Was Brewster's tko of Andrew Golota a record in a heavyweight title fight? 53 seconds, I believe that was quicker than Louis's Ko of Max Schmeling, and Ali's ko of Liston in their rematch. I dont think Brewster was linnear champion, he was WBO champion, but still an impressive feat especially since he was the underdog going into the fight.
Yes, it was a record. Brewster ended it quicker than Lennox against poor Andjei, than Tyson vs Spinks (linear title), Tyson vs Williams and vs Seldon, Smith vs Witherspoon or Dokes vs Weaver.
I was there that night. It was pretty quick. And, I agree, it was impressive. The Polish fans stormed out of there looking for blood - and they wanted a piece of Golota, too. I remember walking out of the United Center minutes after it ended, and there was a guy who had the hell beat out of him on the steps. He must've been bragging about Brewster. Because the Polish fans were moving en masse screaming and cursing Golota. They were hot. That said, Lamon Brewster actually had a very exciting reign. He got off the floor to stop Wladimir Klitschko. He destroyed Golota in less than a minute. He knocked out Luan Krasniqi in a very exciting fight in Germany on Max Schmeling's 100th birthday (Krasniqi's promoters really wanted that one). He fought his good friend and sparring partner for the Klitschko fight (Kali Meehan) and won a controversial decision. And his last defense came against Sergei Liakhovich, who he had on the deck but couldn't finish, in a fight that may have been the best 12-round heavyweight title fight of that decade. It was very exciting. I always felt Brewster was a very underrated champion. If you sit down and watch his reign from beginning to end, it is great viewing. I loved how he entered the arena in Hamburg to the walkout music "Bad Company." He was "Bad Company" when he traveled to defend his title.
I've never seen that fight before but it was worth waiting for. Brewster's body punches, especially the first right hand he landes under Golotas elbow were brilliant. Brewster made the pole look slower than treacle
It was even more impressive since Golota had just fought to a draw with the IBF champ Byrd and he'd floored the WBA champ Ruiz twice and appeared to deserve the win in that one as well. If the judges had scored more accurately in the Byrd and Ruiz fights just before that, Golota and Brewster could've conceivably been fighting for the IBF, WBA and WBO titles that night. There were nearly 20,000 Poles their rooting for Golota. Brewster just blew him away.
What impressed me in Brewster was his ability to take punches. in those championship fights he went through everything. Wlad gave him enormous beating, Krasniqi was winning the fight, Meehan landed in the 8th or 9th round 70+ power punches, Lyakhovich landed so hard many shots. Lamon went through it and got 4 wins in those 5 championship fights, and came close to win the 5th. Great heart and great chin.
Brewster was a big puncher with good durability. The defense was not his thing. His fight with Siarhei Liakhovich was amazing, perhaps the best heavyweight title match in the last ten years.
I loved the fight. I had a lot on Lamon for the upset. That was back when folks--for some reason--loved Golata and Tua. Usually gambling wise, it's the hitters in the heavyweight division that get the backing of gamblers. Here we had the hitter not being favored. But I do not like Golata and that defense against the hitters. A Ken Norton type and he is murder and competitive against the boxer types but he walks into the hitters and cannot get away. minimal survival instincts. And Brewster is highly under rated. always has been going back to his amatuer days. He'd get near the top and always seemed to lose to Williamson or someone in those big matches.
The funny thing about Golota folding against big punchers is earlier in his career he was put on ***** street and bloodied by 290lb Samoan slugger Samson Pouha. Golota at one point was basically out on his feet and a bloody mess, and he didnt quit or get disqualified,. but roared back and stopped Pouha a couple rounds later. He did bite Pouha on the neck though during a clinch lol. I remember watching the fight on USA Networks Tuesday Night Fights, thinking this Polish guy is going to be somone to watch in the heavyweight division.
What heavyweight fight is better than Brewster-Liakovich? Especially at that level. I think saying it's the best of the last decade is probably underselling it.
No, it doesn't hold the all-time record. The quickest knockout in heavyweight title fight history belongs to Herbie Hide, who took just 52 seconds to dispatch Damon Reed en route to a successful defense of the WBO belt. Yes, Brewster-Golota officially lasted just as long (52 seconds) but Hide-Reed happened first, and therefore is rated above Brewster-Golota due to chronological considerations. You can look this up, it's a fact, I'm not just saying this. If you have trouble finding such sources, let me know and I will list them for you here.
