The Big Debate: Lamon Brewster vs. Andrew Golota.

Ahh fight fans! There is nothing like a heavyweight title fight to get the boxing masses out in full force. For some strange reason, call it the sadistic side of the human condition, but when the giants meet, people tend to watch with a hope that one swift

powerful blow will produce an exciting, jaw dropping knockout. To think that there have been such heavyweight fights as Ali vs. Frazier (I, II, or III), Ali vs. Foreman, Randall “Tex” Cobb vs. anyone really and, this Saturday, May 21, 2005, live on HBO’s World Championship Boxing series, “Relentless” Lamon Brewster vs. Andrew Golota. LAMON BREWSTER VS. ANDREW GOLOTA?! Ok, ok, ok. So maybe not all of the heavyweight fights invigorate the boxing masses to come out in full force? Still, these are big guys and can produce that one punch knockout that I was telling you about earlier. “Relentless” Lamon Brewster (31-2-0 with 27 KOs) will be defending his WBO crown against perennial title contender Andrew Golota (38-5-1 with 31 KOs). I must admit my fellow fight fanatics, this contest lacks the luster and “mainstream” appeal that heavyweights used to command. Still, it is a heavyweight title fight, and we at SaddoBoxing.com are committed and consistent in covering our dearest sport. So fight fans, without further ado, here is the Big Debate with myself arguing for Lamon Brewster and Jim Cawkwell for Andrew Golota.

Why “Relentless” Lamon Brewster will win on Saturday night:

Well my fellow boxing brethren, yours truly has the daunting task of trying to convince the smartest fans in the world of why Brewster will win. I will do my best and hope you appreciate my efforts. Just don’t bet your last penny on my prediction because, as I’ve said in the past, you just never know with those crazy heavyweights. As his nickname suggests, Brewster is relentless. He proved it too against the younger Klitschko, Wladdy. In a fight in which Lamon took a horrible beating for three and a half rounds, he would end up winning by a technical knockout. He did not do it with skill, talent, or speed, but did it by being, well, “Relentless,” and letting his powerful left hook fly.

Stylistically, Brewster is going to have an uphill battle, as Golota is mobile, and has solid hand speed for a man his size. Andrew also has some pop in both of his fists, and is head and shoulders above Brewster in the talent and skill department. In the mental department, well that’s a different story. Although Golota has held his composure for the past twenty-four rounds in fights against Chris Byrd and John Ruiz, those guys do not hit anywhere near as hard as Brewster does, and are not as pressure packed as “Relentless.” I see Andrew having a festival in the early going, sharp-shooting Lamon and having his way. The problem will come in the middle rounds when Brewster continues to stalk Golota, and lets that powerful left hook fly. He will take three punches to land one, and Andrew will wilt under that kind of pressure. The only way “Relentless” can win this fight is by knockout, and he will realize this early, keep the pressure on all night, and stop Golota by no later than the tenth round either by TKO, or disqualification.

Well Jimmy the Gent, this is the best opportunity you are going to have to exact your revenge and beat me. What do you have to say about that my fine feathered friend?

First off, I want to know how many of you pick Sergio in this debate. I just wanna know. Because I done something new for this debate: I have wrassled with an Alligator, tussled with a Whale, handcuffed lightnin’ and thrown thunder in jail. If ya’ll were surprised when Trinidad was outclassed, wait “til I kick Sergio’s ass.

To business. Andrew Golota has a crazy life. One minute he is on the run from the law and impersonating a police officer, the next, he is fighting for a world championship. I know you remember that deer in the headlights look spread across Golota’s face upon hitting the deck courtesy of Lennox Lewis, well, Golota has been unable to remove that same expression from his face in the months after losing to John Ruiz. Scientists are still trying to uncover the true nature of whatever it is that leads Ruiz through his charmed existence as a now three-time WBA heavyweight champion of the world, but whatever it is, it certainly conspired against Golota in his third chance at a title.

Regarding Lamon Brewster’s claim to fame in knocking out former WBO champion Wladimir Klitschko, I say so what? Klitschko’s recent form has seen him up and down off that canvas more times than a kangaroo in the mating season. Brewster has a good chin and some power, but the knock on him is that he is an infrequent performer in training and that he lacks the skill to separate himself from other average heavyweights.
Brewster took his lumps to become a champion, but it is a rather fortuitous circumstance that he did so at the precise time that Klitschko’s body chemistry imploded, along with his career.

In terms of quality, as mi amigo Sergio concedes, Brewster cannot compete with Golota’s pedigree. The only chance that Brewster has of walking out of Chicago with his title is if Golota’s mental meltdown resurfaces, after which anything could happen, except a Golota win. As a rational predictor, I find it quite unsettling to be arguing the case of a certified heavyweight time bomb, but you must agree that on recent form and much improved composure in and around the ring, Golota is a much more dangerous proposition. Golota has the skill to neutralize Brewster’s chief weapon, which is his left hook, he has the power to hurt Brewster and is altogether a more complete fighter. You never know what Golota is capable of doing in a fight, but I think of that in terms of you never know how good he might be, and this Saturday, I believe that we will see the best Andrew Golota there can possibly be, and that he will take a comfortable decision over Lamon Brewster to finally become a world heavyweight champion.

Sergio Martinez can be reached at srg_mrtnz@yahoo.com

Jim Cawkwell can be reached at jimcawkwell@yahoo.co.uk