Catching Up With Lamon Brewster!; By Michele Chong

Getting “Connected” with the Ex-Heavyweight Champ
http://www.fightingconnection.com

Former WBO heavyweight champion Lamon Brewster (35-6, 30 KOs) has been through a lot during his career as both an amateur champ and a professional world titlist.

From his hardscrabble youth in Indianapolis to his problems with notorious boxing promoters to his career-ending eye injuries, the man known as “Relentless” in the ring has experienced all the highs and lows of the sport he truly loves.

The highs? How about being the very last man to knock out the universally-feared Wladimir Klitschko?

The lows? How about four painful botched eyes surgeries?

He is now desperately awaiting a cornea transplant for his clouded left eye.

And then there’s all the rocky stuff in between.

Yes, the sweet science is a harsh and heartbreaking sport he has lived through, suffered through, and one he knows all too well. Not only has he shed blood for victory, he has also lost an eye while fighting for glory. The ultimate sacrifice in a prizefighting career he chose. But now the former WBC Continental Americas heavyweight champion is choosing to help others in the fight community, hoping to build on this brotherhood of boxers he will always be bonded to with his brand new “Fighting Connection” network.

His passion is now focused on assisting and supporting others in the fight game.

If you have never met the hulking heavyweight, you might be intimidated at first sight. With his imposing stature of over 6′ 2″, the towering slugger does a convincing job of looking fierce and fearless. He is both, of course. But as I’ve learned Los Angeles-based puncher is also one of the most sincere, friendly, and yes, one of the nicest athletes I’ve ever met.

I’ve had the chance to get to know the boxer at various boxing events, charity functions and press conferences in and around town. We both attended a gala fundraising event hosted by female fighter Mia St. John. During this night, I got a chance to chat exclusively with the Indiana-born boxer at length. Since then, every time I see him, he is always upbeat, positive and bursting with hope and optimism.

This wasn’t always the case. He admits that after suffering through those multiple eye surgeries and waiting for the cornea transplant, he descended into a dark world of depression. With the failed operations, Lamon’s spirit reached rock bottom. But with his warrior mentality, he has rebounded and has found a new purpose and a new direction.

“I’m not bitter, I’m a very spiritual man,” the 38-year-old told me. “So now I’m going down a new path, a new avenue to assist others.”

Brewster lends a helping hand to combat dog fighting and also takes part in many community events to inspire children.

He’s now hung up his gloves after his last fateful bout in January 2010 against Robert Helenius in Germany in which his eye troubles were severely exacerbated.

The former world titleholder tells me of horrible situations he found himself in as a boxer fighting overseas, of dealings with shady and unscrupulous promoters (that probably comes as no shock to anyone), and hazardous “dirty tricks” that he feels were aimed at him during his career.

You could forgive him if he was contrite, angry or bitter, jaded or weary of staying in–and supporting–the fight game.

But the ex-slugger, who knocked out Wladimir Klitschko in their first battle, is counterpunching the negative aspects of the sport by building goodwill in boxing circles.

With not a trace of bitterness, Brewster has been gung-ho about launching a brand new organization and web site dedicated to all those involved in boxing and combat sports. As founder and president of this “Fighting Connection” network, he’s hoping to create a support system and social network for easier access in connecting people.

“It’s for fighters to find local gyms, sparring partners to work with, cornermen and more,” Lamon tells me. “It’s also where promoters, managers, ring card girls can interact. Everyone can sign up for free and connect all in one place.”

The San Fernando Valley resident reveals several humorous stories about the hijinks–and mishaps–he experienced as a young pug. When you’re on the road, boxers don’t always have local sparring partners, gyms, or cutmen to enlist. What if you’re new to the area? Or what if you’re in town for two weeks and you need a place to train? Well that’s what his “Fighting Connection” hopes to accomplish–a network where boxing aficionados can interact and connect with each other while fulfilling the fighters’ needs. “One stop shopping.”

The heavyweight is very passionate about offering this service through his site.

Brewster promises with a smile, “We’re going to be doing our formal launch very soon.”

He smiles a lot these days.

At last weekend’s event with the Burbank Boxing Club, the towering heavyweight was a huge hit at the party. Flanked by his beautiful wife, Juana, I met their three children, Shaniah, Shyla, Lamon Jr. decked out in their “Fighting Connection” T-shirts. Lamon also has an older daughter. As a former Golden Gloves champ and a silver medalist in the 1995 Pan Am Games, the beaming heavyweight was an inspiration to the young amateurs in attendance.

Brewster usually wears dark shades to cover his maimed left eye but on this bright and sunny day he went without sunglasses. His discolored eye is obviously damaged beyond repair but the kids and teens he met at the celebration didn’t even notice. All they saw was this former champ’s broad smile, hearty handshake and an openness to offer young amateur boxers advice, words of encouragement or a knowing fist pump.

It could’ve been so easy for Lamon to head down a different road, especially after suffering through so many debilitating setbacks. I often wonder why some athletes go down a path of despair and destruction through booze, drugs or reckless behavior while other champs pick themselves up off the canvas and go on to make a difference, a positive move to help themselves and others?

What is it about Lamon Brewster that didn’t cause him to completely fall off the deep end?

“I’m just blessed,” the humble boxer says, shaking his head. “I’ve got a great family and I’m truly blessed. Now I want to help others.”

Boxing has enough “black eyes” and negativity lurking around. The haters are always gonna be popping up and coming out of the woodwork.

Here’s one pugilist who’s choosing to offer a positive aspect of our sport. Spread the word.

While his own career was cut short by horrific eye injuries, Brewster wants to strengthen the boxing fraternity through his new and exciting “Fighting Connection.”

A strong and devoted family man, a deeply spiritual soul and a boxing loyalist till the end, “Relentless” Lamon Brewster refuses to quit.

He will keep fighting the good fight–and he will now fight to help others.

♔EL Boxing Empress & MMA Princess♔, See you at the Fights and Thank You for your time.EL Boxing Empress Online @ Twitter http://www.twitter.com/Keishamorrisey ©®™ 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 All photos other than specified by "EL Boxing Empress & MMA Princess" Keisha Morrisey, for ♔Empire Morrisey Photo-Studios♔, KCKMT for Bloodline Boxing Communications Entertainment and ★Starlite★ Boxing's Sweetscience Magnews-Online Publication all rights reserved.

Interview with “Relentless” Lamon Brewster; www.Fightingconnection.com, will revolutionize not just "Boxing but all full contact sports!"

By Pattee Mak on June 18, 2011

Pattee: Hello Mr. Brewster! Currently you are retired from boxing. Your last fight was January 30, 2010 against Robert Helenius in Germany. He won by TKO in the 8th. Can you tell me what happened in that match?

BREWSTER: That particular night was a tragedy because when we got to the venue we arrived at about 7:00 pm and I was suppose to go on at 9:00 pm and so when we got there we walked pasted my opponent’s room and went to my room and I didn’t have a room. They put me in a room with 10 of other guys. But I understand that because I was the opponent.

Now when a fighter wraps his hands he wraps it an hour to an hour and a half before the fight. Normally that is what a fighter does. Because if you wrap it too soon the wraps gets soft. So we sat around for 30 minutes and we waited to wrap my hands and they told us don’t worry about it just wrap your hands. What do you mean don’t worry about it. They said that because Helenius already wrapped his hands. I’ve never been to a fight or anywhere were I wasn’t allowed to watch someone wrap their hands. So basically they said if I didn’t fight they were gonna sue me. So I came to fight that’s who I am, I’m a fighter. So I’m fighting this guy and I just remembered when I got to the 6th round at the beginning of every round I was seeing white and I couldn’t see into the first 30 seconds of each round. I thought maybe he had something in his gloves. I didn’t know what to make of it. During the 6th round in the first 30 seconds he landed a punch and I was blinded in both my eyes and was seeing white. At the 8th round after I was blinded he kept throwing punches and I couldn’t see so the referee stopped the fight. I never did get a chance to inspect his gloves after the fight. So after that I went back to Los Angeles that same night and I had a whole lot of cuts across my eyelids as if you took a razor across my eyelids. I never experienced anything like this because those types of cuts are never like that for a fighter. Even my doctor couldn’t understand it either as it isn’t conclusive to boxing. Afterwards I thought I could have died in the ring.

Pattee: How are you feeling now?

BREWSTER: I had 4 surgeries last year and I have another surgery next month and hopefully this surgery will repair my vision for my left eye. The Doctor said I have a slit across my iris and cornea. Whatever was on his glove cut it and once it started to heal, it infused my eyelid together. They have to give me a cornea transplant. Being a man of faith I believe God closes one door and opens another.

Pattee: OMG! That is awful.

Pattee: What titles did you hold as a professional boxer?

BREWSTER: NABA heavyweight title, WBO heavyweight title, WBO NABO heavyweight title and the WBC Continental Americas heavyweight title.

Pattee: Currently you are involved in a new adventure you are putting together which is an up and coming website called www.fightingconnection.com. How did this come about?

BREWSTER: It’s going to launch this August. I came up with this because a lot of times when I was getting ready to go to camp my trainer would say this is a fight and we would have to find sparring partners to train me for this particular fight and so I always ask someone if they know someone so I can get them to my training camp. Well that is such a headache because lets say I do find someone and you find that person, well say he gets hurts then you need to find someone else or someone to fight a certain way. It’s really hard and I got frustrated and I knew there has to be a better way. So I was talking with a few people and we were brainstorming and I said I was going to have a search engine built. For instance, if I was going to fight a guy who’s 6 feet, 2 inches tall and weighs 225 pounds and he’s a right hand fighter and a boxer who moves to his left, I would go to my website and put all the information in and let it bring up everyone around the world with those same criterias. I personally asked myself the questions to build this site. Nobody knows better than me when they go to camp. I been in camp with guys that I couldn’t open up 100 percent because if I did, I was afraid to hurt them because then I’d have to look again for someone to train with. A lot of times I’d leave my wife on vacation and want to work out. Man let me try to find a gym. So I’d look in the yellow pages or phone book. Now you go to my website, type in the country, zip code, providence etc etc and you click what you are looking for, boxing, mma, mauy thia and press enter and it’ll bring up everything in that region. I believe the cut man is very important to me because when you go to a fight you only get 2 tickets one for you and the other for your trainer. So what me and my trainer would do is once we registered in we would always find someone who was walking around with a bucket and give them $50.00 to work my corner. 9 times out of 10 they would say yes. Although this worked, I got frustrated at that. So now I made it easier for everyone. You’d just type in I’m looking for a cut man, when, where and hit search and the site will bring up all cut men available. I even added a star rating next to the cut man so everyone can vote and see their ratings.

Pattee: Who is Sam Simon and how was he involved with the show “The Simpsons”?

BREWSTER: Well “The Simpsons” was a show that was created by my former manger. He actually created Bart Simpson. He helped me and went beyond the call of being a manager. He is considered to be family. He was instructing me to fight for the world title.

Pattee: On 4-10-2004 you fought Wladimir Klitschko at Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada and won the vacant WBO heavyweight title by TKO in the 5th round. On 7-7-2007 there was a rematch in Germany for the IBF heavyweight title and the IBO heavyweight title. You lost that fight due to your trainer stopping the fight in the 6th round. Can you compare these two fights?

BREWSTER: Let me tell you about that fight. Everyone knows I suffered a detached retina. During that time, I was lying faced down for almost 6 months. It took me a year and a half to recover fully. When the word got out I was coming back to boxing because of my recovery, Klitschko’s people approached me to fight and I said no problem and I want to have a tune up fight beforehand because I’ve been out a year and a half. Well they said no and we’ll pay you extra not to have a tune up fight. So they paid me more than I’ve ever made, even when I had the title. In the 6th round my eye started to swell up and I was very rusty in the fight. So they were worried and thinking something will happen to my eye.

Pattee: Your prediction on the Klitschko-Haye fight coming up?

BREWSTER: I think it’ll be a tricky one to predict because of the fact you can’t count out Haye because he’s proven to be a smart and crafty fighter but at the same time I myself know first hand what it means to be a heavyweight champion and not wanting to give up your title. Klitschko is fighting for legacy whereas Haye is fighting for glory. You got two different mindsets coming into a fight. I think the one that has the best strategy and the most determination will win and no one can go in and say so and so will win but as a fan it could go anyway. Both are proven to have great skill.

Pattee: Out of all your 41 fights, which one was the most difficult?

BREWSTER: Hmmm… was when I lost my title to Siarhei Liakhovich because I was blind and fought 12 rounds and lost. I was in so much pain. I could only breathe through one nostril. I had a one-piece mouthpiece and I couldn’t open my mouth. I had previously broken my nostril in camp. They gave the fight of the decade to someone I know I could have knocked out. Even if I couldn’t see I could have knocked him out but I couldn’t see.

Pattee: From your professional debut on 11-8-1996 in Las Vegas, Nevada through your 23rd fight you never lost a bout. Then on 5-6-2000 you fought Clifford Etienne in Pennsylvania and that all came to an end. What happened?

BREWSTER: I lost my cool because I trained to box him and then when I arrived to fight him I was like this is my first time on HBO, I’m “Relentless” Lamon Brewster and I said he’s been in prison so I’m going to go in there and knock him out. Well you can only practice what you preach and in boxing camp you are trained to box and then when I got to the ring I let the crowd overwhelm me and I let it get the best of me. I never came to the ring with game plan. I was throwing bad punches and I missed. He practiced to brawl and I came to box. My football coach had a quote: “Do it right, do it light. Do it wrong, do it long”.

Pattee: You started fighting at the young age of 7. Usually a typical 7 year old would be playing with GI Joes. How did you get into boxing?

BREWSTER: My mother said I had too much energy because I would tear up all the toys she purchased me. There was a community center down the street from me but didn’t offer anything for a 7 year old but the coach liked my mother so they allowed me to start training for boxing.

Pattee: You have an impressive amateur record of 70-10. Tell me about the 1995 US heavyweight championship as an amateur?

BREWSTER: It was a great career and run. I should have went to the Olympics. I was picked to go but at the same time I went through a divorce and when that happened it was the worse thing that could have happened to me. I was the team caption. I traveled the world with Floyd Mayweather, Antonio Tarver and David Reed who one the gold medal.

Pattee: Are you currently still do any type of boxing training? If so where and who is training you?

BREWSTER: No I haven’t been able to do anything because of the eye surgery. There is so much pressure. If I stand for a long period of time I get a headache because of the eye surgery.

Pattee: Which boxer did you admire the most while growing up?

BREWSTER: Marvin Hagler. He was a man’s man. I admired the fact that he was a man’s man. He didn’t care to be glamorous. He came to fight. He didn’t have the entourage, fancy cars or the big jewelry. He was a warrior and came to fight. Every time he went to the ring he came to fight. I also admire Julio Chavez because he was a beast and a great fighter and best fighter of all time.

Pattee: Is there anyone you would have liked to fight?

BREWSTER: I just wished I would have fought Wladimir Klitschko when I was right. He knows and I know he can’t beat me. I regret I didn’t get to tune up. I wish I could have had a rematch and a 3rd fight. Even in the 2nd fight he only hit me with a jab and run and no big shots and then I swelled up. He knows and I know he can’t beat me.

You can follow Lamon Brewster on facebook and sign up on www.FightingConnection. Com. He hopes that people see him for what he stands for and people see him as being successful. He wants people to see him as a role model and a role model of faith. No one gave him a chance and he overcame everything through his faith and determination and he wants to set an example that you can do anything you set your mind to do.

EL Boxing Empress See you at the Fights and Thank You for your time. EL Boxing Empress Online @ Twitter http://www.twitter.com/Keishamorrisey ©®™ 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 All photos other than specified by "EL Boxing Empress" Keisha Morrisey- Empire Morrisey Photo-Studios, KCKMT for Bloodline Boxing Communications Entertainment and Starlite Boxing's Sweetscience Magnews-Online Publication all rights reserved

Sergei "The White Wolf" Liakhovich vs.Robert "The Nordiac Nightmare" Helenius is on July 16 in Munich‏

SERGEI 'THE WHITE WOLF' LIAKHOVICH Former World Heavyweight Boxing Champion & 1996 Olympian Liakhovich invites Helenius Into 'The White Wolf' Den July 16 in Munich

The delayed return of former world heavyweight champion and 1996 Bellarusian Olympian, Sergei "The White Wolf" Liakhovich is on July 16 as the Bellarusian Olympian takes on highly-touted, undefeated Robert "The Nordiac Nightmare" Helenius in Munich, Germany.

The 35-year-old Liakhovich (25-3, 16 KOs), rated No. 13 by the World Boxing Council, was supposed to be back in action April 9 in Newark after nearly a year-long absence, but an injury suffered in the final week of training camp forced him to withdraw. Instead of taking an easy tune-up, or sign a more lucrative deal offered by K2 Promotions, Liakhovich chose to make his Main Events debut against Helenius (15-0, 10 KOs), who is world rated among the top four governing bodies (WBO #2, IBF #3, WBA #8 and IBF (IBF #15), as well as No. 8 by The Ring. Helenius is a native of Norway but he lives and fights out of Germany.

"This is what being a true champion really is about," Liakhovich explained. "I believe you have to take risks to get greater results. Boxing is the best of all sports but its core is in earning respect as a fighter. I think you can accomplish that by taking risks. I had to do that in the past when I fought Dominick Quinn, who was America's top heavyweight hope at that time, and nobody gave me a chance when I went against Lamon Brewster. Both times taking risks paid off for me and this is not any different. My opponent is a good fighter. He proved that he deserves to be in the top 10 of the world by defeating Brewster and (Samuel) Peter. But he's never faced anybody with my skills.

"I was very disappointed I had to cancel my (April) fight, but I believe what happens is always for a reason, and sometimes things turn out the way you did not expect. I am glad I have this opportunity and I will take full advantage of it. I'm working again with trainer Kenny Weldon, who was in my corner when I won the WBO title, and doing things that I had stopped. We've also been working on a few new things to prepare for this fight. I think it's going to be a very good fight with two guys putting everything on the line."

Back in 2006, Liahkovich was on top of the boxing world having won a unanimous decision (117-110, 115-113, 115-112) against Brewster for the WBO crown, sporting a 23-1(13 KOs) pro record that included notable wins against world title contender Guinn and previously undefeated Friday Ahunanya. In his first world title defense, however, Liakhovich lost his belt to Shannon Briggs by way of a 12th round technical knockout with only one second remaining in the fight, in which Sergei led on all three judges' cards by scores of 106-103, 106-103 and 105-104.

After his fight against Briggs, Sergei was put on his old promoter's shelf and he has fought only three times since 2006, the last a ninth-round stoppage of Evans Quinn a year ago in Germany.

"I have to give a lot of credit to Sergei," Main Events CEO Kathy Duva commented. "From the moment he was offered the match with Helenius, he absolutely demanded that we make the fight. There are very few elite professional boxers who are willing to put everything on the line without a moment's hesitation, as Sergei did, and accept such a challenge. I believe that his experience and courage will carry the day on July 16th against such a strong opponent. Sergei is one of the most fan friendly fighters in boxing and we all look forward to a great match in Munich. We also look forward to bringing home the win!"

Liakhovich's Boston-based attorney and veteran boxing lawyer, Anthony Cardinale, got Sergei out of his last contract and negotiated his new deal with Main Events and the Helenius fight. "Sergei chose to take a fight that he could have easily avoided and made more money in a three-fight deal which was offered by K2 (two undercard bouts on the Wladimir Klitschko-David Haye and Vitali Klitschko-Tomasz Adamek cards followed by a guaranteed world title shot)," Atty. Cardinale noted. "His reasoning was a win against Helenius will make a world title fight considerably more valuable to him and his family than the deal offered by K2.

"If I were Helenius, I would be concerned because Sergei is getting into the ring a rested, top-conditioned, supremely motivated, championship caliber heavyweight with much more experience. This is not going to be a walk through like Helenius has had against out-of-shape, disinterested former champions just showing up for paydays. He is about to enter a hungry wolf's den and he won't come out undefeated."

EL Boxing Empress See you at the Fights and Thank You for your time. EL Boxing Empress Online @ Twitter http://www.twitter.com/Keishamorrisey ©®™ 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 All photos other than specified by "EL Boxing Empress" Keisha Morrisey- Empire Morrisey Photo-Studios, KCKMT for Bloodline Boxing Communications Entertainment and Starlite Boxing's Sweetscience Magnews-Online Publication all rights reserved

David Haye and Wladimir Klitschko Face Off Video

KLITSCHKO vs HAYE - FACE OFF WITH MAX KELLERMAN; Two of the world's greatest heaveyweights take shots at each other outside the ring. Watch the explosive Klitschko vs. Haye Face Off interview with Max Kellerman right here. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JjEl_FgAw5g&feature=youtu.be

David Haye is sick and tired of Wladimir Klitschko’s image as the ‘good guy’ of world boxing. With less than two weeks to go before their unification bout in Hamburg, Germany, he is desperate to set the record straight.

Last week David Haye hosted a media workout in London, as he gets ready. David Haye and Wladimir Klitschko get intense on HBO‘s Faceoff with Max Kellerman.

“With the earrings and the flashy flash, the man wants to be a woman. David Haye’s a woman in my eyes and the eyes of a lot of fans.”

“He’s clearly a dickhead… he’s doesn’t got a fucking clue to what he’s talking about… July 2 you’re getting knocked unconscious, you’re gonna be crawling around the floor like you were against Corrie Sanders and Lamon Brewster.”

EL Boxing Empress See you at the Fights and Thank You for your time. EL Boxing Empress Online @ Twitter http://www.twitter.com/Keishamorrisey ©®™ 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 All photos other than specified by "EL Boxing Empress" Keisha Morrisey- Empire Morrisey Photo-Studios, KCKMT for Bloodline Boxing Communications Entertainment and Starlite Boxing's Sweetscience Magnews-Online Publication all rights reserved