By Mike Indri
Retired Boxers Foundation

If a boxer's talents and skills were judged commensurately with his heart, character and human soul then heavyweight champion Lamon Brewster would be a fixture atop everyone's "pound-for-pound" best list. A "champion" of a man long before he earned the WBO's vacant heavyweight title with his dramatic fifth round technical knockout victory over the once-considered indestructible Wladimir Klitschko (04/10/04), Brewster has long been considered the weakest link in promoter Don King's heavyweight championship chain. Point in case being the fact that entering Chicago's United Center boxing ring last night to defend his crown, against the dangerous yet much maligned Andrew Golota, Brewster was a 2.5 to 1 betting underdog and not the choice of most of the so-called boxing experts.

While it has taken the appropriately nicknamed "relentless" Brewster close to nine arduous years to get to this point; defending his hard earned title against the heavily favored Golota, in the former Polish amateur champion's hometown, it only took the classy Brewster a mere 53 seconds to dispatch of his title-starved opponent.

Entering the ring in camouflage Brewster was ready for battle. Golota, who promised a knockout win, had his Polish fans - all 20,126 of them - primed for a championship party. This was the "Powerful Pole's" fourth shot at a share of the heavyweight crown, his third consecutive title fight (unsuccessful attempts vs. Chris Byrd 12rd draw and John Ruiz 12rd unanimous decision loss), and against Brewster many thought his best chance.

Golota's "best chance" gave him no chance at all. Brewster, a solid and fit looking 224 lbs., went right after his bigger foe (6'3", 248lbs.) at round one's opening bell. Several vicious left hooks landed, hurting Golota and sending him crashing to the canvas. With the crowd now silenced, Golota quickly arose and just as quickly was driven back down to the canvas. This time Brewster's damaging left hands to the body and head sent Golota threw the ropes and practically out of the ring!

The stunned feeling of the United Center capacity crowd, visualizing their dream - of Andrew Golota, the first ever Polish World Heavyweight Champion - vanishing in front of their eyes, abruptly turned to horror. Golota, absorbing a brutal barrage from the WBO champion, crashed to the canvas a third and final time. Referee Geno Rodriguez mercifully waved off the carnage; calling a halt to the one-sided debacle of a championship fight at 53 seconds of the first round.

Afterwards the gracious Brewster lamented, "I haven't been right for a long time. I lost my trainer (the late Bill Slayton) and I've missed him, his voice in my corner." When asked about his quick spirited offensive explosion, the nearby Indiana native now living in Los Angeles, smiled and answered, "beating Andrew Golota was my way to the land of milk and honey ($$$). I didn't put on a good show in my last fight. I wanted to show that I'm more than tough, and more than heart - I also have skills."

Andrew Golota (now 38-6-1, 31 KO's) was given his opportunities, his four chances to fight for a world championship. While a formidable contender, Andrew was never able to rise to the occasion and will undoubtedly be most remembered for his disreputable actions in the ring: biting opponents, quitting more than once, low blows, disqualifications — and out of the ring: impersonating a police officer, bar fights, arrests — than he will for his talent and, at one time, destructive boxing skills. Many people thought Golota had what it took to be a champion - unfortunately, Andrew Golota truly did not believe it.

Congratulations to Lamon Brewster (improving to 32-2 with 28 KO's), who only needed 15 bone-crunching punches and 53 seconds to put himself right back in the middle of the Vitali Klitschko $weep$take$ - couldn't have happened to a nicer guy!

Earlier in the night...
At least Tomasz Adamek gave the predominately Polish crowd something to cheer about in the non-televised co-feature bout. Adamek, from Poland, captured the vacant WBC light heavyweight championship with a thrilling 12 round majority decision victory over Paul "The Hurricane" Briggs (23-2, 17 KO's). Adamek remained perfect at 29-0 (20 KO's). Coming on strong in the late rounds enabled the exciting fighter to pull out the win in the eyes of two judges who scored it 115-113 and 117-113 for Adamek, while the third judge saw it even at 114-114.