Who will win Brewster or Lyakhovich?

**Klitsfan** · 03-31-2006 06:19 AM

From Fightnews.com
When the dust settles after Saturday's "Relentless" Lamon Brewster-Sergei "White Wolf" Liakhovich WBO Heavyweight Championship fight, either one champ's claim to the division's throne will be strengthened or a new star will be born.

Both Brewster and Liakhovich sounded determined and focused at the final press conference at the Hilton Garden Inn in Cleveland. The heavyweight title bout is the centerpiece of a star-studded card Don King will bring to Cleveland State University's Wolstein Center on April 1. The card will also feature former IBF bantamweight king Tim Austin, Mike Tyson-conqueror Kevin McBride and heavyweight contenders Ray Austin and Larry Donald.

The tame event at the Hilton proved that war between Brewster (33-2 29KOs) and Liakhovich (22-1 14KOs) will be waged with fists, not words. Both combatants sounded ready to go without resorting to the insults that typify many press conferences.

"It's gonna be a great fight Saturday," said Brewster, who will make his fourth defense of his WBO belt. "I've been under the guidance of Buddy McGirt who is the greatest trainer on the face of the earth."

Brewster is coming off a 53-second annihilation of Polish Andrew Golota and a come-from-behind knockout of rugged German Luan Krasniqi. Though Liakhovich is also European, he warned Brewster not to expect a similar result.

"Lamon's a real good champion, but come April 1st he will not meet a European guy like he's fought before," Liakhovich commented. "I had the best camp of my life, the best sparring and I'm ready to go."

Both heavyweights spoke briefly before turning the podium over to their well-respected trainers. Some boxing insiders feel that Brewster is the best of the heavyweight beltholders, a belief that his new trainer, Buddy McGirt, shares.

"The heavyweight division is starving for a superstar and Lamon's time is right now," the two-time champ turned-trainer said. "Unfortunately for the White Wolf, he's standing in the way."

Liakhovich's trainer, Kenny Weldon, has also worked with boxing legend Evander Holyfield. Weldon compared Liakhovich's work ethic to that of the Holyfield's and likes his fighter's chances on April 1st.

"I'm looking forward to a great fight," Weldon said. "We came here to fight and we came here to take the championship away from Lamon. That's what we intend to do."

The Brewster-Liakhovich bout marks the first time in 23 years that a world heavyweight championship bout will be decided in Cleveland. Ticket sales are going strong and King is confident the Wolstein Center will sell out.

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