I thought he was pretty tough and seemed to be a big figure when the division was at a low point Won a strange stoppage over Klitschko after taking a huge beating Wlad just seemed to run out of gas after being on the verge of stopping him the round before I thought he lost to Kali Meehan He blew out Golota at a time where Golota was nearly beating Byrd and Ruiz which is impressive in hindsight He had the war with Krasniqi and the war with Liahovich and lost his belt ultimately he was a very tough guy with a solid left hook and pressure and was able to be successful for a little while keeping the seat warm for a true champion to emerge
He was a decent contender who won a belt and defended it a few times. Brewster had a lot of power, good determination and one heck of a chin. Just an average boxer, though, but he had the right ingredients to pull off upsets from better fighters as a puncher with a chin is always dangerous. Brewster vs Liahvoich is perhaps the best heavyweight fight in the last 11 years
He had an ATG chin and left hook. It was enough to bring him success for a short period. He was similar to Tua, but lacked Tua's stamina, right hand, and head movement
I really rated him. He could walk through severe punishment to get his shots off. On his nest day he reminded me of a poor man's Rid**** Bowe.
Best HW fight of the 21st century IMO. Brewster was one tough guy, I can imagine how sore his left side must have been. Liakhovich couldn't miss with that right hand to the body.
I wouldn't go that far. No journeyman would destroy Golota in such fashion, who at the time was still top notch and getting shafted in title fights. (Ruiz, Byrd)
Yeah, it was a credible win at the time but Golota hadn't shown much punch resistance since his two wars with Bowe 9 years earlier. Ruiz and Byrd didn't pose the threat to Golota with punching power so he could relax and box. But against powerful fighters he folded, especially if they came at him early (as Lewis and Tyson proved years earlier) Brewster had top-notch power. But losses to Shufford, Etienne, Liakhovich, a probable gift against Meehan, all in his prime years, kind of balance out his highlights (Wlad and Golota). He was trailing against Krasniqi too, until his power brought him through. And that's probably his 3rd best win, and I don't think Krasniqi was a genuine contender. Journeyman is a disputable term. I think of a journeyman as a decent solid fighter to be well respected, but are limited and unlikely to maintain a place as contenders for any length of time .... rather than the bums and losers, the no-hopers.
Tough guy, good power, big heart, limited boxing skills. Brewster's good chin was bascially his defense. His fight game plan was always seemingly "get beat half to death, rally and win". Where that plan makes for great entertainment, the health issues incurred are alarming. Brewster came back from early defeats to Etienne (my goodness) and Shufford. Shocked Klitchsko, though he lost to Meehan, beat the mentally fragile Golota, struggled but beat a limited Kransqi. Father time and wars endured caught with him against White Wolf. Got to give credit to Brewster for heart and toughness.
I would say this sums him up pretty well. Would never have reached title contention in the 80s or 90s, but would be on par with many of the (rather uninspiring) heavyweights today. Certainly not Hall of Fame caliber even with today's low standards. But, a tough guy with decent power before his eyesight failed him. His rematch with Wlad years later should never have been sanctioned.