Lamon Brewster


Lamon Tajuan Brewster is an American former professional boxer who competed from 1996 to 2010. He held the WBO heavyweight title from 2004 to 2006, and is best known for scoring an upset knockout victory over Wladimir Klitschko to win the vacant title. As an amateur, Brewster won the U.S. national championships in 1995, and a silver medal at that year's Pan American Games, both in the heavyweight division. Following his retirement from the sport in 2011, he 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:

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. Further surgery allowed him to regain vision in the eye.

Personal life

From 1993–97 Brewster was married to actress Tichina Arnold. Brewster remarried his current wife "Juana" Brewster in October 2000, and together they have two daughters and a son. Brewster also has one older daughter from a previous relationship. 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
41Loss35–6 Robert HeleniusTKO8, 2:31Jan 30, 2010 Jahnsportforum, Neubrandenburg, Germany
40Loss35–5 Gbenga OloukunUD8Aug 29, 2009 Gerry Weber Stadion, Halle, Germany
39Win35–4 Michael SprottUD8Mar 14, 2009 Ostseehalle, Kiel, Germany
38Win34–4 Danny BatchelderKO5, 1:10Aug 30, 2008 Gardens, Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.Won vacant WBA–NABA heavyweight title
37Loss33–4 Wladimir KlitschkoRTD6, 3:00Jul 7, 2007 Kölnarena, Cologne, GermanyFor IBF and IBO heavyweight titles
36Loss33–3 Siarhei LiakhovichUD12Apr 1, 2006 Wolstein Center, Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.Lost WBO heavyweight title
35Win33–2 Luan KrasniqiTKO9, 2:48Sep 28, 2005 Color Line Arena, Hamburg, GermanyRetained WBO heavyweight title
34Win32–2 Andrew GolotaTKO1, 0:52May 21, 2005 United Center, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.Retained WBO heavyweight title
33Win31–2 Kali Meehan12Sep 4, 2004 Mandalay Bay Events Center, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.Retained WBO heavyweight title
32Win30–2 Wladimir KlitschkoTKO5, 3:00Apr 10, 2004 Mandalay Bay Events Center, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.Won vacant WBO heavyweight title
31Win29–2 Joe LenhartTKO3, 3:00Mar 1, 2003 Thomas & Mack Center, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
30Win28–2 Tommy MartinTKO3, 2:03Dec 14, 2002 Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.Retained WBO–NABO heavyweight title;
Won vacant WBC Continental Americas heavyweight title
29Win27–2 Willie ChapmanTKO6, 1:32Jul 27, 2002 Mandalay Bay Events Center, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
28Win26–2 Nate JonesTKO3, 1:10Feb 2, 2002 Sovereign Center, Reading, Pennsylvania, U.S.Won vacant WBO–NABO heavyweight title
27Win25–2 Joey GuyTKO1, 1:44Oct 25, 2001 Hollywood Park Casino, Inglewood, California, U.S.
26Loss24–2 Charles ShuffordUD10Oct 21, 2000 Cobo Hall, Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
25Win24–1 Val SmithTKO1, 2:02Sep 24, 2000 Silver Smith Casino, West Wendover, Nevada, U.S.
24Loss23–1 Clifford EtienneUD10May 6, 2000 Mellon Arena, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
23Win23–0 Richard MasonUD10Feb 26, 2000 Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
22Win22–0 Quinn NavarreKO1, 2:12Sep 17, 1999 All American Sports Park, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
21Win21–0 Mario CawleyKO2, 1:20May 22, 1999 Mandalay Bay Events Center, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
20Win20–0 Marcus RhodeTKO1, 2:06Oct 3, 1998 Las Vegas Hilton, Winchester, Nevada, U.S.
19Win19–0 Everett MartinTKO4Aug 15, 1998 Grand Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
18Win18–0 Louis MonacoKO2, 3:00Jun 14, 1998 Etess Arena, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
17Win17–0 Garing LaneUD10May 16, 1998 Bank of America Centre, Boise, Idaho, U.S.
16Win16–0 Marselles BrownKO4Mar 23, 1998 Foxwoods Resort Casino, Ledyard, Connecticut, U.S.
15Win15–0 Artis PendergrassTKO1, 2:11Feb 28, 1998 Bally's Park Place, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
14Win14–0 Biko BotowamunguTKO5, 0:20Jan 9, 1998 Grand Casino, Biloxi, Mississippi, U.S.
13Win13–0 Tony LaRosaTKO1 Dec 20, 1997 Spotlight 29 Casino, Coachella, California, U.S.
12Win12–0 John Kiser8Nov 20, 1997 Grand Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
11Win11–0 Aaron ConwayTKO1, 2:24Aug 8, 1997 The Orleans, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
10Win10–0 Cleveland Woods2, 3:00Jul 11, 1997 Tropicana Las Vegas, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
9Win9–0 Willie JohnsonTKO2Apr 8, 1997 Grand Casino, Biloxi, Mississippi, U.S.
8Win8–0 Mark JohnsonKO1, 2:03Mar 6, 1997 Convention Hall, Asbury Park, New Jersey, U.S.
7Win7–0 Tim KnightKO1Feb 6, 1997 Los Angeles, California, U.S.
6Win6–0 Trent SurrattKO1, 1:52Jan 31, 1997 Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California, U.S.
5Win5–0 Ronnie Smith3, 0:30Jan 9, 1997 Beverly Wilshire Hotel, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
4Win4–0 Fabian MezaKO1 Dec 28, 1996 Irvine, California, U.S.
3Win3–0 Greg McGheeKO2, 2:28Dec 17, 1996 National Guard Armory, Pikesville, Maryland, U.S.
2Win2–0 Sean FinkKO1 Nov 29, 1996 Civic Center, Roanoke, Virginia, U.S.
1Win1–0 Moses Harris1, 1:21Nov 8, 1996 Arizona Charlie's Decatur, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.Professional debut