Lamon Brewster


Lamon Tajuan Brewster is an American former professional boxer who competed from 1996 to 2010. He held the World Boxing Organization heavyweight title from 2004 to 2006, and is best known for scoring an upset knockout victory over Wladimir Klitschko to win the vacant title. Brewster was ranked by BoxRec as the world's eighth best active heavyweight at the conclusion of 2004.
As an amateur, he won the amateur boxing championships|U.S. national championships] in 1995, and a silver medal at that year's 1995 [Pan American Games|Pan American Games], both in the heavyweight division. Following his retirement from the sport in 2011, Brewster became an entrepreneur and founded a consulting business.

Amateur career

Brewster won the 1995 U.S. national amateur championship as a heavyweight. Additional highlights include:

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 and 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 second last boxer to knock Klitschko out in a bout, preceding Anthony Joshua, who won by TKO on the 11th round defeating Wladimir Klitschko on 30 April 2017.

2006–2007: Brewster vs. Liakhovich and 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, 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,. Later Brewster left Simon and signed with manager Al Haymon.

Retirement

On January 9, 2011, Lamon Brewster officially announced his retirement as a professional boxer. 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 underwent four unsuccessful surgeries to restore sight in his left eye. After further surgery, his vision began to improve.

Personal life

In 1995 he was divorced from actress Tichina Arnold.
Brewster also has one older daughter from a previous relationship.
Brewster married his current wife "Juana" Brewster in October 2000, and together they have two daughters and a son.
He is also the cousin of former IBF and WBO heavyweight champion Chris Byrd. Brewster has made several television appearances as well as public service announcements through his career.

Entrepreneurship

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

Professional boxing record

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
41Loss35–6Robert HeleniusTKO8, 2:31Jan 30, 2010Jahnsportforum, Neubrandenburg, Germany
40Loss35–5Gbenga OloukunUD8Aug 29, 2009Gerry Weber Stadion, Halle, Germany
39Win35–4Michael SprottUD8Mar 14, 2009Ostseehalle, Kiel, Germany
38Win34–4Danny BatchelderKO5, 1:10Aug 30, 2008Gardens, Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.Won vacant NABA heavyweight title
37Loss33–4Wladimir KlitschkoRTD6, 3:00Jul 7, 2007Kölnarena, Cologne, GermanyFor IBF and IBO heavyweight titles
36Loss33–3Siarhei LiakhovichUD12Apr 1, 2006Wolstein Center, Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.Lost WBO heavyweight title
35Win33–2Luan KrasniqiTKO9, 2:48Sep 28, 2005Color Line Arena, Hamburg, GermanyRetained WBO heavyweight title
34Win32–2Andrew GolotaTKO1, 0:52May 21, 2005United Center, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.Retained WBO heavyweight title
33Win31–2Kali Meehan12Sep 4, 2004Mandalay Bay Events Center, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.Retained WBO heavyweight title
32Win30–2Wladimir KlitschkoTKO5, 3:00Apr 10, 2004Mandalay Bay Events Center, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.Won vacant WBO heavyweight title
31Win29–2Joe LenhartTKO3, 3:00Mar 1, 2003Thomas & Mack Center, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
30Win28–2Tommy MartinTKO3, 2:03Dec 14, 2002Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.Retained NABO heavyweight title;
Won vacant WBC Continental Americas heavyweight title
29Win27–2Willie ChapmanTKO6, 1:32Jul 27, 2002Mandalay Bay Events Center, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
28Win26–2Nate JonesTKO3, 1:10Feb 2, 2002Sovereign Center, Reading, Pennsylvania, U.S.Won vacant NABO heavyweight title
27Win25–2Joey GuyTKO1, 1:44Oct 25, 2001Hollywood Park Casino, Inglewood, California, U.S.
26Loss24–2Charles ShuffordUD10Oct 21, 2000Cobo Hall, Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
25Win24–1Val SmithTKO1, 2:02Sep 24, 2000Silver Smith Casino, West Wendover, Nevada, U.S.
24Loss23–1Clifford EtienneUD10May 6, 2000Mellon Arena, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
23Win23–0Richard MasonUD10Oscar [De La Hoya vs. Derrell Coley|Feb 26, 2000]Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
22Win22–0Quinn NavarreKO1, 2:12Sep 17, 1999All American Sports Park, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
21Win21–0Mario CawleyKO2, 1:20May 22, 1999Mandalay Bay Events Center, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
20Win20–0Marcus RhodeTKO1, 2:06Genaro Hernández vs. [Floyd Mayweather Jr.|Oct 3, 1998]Las Vegas Hilton, Winchester, Nevada, U.S.
19Win19–0Everett MartinTKO4Aug 15, 1998Grand Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
18Win18–0Louis MonacoKO2, 3:00Jun 14, 1998Etess Arena, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
17Win17–0Garing LaneUD10May 16, 1998Bank of America Centre, Boise, Idaho, U.S.
16Win16–0Marselles BrownKO4Mar 23, 1998Foxwoods Resort Casino, Ledyard, Connecticut, U.S.
15Win15–0Artis PendergrassTKO1, 2:11Feb 28, 1998Bally's Park Place, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
14Win14–0Biko BotowamunguTKO5, 0:20Jan 9, 1998Grand Casino, Biloxi, Mississippi, U.S.
13Win13–0Tony LaRosaTKO1 Dec 20, 1997Spotlight 29 Casino, Coachella, California, U.S.
12Win12–0John Kiser8Nov 20, 1997Grand Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
11Win11–0Aaron ConwayTKO1, 2:24Aug 8, 1997The Orleans, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
10Win10–0Cleveland Woods2, 3:00Jul 11, 1997Tropicana Las Vegas, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
9Win9–0Willie JohnsonTKO2Apr 8, 1997Grand Casino, Biloxi, Mississippi, U.S.
8Win8–0Mark JohnsonKO1, 2:03Mar 6, 1997Convention Hall, Asbury Park, New Jersey, U.S.
7Win7–0Tim KnightKO1Feb 6, 1997Los Angeles, California, U.S.
6Win6–0Trent SurrattKO1, 1:52Jan 31, 1997Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California, U.S.
5Win5–0Ronnie Smith3, 0:30Jan 9, 1997Beverly Wilshire Hotel, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
4Win4–0Fabian MezaKO1 Dec 28, 1996Irvine, California, U.S.
3Win3–0Greg McGheeKO2, 2:28Dec 17, 1996National Guard Armory, Pikesville, Maryland, U.S.
2Win2–0Sean FinkKO1 Nov 29, 1996Civic Center, Roanoke, Virginia, U.S.
1Win1–0Moses Harris1, 1:21Nov 8, 1996Arizona Charlie's Decatur, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.