Brewster vs. Savón (1995 Pan American Games)