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08/15/2005 Archived Entry: "WBO Heavyweight Champ Lamon Brewster Discusses Krasniqi, Heavyweight Future and More!"
WBO Heavyweight Champ Lamon Brewster Discusses Krasniqi, Heavyweight Future and More!
By Juan C. Ayllon
Lamon Brewster (Ed Zajac Photo)
LAS VEGAS, August 15, 2005 – WBO Heavyweight Champion Lamon Brewster is preparing for his upcoming bout against tough contender Luan Krasniqi at the Color Line Arena in Hamburg, Germany on September 28th. At 32 wins, two losses and 28 KO’s, including a 52 second blowout over dangerous and perennial challenger Andrew Golota last May and a fifth round stoppage of Wladmir Klitschko in 2004, he certainly packs a heavyweight punch. In addition, Brewster is a genuinely nice and humble, God-fearing man, perhaps one of the nicest people in boxing today.
However, some say that he’s too nice for boxing. More specifically, some detractors say that his controversial split decision win over Kali Meehan on September 2004 and his unanimous decision losses to Clifford Ettienne and Charles Shufford in May and October of 2000, respectively, raise questions about his chances versus Krasniqi and his long-term status as a champion. Last May, Krasniqi knocked out the huge and powerful, albeit somewhat limited Lance “Mount” Whitaker, 29-2-1 and 24 KO’s, who had never been knocked out before.
Prior to his workout, Brewster addressed these topics and others, such as unifying the heavyweight title, rising prospects, and restoring respect and luster to the crown in an exclusive interview.
On how he’s faring:
LAMON BREWSTER: I’m doing pretty good!
On his feelings about his ability to win a decision in Germany or whether he’s simply counting on getting a knockout over Krasniqi:
LB: I don’t think I could win a decision ever. I think that my fists are my judge. So, with that being said, I believe that I have to go in there and either I have to knock him out or I have to beat him to the point where there’s no discussion about who won this fight.
I think he’s a pretty good fighter and I don’t take anything away from him. But, I just come to prove that I’m the best fighter in the world. So, I’m looking at him as another steppingstone in my career to unifying the titles.
On the supposed “strange substances” getting in the eyes of Chris Byrd and Derrick Jefferson when they fought Wlad Klitschko in Germany:
LB: Wow. Well, it may be true. I just hope that they will not degrade boxing and allow things like that to take place because what that is going to do is that’s going to turn away a lot of fans from the sport of boxing by using tactics like that and I think it will be a disgrace to Max Schmeling; I think Max Schmeling would be ashamed if they were to use any type of foul play because he’s a country hero. He’s a legend over there. So, for them to participate in any type of act like that, I think it disgraces the name of Max Schmeling, and I don’t think it’s something that he would be proud of.
On how training camp is going and any particulars he could offer on training methods to prepare for Krasniqi:
LB: Oh, it’s going excellent! It’s going great. I’m very happy with the results so far. I like the way that I’m working and it’s going to be a great fight.
I really don’t like to get into my training because I feel like everybody has what they would call their “Methods for Success,” so I don’t like to let the cat out of the bag.
I can just say I have the best sparring partners. You know, I rotate sparring partners so I never keep the sparring the same to get used to one style so I’m just having everything thrown at me so I could be ready for anything.
On claims that his win over Golota did not erase the losses to Shufford and Ettienne or his trouble against Kali Meehan:
LB: Of course not! That’s why my loss to Ettienne, my loss to Shufford is still on my record. You know, it’s not what a person does in his past that makes him; it’s what he does that night, that moment. So, if they never forgive me, it doesn’t matter. The only thing that matter is what I do the night of September 28th, you know.
On Hassim Rahman's recent criticism of Brewster’s performance versus Meehan, stating that he thought Meehan won, and Brewster’s subsequent kindness towards Rahman at the post-fight press conference following Rahman’s victory over Monte Barrett last Saturday:
LB: Well, I hope I heard you right. As far as what he may or may not have said, I have to understand one thing, is that we’re all individuals, and as individuals, we all are allowed to give our own opinion of something about someone. So, it’s like I don’t want to just hear the good, I want to hear the bad. And I know I didn’t have the performance that people wanted to see out of me for the Meehan fight. But, it’s in the past. I can’t dwell on that.
You know, if the judges would have given Kali the fight, well, we probably wouldn’t be talking, but the fact is, I got the decision, I felt that I won, it wasn’t my best performance, naturally, and I think that’s the thing that people were so disappointed about is that I didn’t give a performance up to my best abilities.
But, never the less, I got in 12 rounds, just like he [Rahman] said in his interview when he just fought Monte Barrett: ‘Hey, that wasn’t my best performance,’ but he got in 12 rounds. But, instead of me criticizing him, I don’t have to do that ‘cause he already know he’s better than that, just like I knew I was better when I fought Kali.
But, you know, hey, I take the good with the bad. Every day ain’t going to be a good day. I mean, the sun never shines 365 days of the year. Never. I mean, right now, it’s overcast (laughs).
On his thoughts about Don King’s apparent majority control of the heavyweight titles, with Rahman’s victory and mandatory fight against WBC Heavyweight Champion Vitali Klitschko and his proposed heavyweight tournament to unify the titles:
LB: Well, I think it should happen! I think it should happen because I think that’s what the people want to see. Everybody wants to see who is going to be the next great star to emerge amongst the heavyweight division. And, if that’s what the people want to see, since they the one who pay the money; Don King don’t pay the money to the fighters. It’s the fans. You know, the promoters don’t pay the fighters, the fans pay the fighters; the TV pay the fighters because why? The fans watch TV. So, they pay the TV. So, it’s not about what I want, it’s not about what the promoters want, it’s always about what the people want. You know that saying that the customer is always right? The customer is the people.
On Rahman versus Klitschko:
LB: Mmm, I’d rather not give my opinion.
On fighters trying to rise to the top of the heavyweight division, like Calvin Brock or Sam Peter:
LB: Oh, I think Samuel Peter’s fight with Wladimir Klitschko is going to tell us what he’s really about. I think Wladimir Klitschko...is one of the best heavyweights out there. And, if he manages to get past Klitschko, well, then, he’ll definitely get, in my opinion, the attention that he wants. And, I just wish him the best.
And, Calvin Brock, I think from experience, seeing him come up as an amateur, I know the type of fighter he is and it’s always good when you see a person come up, even if they are in your same division, but anybody come up trying to do something positive in life and be successful at it, so I’m very happy for Calvin Brock and I wish him much success in his career.
On his asking people at a press conference to pray for him in his upcoming bout versus Krasniqi and how his faith fits in with his boxing career:
LB: Well, it’s in my boxing career because you know there are a lot of things in this world that I can do. It’s always easier for a man to go out and do something wicked, like break in a house, steal a car or something like that, than it is for a man to try to get a good honest job and earn a living.
So, for me, I feel very blessed that God gave me the ability to be able to box. I mean, I have skills, but they’re a gift from God. So, why not ask God to continue to bless me along the path for the gift that he give me? So, I feel like, if one prayer reaches God, well, what will happen if a thousand or a million prayers reach God? So, why not ask people to pray for me?
On his future plans:
LB: My future plans is just to show that I am the truth, man, to show that I am the heavyweight amongst heavyweights! And, so, I’m going to do what I have to do to get there, but I’m going to do it the honest way.
And, I just hope and pray that all will be successful and that I can restore a true class heavyweight back to the division, because whoever that does emerge to be the heavyweight among heavyweights are going to have the eyes of the public, like when Mike Tyson emerged among the Tillman’s and the Tubbs’; they followed his aura because of what they thought that’s what they need to do to be a great champion.
So, I hope that in me becoming a great champion, that I will have a lot of followers who will once again refer to the game as the “Sweet Science” and it will be known as a gentlemen’s sport because I’m always going to try to be a gentleman, and be outspoken and well spoken, and well dressed and carry myself in a gentleman’s manner and treat people with respect. But, I’m going to get in the ring and I’m going to fight like a pit bull.
And, I hope that that’s what the people still want, because I know that there was a time and era when that was the greatest thing on earth, was to be the heavyweight champion of the world.
