"Don't Blink" read a sign a Lamon Brewster supporter held in the crowd on Saturday, the sign's implied message could not have been truer. Brewster (32-2, 28KO's) disposed of the challenger and hometown favorite Andrew Golota (38-6-1) in a mere 53 seconds via TKO when the referee stopped the fight after Golota went down for the third time in the first round.

From the opening bell, Brewster jumped on Golota flooring him in 12 seconds with a big left hook, stunning the 20,126 fans in attendance. Golota rose to his feet, wobbling, trying to beat the count, and only 10 seconds later that Brewster landed a five punch combination that sent Golota through the ropes right in front of his own corner. Golota struggled to beat the count, this time having to make his way through the ropes, and when he did, Brewster immediately went on the offensive once again, flooring Golota for the third time and final in the first round.
The third fall caused  referee Gino Rodriguez to stop the bout without a count, and all this happened in just 53 seconds.

Brewster, 31, who looked mediocre in his last fight against Kali Meehan, put on a very impressive display of power. Brewster has always been known to have a good punch, but he has never shown the kind of brute force he showed Saturday at least not against a world class
opponent in Golota, who many people, myself included, had predicted would win the fight. Brewster simply found holes in Golota's high guard and took advantage throwing big left hooks.

After the fight Brewster said, "I studied Golota's fights. He keeps his hands up very high, I knew Golota was made for me. You can't stay in front of Lamon Brewster." Well, I wouldn't exactly call what Golota did staying in front of him, more like falling in front of him. For Golota, I believe this has to be the end of the line. If he chooses to continue fighting, I cannot see him ever getting another big fight. While Golota has shown talent, he will always be remembered for his colossal collapses. Two disqualifications against Riddick Bowe, a first round TKO at the hands of Lennox Lewis, he flat out quit against Michael Grant and now another first round blowout at the
hands of WBO Heavyweight Champion Lamon Brewster.

I have to think that Brewster will now look for a unification bout to follow up his impressive showing, most likely with either IBF Champion Chris Byrd or newly re-crowned and un-retired WBA Champ John Ruiz. Regardless of his next opponent, I'm sure more people will be on the
lookout for Lamon Brewster and this time we'll remember not to blink.
 

Brought to you by Saratogamist copyright 2001-2005