By James Slater: “Relentless” Lamon Brewster, 35-6(30) fought a vast number of great fighters and great fights as he proved himself to be a genuine great in his own right. The last man to beat the seemingly untouchable Wladimir Klitschko (TKO 5 in April of 2004), Brewster also went in with such big names as: Andrew Golota (KO1), Siarhei Liakhovich (L12 in what many experts say was the last great heavyweight battle), Kali Meehan (W12) and Robert Helenius (TKO by 8, in Brewster’s final fight).
Very kindly taking the time to speak with ESB earlier today – on subjects such as how to beat Klitschko, Mormeck’s chances at doing this and who is the best, Wladimir or Vitali – Lamon had the following things to say. Enjoy the interview:
James Slater: It’s a real pleasure to be able to speak with you, Champ! First of all; people still talk about your great win over Wladimir Klitschko, you are the last man to have beaten him. So many have failed to do the same since – how did you do it?
Lamon Brewster: Well, I built up so much endurance in the gym for that fight. The plan was to take him to the later rounds. The thing was, we’d seen the Ray Mercer fight (from June of 2002), and although he beat Mercer, I knew that if Mercer could push him back and put some pressure on him the way he did, then me, being younger [than Mercer] would be able to do the same. I knew that Wladimir wasn’t a mentally strong person. Wladimir cannot handle pressure. I went to his body every time I got close and I knew each punch was taking something from him – even if he never knew it. I made him punch when he didn’t want to; I made him hold when he didn’t want to. See, if you let Wladimir fight how he wants to, he’ll beat you down. In the 5th-round, I threw a jab and he never responded. I knew than that he was tiring and that I had a chance to win. I knew I’d got to him. It was about not letting Wladimir fight his usual on-top fight; about not letting him get away with it – taking him out of his usual fight where he dictates and only punches when he wants to.
J.S: As you know, Wladimir is facing Jean Marc Mormeck in March – a fight most see as an easy win for Klitschko. How do you see that fight?
L.B: Firstly, I’m a big fan of Mormeck; he reminds me of Marvin Hagler. But it will be hard for anyone to beat Wladimir, because he is so on top of his game. I think Mormeck can use my fight with Wladimir as a blueprint. He has to be mentally strong; to put pressure on. Mormeck tends to plod, though, and he has to cut off the ring. I hope Mormeck is working on his foot-work right now. He has the skills and he has that determination. He has to go to the body and keep on. If he can endure enough in the early rounds, and if he can endure Wladimir’s big shots, and if Mormeck can take it to the later rounds, Wladimir will begin to show his weaknesses. Pressure can definitely get to Wladimir. Mormeck is a dangerous fighter. Wladimir won’t be stupid and try and stand in front of Mormeck; he’ll try and win on points, by winning each round. The thing is – and I’m amazed no-one ever asks me how to prepare their fighters to fight a Klitschko – nobody uses the left hook nowadays.
Do your homework: back in the ’70s, 80’s and 90’s, all the great heavyweights had a great left hook – Frazier, Tyson, even Ali, and myself. But the old-school trainers have gone now, and no fighters are taught to throw a left hook. Vitali, he’s tailor-made for a left hook! He pulls back and any guy who can throw a double or a triple left hook would KO Vitali! Really. I hope Mormeck reads this and works on his footwork and on throwing the left hook, which he has, because Waldimir is similar to Vitali. I actually told David Tua how to beat Klitschko, with the left hook – because I read that Tua was going to fight him next.
J.S: That’s truly interesting stuff, Lamon. Another guy you fought, in Siarhei Liakhovich, fights Eddie Chambers on the 21st…
L.B: Yeah, in Philly.
J.S: How do you see that fight going?
L.B: Oh, Chambers destroys that guy, and you will waste your time if you cover that fight. Call me after the fight and I’ll tell you I was right!
J.S: You know your stuff, Lamon. I’m not going to argue with you! Another great fight of yours, or at least a great performance, was the icing you did on Andrew Golota. You know, there’s talk of him coming back!
L.B: Golota (laughs). I’m actually in The Guinness Book Of Records because of that fight. Jim Jeffries held the record for the fastest KO ever, at 55-seconds. I beat that by three seconds when I beat Golota (laughs). That fight was in Chicago, and I never had to fight him. But Don [King] told me to look better in a fight than I had against Kali Meehan (a 12-round points win for Brewster) – who is a friend of mine. Anyway, Chicago has the largest Polish population in America and Golota was getting brave and trying to bully me. I hate bullies! There was a time before the fight, when there was just me and him, along with some press, in a room – and he tried to jump on me; in my face. That pissed me off, and then, on the walk to the ring, his fans were actually spitting on me, man! I never even had to fight this guy. I was doing him a favour letting him fight for the [WBO] title. I’d never been spat on before – not ever. I was so mad, so angry. I took it all out on Golota. That was the only fight where I actually wanted to murder the other guy!
But today, I say this – I wish Golota the best if he does come back. I can see why he may come back: because the division is so weak right now. There are no real killers out there. These guys, they want to be rich and famous, but they don’t really want to fight. So you know they will only be wiling to take so much, to be willing to go through so much, before they give in. These guys; they don’t want to be heavyweight champion in their heart.
J.S: It’s been awesomely interesting talking to you, Lamon. Who is the best: Wladimir or Vitali?
L.B: Vitali has the biggest heart; he’s willing to mix it up and go toe-to-toe. Vitali shows gameness. Wladimir, he won’t fight unless he knows he has got you [beaten]. Wladimir has the better skills, but Vitali wins over more fans with his heart – he cares about how he wins. Wladimir is more cautious.
J.S: Thanks so much for your time, Champ. What next for you?
L.B: I want to give to the sport. I want to take fighters from all countries and give to the sport. I’m retired at 38 but I will always be a big part of boxing.