Three years ago, many of the Internet message board regulars declared Wladimir Klitschko synonymous with frightened. For awhile, it was tough to argue with them. Two humiliating knockout losses in four fights won’t convince anyone that you’re the heir apparent to the heavyweight division. That’s why it’s so impressive that since being dismissed as an overrated European prize-fighter with a glass chin, Klitschko has become the most dominant and poised heavyweight since Lennox Lewis. It shouldn’t surprise you though. Wladimir Klitschko is that deal.
Even before Klitschko (48-3, 43 KOs) fought his first bout as a professional, he was already being labeled the next great heavyweight champion. And why not? One would be pressed to find another fighter towering at 6’6’’ with such power and natural talent.
That was back in 1996. For the next seven years, Klitschko pummeled his way through all of his opponents as expected. But in 2003, he lost plenty of momentum at the hands of the lightly regarded Corrie Sanders who stopped Klitschko in three. Worse than having been defeated though, Klitschko appeared vulnerable for the first time in his career.
Three fights later, Klitschko wound up getting knocked out in five rounds against Lamon Brewster despite winning most of the bout up until then. Meanwhile, Wladimir’s older brother Vitali appeared to be the closest thing to the true heavyweight champion in the wake of Lennox Lewis' retirement.
For his next three fights, including a thrilling see-saw brawl with Samuel Peter, Klitschko looked nervous, as he often scuttled about the ring looking to avoid any form of punishment. This didn’t look like the same fighter who had easily disposed of Monte Barrett, Chris Byrd, Ray Mercer, and Jameel McCline in the past.
But then Klitschko started training under Emmanuel Steward and slowly began to regain his composure. It showed, as he would smash his way through opponents such as Chris Byrd (again), Calvin Brock, and Ray Austin in a way similar to how he had been fighting before losing to Sanders and Brewster. Only now Klitschko seemed calmer, more menacing.
Steward’s influence on Klitschko is obvious. By having him employ a patient and punishing jab, he has gotten his new pupil to fight in a style similar to that of Tommy Hearns and Lennox Lewis in years past. And the results are devastating, as Klitschko finally looks like the heavyweight champion he was once anointed to become.
Klitschko makes it clear though that Steward didn’t reinvent him as a fighter. He claims he simply allowed the legendary Kronk master to teach him different methods that might help him improve his overall abilities.
“I was looking for a coach who was respectful to my experience,” Klitschko says. “Emmanuel respects my experience in the ring as a fighter and I enjoy the relationship a lot because of flexibility in our work.”
But for everything Klitschko has been able to prove about himself under Steward’s guidance, he will now have to demonstrate he can keep himself together against a fierce puncher like Brewster.
Klitschko’s last few wins have been impressive, but they have come against fighters who were at a serious disadvantage against him. Ray Austin had no chin to withstand Klitschko’s punches. Calvin Brock was too short to pose a threat. Chris Byrd had no firepower to trade shots. Samuel Peter was still a work in progress.
But Brewster (33-3, 29 KOs) is different. He may be coming off a loss and a year-long layoff, but Klitschko knows he is a dangerous opponent. Though Brewster has no title, he may be Klitschko’s stiffest challenge since their last fight in 2004.
Why? Brewster is all heart. He may not be the quickest or most fundamentally sound heavyweight, but Brewster is definitely the most daring. He also happens to have one hell of a chin. And punch.
Klitschko claims he could’ve opted to unify the division with one of the other titlists, but he chose to fight Brewster because to him, no other fighter could bring out the best in him.
“I tried to unify the titles and it didn't work so I said, ‘[I’ll] just be successful in defending my title.’ Sometimes the title doesn't have much except a name,” Klitschko says. “None of the champions are really exciting to see. Lamon is more exciting to watch than any other champion. He is one of the toughest fighters in history.[So] I think this fight is one that the audience wants to see.”
True enough. In their first fight, Klitschko barraged his way through Brewster for four rounds. He even managed to knock Brewster down, which is no easy feat. But in the fifth, Brewster regained his strength and wound up dismantling Klitschko with an array of crippling punches. It was dramatic to say the least.
In the aftermath of Brewster’s victory though, allegations arose from Klitschko’s camp that Wladimir had possibly been drugged. Nothing could be more insulting to Brewster, one of the nicest fighters in the sport. Nevertheless, Brewster stayed positive and avoided the hoopla surrounding the fight.
To this day, Brewster has nothing ill to say about Klitschko or his camp. “I have never disliked Wladimir,” Brewster says. “His image is good for boxing.”
But so is Brewster’s own. Not only is he an all-action fighter who doesn’t know how to quit, he is also a very articulate, modest, and religious individual.
For everything Brewster has had to endure throughout his career, he credits the hand of God, including the death of a former trainer and friend and a grave injury that almost ended his career.
Back in April 2006, Brewster lost his title to Serguei Lyakhovich in a fight where he suffered severe damage in his left retina. Though his surgery was a success, it was not clear whether Brewster would fight again. Brewster often worried if he would ever be able to step inside the ring, but he reveals that his faith got him through those difficult moments of doubt.
“I had worked so hard to get to this level in my prime and God heard me and helped me get back into boxing and back into the ring,” says Brewster. “My eye is strong [now] and I try not to think about the negative things. I feel stronger than I did [before].”
If so, that’s not something that should make Klitschko feel very comfortable. Factor in that Brewster feels he’s developed like never before under the watchful eye of Buddy McGirt, and that should really make for the type of fight that qualifies for Fight of the Year candidate.
“Buddy brings confidence to a fighter because he knows how to be a world champion in and out of ring. He brought out stuff in me that had been laying there dormant,” says Brewster. “Wladimir has matured and is not the same fighter he was in our first fight and I am not the same fighter that I was.”
So what can we expect from the two on July 7? Both fighters are heavy punchers, still one would think Klitschko will avoid trading shots with Brewster since his opponent has a stronger chin and heavier hands. So expect Klitschko to come out firing a solid jab, fighting the shorter Brewster from the outside en route to a twelve-round decision.
As for Brewster, he will probably come out looking to trade with Klitschko since that is how he won their first fight. Given that Brewster has an excellent chin, he might risk taking some of Klitschko’s big shots in order to get inside and attack his opponent. However, Brewster says he is not fixed on simply stepping inside the ring to look for a knockout.
“I'm the type of fighter that doesn't go in with premeditations,” says Brewster. “I can't tell you what's going to work. I believe God is going to judge me as far as what I need to do in the fight.”
That kind of reasoning makes him comfortable traveling halfway across the world to Germany for a title shot.
“You can't call yourself a true world champion if you're not willing to fight around the world,” says Brewster. “I feel that if it’s God’s will for me to win, it isn't going to matter where I am or who I am in the ring with.”
