What was anticipated as either a gem or a stinker of a card turned out to be a fact finding mission. Many questions had gone unanswered about the main and co-main event performers, but after the evening's proceedings, the answers came through loud and clear. We will discuss Klitschko vs Brewster in this installment.

I think it's fair to say that the majority of boxing fans have a fascination with the heavyweight division of our beloved sport. There are die hards still awaiting the return of Mike Tyson, for goodness sake. Then there are those who play the race card and seem to fall in love with any white heavyweight that comes around. How else can one explain the hype about guys like Andrew Golota, Joe Mesi and yes, even the Klitschko brothers?

Several years ago Vitali, the older of the two Klitschkos, was openly pegged as a quitter when he withdrew  after suffering an injured shoulder while fighting Chris Byrd. The hope was kept alive in younger brother Wladimir, who six months  later avenged Vitali by putting on a convincing ass whooping on Mr. Byrd.

Following the Byrd fight, Wladimir was fed Derrick Jefferson, Charles Shufford, Francois Botha, Ray Mercer and Jameel McCline, all of which he stopped, in rounds 2, 6, 8, 6 and 10 respectively. The hype was on!

South African Corrie Sanders followed in March 2003. Sanders had only fought four times since February 2000, (TKO1 win over Ice Cole, TKO7 loss to Hasim Rahman, TKO1 win over Michael Sprott, TKO2 win Otis Teasdale). Wladimir, on the other hand, had only lost one fight, back in 1998, when he ran out of gas against.. gulp...  Ross Purity.

The stage was set for what many perceived as an easy fight for Dr. Steelhammer, and then the boxing gods lowered the boom on the affable young doctor. The boom was manned by Mr. Sanders who decked the Ukrainian fighter four times within the distance of two rounds. It was a shocker! Steelhammer looked bad, exposed, his image tarnished, his self confidence rocked.

Damage control dictated two fights, both in Germany, which he won by TKO1 against the ever popular Fabio Eduardo Moli and TKO4 against Danell Nicholson. Four months later he is scheduled to fight Relentless Lamon Brewster, in Las Vegas; at stake the WBO title.

Some things changed for the Klitschkos meanwhile, as now they were spending more time in the States, and training under the tutelage of Emanuel Steward, keeping their old trainer as a 'conditioning' coach. All systems were go, and if the Vegas odds were any indication,  Lamon Brewster, (a 9-1 underdog at one point), didn't stand a chance against Wladimir Klitschko.

Rounds one through three had Klitschko sticking the jab almost at will, pounding on Brewster with the best of his limited artillery. Dr. Steelhammer also seemed to have taken some lessons from the John Ruiz School of Boxing Tricks, as he continuously grabbed, pushed, leaned on and pushed down Lamon Brewster. Referee Robert Byrd must have warned him ten times, but declined to take any action against Mr. Klitschko.

I noticed that Wladimir was breathing through his mouth from the first round on, and actually, in retrospect, he seemed void of enthusiasm as he made his way to the ring. It was ironic to hear Steward telling Klitschko that Brewster was getting tired.. how could Steward not notice the obvious trouble his man was in?

Moving on to round 4, where Brewster successfully attacks Wladimir's body, and Wladimir comes back to sit Lamon down with a stinging right hook. Brewster beats the count; the round ends as an exhausted Wladimir tackles his opponent and both men go down. Wladimir seemed fatigued beyond words, but once again, Steward tells him that Brewster is 'really tired now'... Hmmm...

Round 5... A totally drained looking Wladimir Klitschko is assaulted by Brewster, who charges him, throwing left hooks to the head and rights to head and body, all power shots. Klitschko seems defenseless and unwilling or unable to protect himself. Ref Byrd gives him an eight count, which is not really an eight count; it is an eight count given when the referee deems that the ropes caught a fighter who otherwise would have been knocked down. I don't understand the technicality of it all, it sounds like an eight count to me, but what do I know? Brewster jumps all over Klitschko at the end of the count, and the bell rings, putting an end to the round.

Klitschko collapses face first on the mat, his mouth wide open, he is in serious trouble. The referee  keeps a close eye, standing next to him, waiting to see if Klitschko will be able to return to his corner of his own accord. Klitschko struggles to get up, to no avail. The arbiter has seen enough, and calls the fight off, as he helps Wladimir to his corner.  "`He couldn't take care of himself,'' Byrd would say  later. "I tried to get a response out of him but there was none. I've never stopped a fight like that before.''

Mayhem ensued, a very emotional Brewster is embraced by his team members, while Larry Merchant made his way to the ring for his customary post-fight interview. Meanwhile Wladimir Klitschko seemed to be on the verge of collapsing, almost leaning his head on the referee and then on Dr. Margaret Goodman's shoulder as she attempted to examine his eyes. It was disturbing to see him so hurt, so out of it.

We can report that according to Dr. Goodman, "Wladimir Klitschko was taken to the University Medical Center immediately following the fight as a precaution. There he underwent an evaluation that included a CT of the Brain. His studies were fine and he was sent home under observation by his brother and trainer, Emanuel Steward. He is doing well this morning."  We thank Dr. Goodman for the report,  it certainly is great to hear Wladimir Klitschko is well.

Our congratulations to Lamon Brewster, who fought his heart out on Saturday night, refusing to fall prey to the hype that had him losing this fight long before he entered the ring. Brewster believed in himself, gave it his best effort and won a piece of the heavyweight championship of the world. He might be responsible for ending Wladimir Klitschko's career as well, time will tell... Either way, Klitschko will never be looked at as a top tier fighter again.

There were many great quotes from the HBO trio of Lampley, Merchant and Jones Jr. Some were very funny, some very deep,  but the one that stuck with me was by Roy Jones Jr., who in conversation with Lampley regarding Klitschko's golden amateur career said: "He was so big you never had a chance to see him fight from the down side."

I couldn't help but think of Roy Jones Jr. sitting on the stool throughout the Tarver fight, looking more vulnerable than most of us ever thought possible, having had to fight from the down side to earn a title he once vacated.

4-10-2004

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