LIVE rematch on 3/23 between WBO super middleweight champ Arthur Abraham vs Robert Stieglitz

Big news for boxing fans: our next fight will be a LIVE rematch on 3/23 between WBO super middleweight champ Arthur Abraham & challenger Robert Stieglitz (official)! ♔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.

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.

WBA Heavyweight Championship: ALEXANDER POVETKIN vs. RUSLAN CHAGAEV Live to the U.S. Exclusively on EPIX and EpixHD.com‏

-Live world championship boxing returns to EPIX when undefeated 2004 Olympic super heavyweight gold medalist ALEXANDER POVETKIN and former World Boxing Association (WBA) heavyweight champion RUSLAN CHAGAEV square-off for the vacant WBA heavyweight title, Saturday, August 27th. Presented by Sauerland Event, the live broadcast will emanate from Erfurt, Germany.

The battle between the two highest world-rated heavyweight contenders will be televised live in the U.S. exclusively on EPIX, the multiplatform premium entertainment service. EpixHD.com will stream the fight live as part of a free two-week trial offer. The live broadcast and the live stream on EPIX and EpixHD.com, respectively, will begin with the main event at 5 p.m. ET / 2 p.m. PT.

Following the Povetkin-Chagaev WBA heavyweight championship, the broadcast and live stream will continue with undefeated World Boxing Organization (WBO) and WBA Intercontinental heavyweight champion ROBERT HELENIUS defending his regional titles against former WBO heavyweight champion SIARHEI LIAKHOVICH.

As has become the custom, EPIX will once again present the closed-captioned simulcast of both fights on a jumbotron in Times Square (Broadway between 44th and 45th Sts.), beginning at 5 p.m. ET.

Povetkin, Chagaev, Helenius and Liakhovich boast a combined record of 88-4-1 (58 KOs) – a 95% winning percentage and a victory by knockout ratio of 66%.

“EPIX looks forward to providing U.S.-based boxing fans exclusive live coverage of the Povetkin- Chagaev heavyweight title fight and presenting a preview of the heavyweight division’s next generation of world champions and title challengers,” said Travis Pomposello, EPIX senior executive in charge of boxing.

“I have won the Olympic gold medal and I have been World and European Amateur Champion. Now I want to finally accomplish my goal of winning the world title as a professional,” added Povetkin. “I have a lot of respect for Chagaev, but he will not get in my way.”

“Povetkin is a strong fighter, but I want to become world champion again and win back my old title. I am highly motivated,” said Chagaev.

Povetkin (21-0, 15 KOs), of Russia, is currently the WBA’s No. 2 world-rated heavyweight contender. His resume includes a knockout victory over former two-time heavyweight champion Chris Byrd, and unanimous decision victories over one-time heavyweight title challenger Eddie Chambers and former U.S. Olympians Jason Estrada and Larry Donald. Povetkin enters this fight having won three of his last four bouts by knockout. Povetkin has been promoted by Sauerland Event throughout his entire professional career.

Chagaev (27-1-1, 17 KOs), a native of Ukraine who fights out of Berlin, Germany, captured the WBA heavyweight title when he dethroned 7-foot defending champion Nikolai Valuev via a majority decision in April 2007. During his two-year reign, Chagaev successfully defended his title twice, winning decisions over Matt Skelton (21-1) and Carl Drumond (26-0). Since losing to Wladimir Klitschko in 2009, Chagaev has defeated Kali Meehan and Travis Walker en route to becoming the WBA’s No. 1 heavyweight contender.

Helenius (15-0, 10 KOs), a native of Finland who fights out of Berlin, Germany, will be looking to make Liakhovich his third former heavyweight champion knockout victim having already starched Lamon Brewster and Samuel Peter in eight and nine rounds, respectively. He enters this fight having won nine of his last 10 fights by stoppage and world-rated No. 2 by the WBO and No. 3 by the International Boxing Federation (IBF).

Liakhovich (25-3, 16 KOs), a native of Belarus, fights out of Phoenix, Ariz. He won the WBO heavyweight championship in 2006, dethroning defending champion Lamon Brewster via a unanimous decision. He lost the title, in his first defense, to Shannon Briggs. Liakhovich enters this fight having won his last two fights by knockout against Jeremy Bates and Evans Quinn, in the first and the ninth round, respectively.

Mike Crispino, the voice of the New York Liberty, former undisputed World Heavyweight Champion Lennox Lewis and ESPN.com senior boxing writer Dan Rafael will be calling the fights for EPIX and EpixHD.com. Viewers watching the live stream on EpixHD.com will enjoy round-by-round blogs from Sports Illustrated’s boxing writer Chris Mannix.

♔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