Boxing News Boxing News
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Last night in Cleveland, Sergei “The White Wolf” Liakhovich graduated into the top class of heavyweights by storming Lamon Brewster over 12 rounds to take the WBO title from the mercurial champion. On a Showtime broadcast seen all over America, the two rivals engaged in a soul searching slugfest that brought those in attendance to their feet on multiple occasions. Liakhovich used his superior height and reach to good effect, largely neutralizing Brewster’s lethal left hook with a surprisingly effective lead right to the ribs that, along with a stinging jab, kept the champion off balance.
Brewster came back in the middle rounds and wobbled Liakhovich in the fifth but the challenger more than made up for that with a vicious assault in the sixth. Showing his meddle, Brewster fought back and forced Liakhovich take a knee at the end of the seventh.
The Belarus native dug deep to turn things around and by the ninth had Brewster out on his feet. Sheer iron will kept the man from Los Angeles upright during the shelling he took from Liakhovich but from there on out the “White Wolf” dictated the pacing throughout the end of the twelfth frame as Brewster seemed to have largely run out of gas in the later rounds.
When the smoke had finally cleared Liakhovich was crowned the new WBO Champion by unanimous decision via scores of 117-110, 115-112 and 115-112.
Afterward the 29 year old Eastern European, 23-1 (14), now residing in Scottsdale, AZ called out Wladimir Klitschko, scheduled to challenge IBF Champion Chris Byrd later this month in Germany. But first he must face Brewster, 33-3 (29), again as the dethroned former champion stated he will a rematch clause.
