Lamon Brewster: Boxing, Fine Cigars and The Heavyweight Division

Exclusive Interview by “Bad” Brad Berkwitt

“No, I do not feel that the current heavyweight division has any of the depth it had when I was fighting.”—Lamon Brewster

Lamon Brewster is one of those oldschool mentality fighters who took his mental strength and physical ability to the top when he upset Wladimir Klitschko for the vacant WBO Heavyweight Title on April 10, 2004.  Hard to believe that 10+ years has passed since then. Brewster would defend his title three times, finally losing it to Siarhei Liakhovich on April 1, 2006 via a unanimous decision. Brewster would retire from boxing in 2010, but still has a very strong passion for the sport, which came across in our interview for RSR.

BB: Let’s catch the boxing fans up on what you are doing since your retirement in 2010?

Since I retired, I have started my own cigar company in a partnership with 4 other former World Heavyweight Boxing Champions, Riddick Bowe, James Toney, Ray Mercer and Chris Byrd. Together we produce the World’s finest cigar, Champions Cigars. We are the first champions in the history of the sport of boxing to produce our own cigars. Our manufacturer is a company called Payne-Mason, considered the best cigar in the world for the last 3 years, 20 out of 21 votes even over Cuba. This is the first time that these high end cigars can be bought in a cigar lounge; they are only available in the past at 5 star hotels and country clubs. Each champion has their own individual blend of cigar with their individual signature on theirs. We plan to use portions of the profits to host amateur boxing shows to help jump start the American amateur boxing program.

BB: There have been many stories about why you retired, but what is the “Official One”?

I retired because of the health of my eye that was injured in a fight I had in Germany in 2010 where my team was not allowed to inspect my opponent gloves. They put something in his gloves and in the fight, he cut my eye with a sharp object causing me to lose my vision in my left eye, ending my career.

BB: You fought from 1996 -2010 in the heavyweight division. Do you feel the current heavyweight division has any of the depth it had when you first came into the sport?

No, I do not feel that the current heavyweight division has any of the depth it had when I was fighting. I feel that it is mainly because most of the old school trainers have died, leaving a lot of wannabe trainers trying to pick up where the greats left off except today. Trainers do not understand that boxing is a science and it’s not about one appearance or just being in shape and throwing punches. Also, today fighters are more concerned about how much money they can make then being a world champion. A man fighting to be a world champion will always fight harder than a good athlete that just wants to be famous and make money.

BB: The heavyweight division as we both know, was once looked to have totally carried the sport of boxing. However, today, you cannot ask a casual boxing fan who the Heavyweight Champion is without them either having no clue, or they cannot pronounce the name. Why do you think that is?

The answer is because this next generation of trainers as I call them start looking to find/recruit heavyweights that look the part in the eye’s of the public. That was the second mistake. When I was fighting and before me, a guy walked into a gym of his free will and signed up to be a fighter because it was in his heart. Nowadays fighters are being persuaded by trainers outside of the boxing gyms driving around finding anyone that looks to them like they could have the potential based on how they look, basketball, football players….etc. Any good athlete can participate in boxing and even do well until they fight someone like me that comes to the ring with heart, will and determination. Then that fighter says to himself, I’m already getting a guarantee, it’s too hard to win so let me just try to survive and then stinks up the place with his survival tactics try not to get knocked out.

BB: In what fight, did we see Lamon Brewster at his very best?

I would probably say you saw me at my best when I broke the world record for the fast knockout in a world heavyweight title fight of 53 seconds when I fought Andrew Golota. I knew I had to be at my best because of the circumstances of fighting him in his hometown and with him having all the politics in his favor.

BB: I recently spoke with a former boxing champion and a two time title challenger who both said, “Today, these young men don’t want to train and feel they should make the millions that Floyd Mayweather, JR. does.” Have you seen this in young fighters and if so, why do you think it is happening?

I totally have to agree with those statements. I feel that most of the fighters today are lazy. From my own personal experience of training and talking to some of them, I can say that I find them lazy. I tell them you could never have beaten me because your knowledge and work ethics are missing or lacking. Floyd earned everything he got through hard work and determination. They are only looking at where he is now and not what he had to endure to get there. They put the cart before the horse.

BB: What is one thing you can share with RSR readers that has never been heard before?

Riddick Bowe, James Toney, Ray Mercer, Chris Byrd and I, have our own boxing blog website with fight updates, interviews and an online shopping cart to purchase our cigars. Also, that we have teamed up to brand ourselves as business entrepreneurs to film a reality show based on us traveling around the world promoting our new cigar line, by making public appearances at cigar lounge and holding photo and autograph sessions. We are using the proceeds to host amateur boxing matches all around the world in every country that we can.

BB: It’s been years since I started doing interviews with fighters and now that I am back to doing them, the sport still doesn’t have a mandatory retirement fund for all boxers, something I fought for over many years. What do you think is really stopping the “Powers to Be” from finally instituting it across the board forcing every sanctioning body to ensure it is in place?

Simply greed! The promoters know if sanctions are put in place then they will not be able to take advantage of these fighters as they always have. These promoters know that to keep the fighters divided is their only advantage to conquer.

BB: With that said, how do you think a mandatory retirement fund can be accomplished?

I came up with a way to solve the problem called the 2% law. The 2% Law states that 2% of all monies earned in the sport of boxing whether you are a fan purchasing a fight ticket, boxer receiving a boxing purse, referee, judge, fight doctor, security, vendor…etc. Anybody that will either pay money or receive money will be subjected to pay an additional 2% up to a certain amount of money.

These funds will be collected by all promoters and they will have to give a full accounting of all funds collected during all shows. The 2% will be deposited into a money marketing interest account through like a Merrill Lynch Fund. The money would accumulate until all retired fighters reach an age of 60. If an emergency was to occur at anytime, before they reach the age of 60 years of age, they could write a letter to a panel of 3 to 5 voted in board members where it would be reviewed. From there, it would be voted upon to disburse emergency funds. It’s flawless because 2% won’t hurt anyone, but yet greatly benefits the fighters that gave their all.

BB: Finally, what is the saying you live your life by?

The saying that I live my life by is a quote by the “Great” Fredrick Douglas . “No Struggle! No Progress!”

Check out Lamon’s website for his line of cigars by clicking here.

Lamon Brewster
Heavyweight
Professional Record: 35-6, 30 KO’s

Date Opponent Location Result

2010-01-30 Robert Helenius Neubrandenburg, DE L TKO 8

2009-08-29 Gbenga Oluokun Halle, DE L UD 8
2009-03-14 Michael Sprott Kiel, DE W UD 8

2008-08-30 Danny Batchelder Cincinnati, US W KO 5
vacant NABA Heavyweight Title

2007-07-07 Wladimir Klitschko Cologne, DE L RTD 6
IBF Heavyweight Title
International Boxing Organization Heavyweight Title

2006-04-01 Siarhei Liakhovich Cleveland, US L UD 12
WBO Heavyweight Title

2005-09-28 Luan Krasniqi Altona, DE W TKO 9
WBO Heavyweight Title

2005-05-21 Andrew Golota Chicago, US W TKO 1
WBO Heavyweight Title

2004-09-04 Kali Meehan Las Vegas, US W SD 12
WBO Heavyweight Title
2004-04-10 Wladimir Klitschko Las Vegas, US W TKO 5
vacant WBO Heavyweight Title

2003-03-01 Joe Lenhart Las Vegas, US W TKO 3

2002-12-14 Tommy Martin Atlantic City, US W TKO 3
WBO NABO Heavyweight Title
vacant WBC Continental Americas Heavyweight Title
2002-07-27 Willie Chapman Las Vegas, US W TKO 6
2002-02-02 Nate Jones Reading, US W TKO 3
vacant WBO NABO Heavyweight Title

2001-10-25 Joey Guy Inglewood, US W TKO 1

2000-10-21 Charles Shufford Detroit, US L UD 10
2000-09-24 Val Smith West Wendover, US W TKO 1
2000-05-06 Clifford Etienne Pittsburgh, US L UD 10
2000-02-26 Richard Mason New York, US W UD 10

1999-09-17 Quinn Navarre Las Vegas, US W KO 1
1999-05-22 Mario Cawley Las Vegas, US W KO 2

1998-10-03 Marcus Rhode Las Vegas, US W TKO 1
1998-08-15 Everett Martin Los Angeles, US W TKO 4
1998-06-14 Louis Monaco Atlantic City, US W KO 2
1998-05-16 Garing Lane Boise, US W UD 10
1998-03-23 Marcellus Brown Mashantucket, US W KO 4
1998-02-28 Artis Pendergrass Atlantic City, US W TKO 1
1998-01-09 Biko Botowamungu Biloxi, US W TKO 5

1997-12-20 Tony LaRosa Coachella, US W TKO 1
1997-11-20 John Kiser Los Angeles, US W UD 8
1997-08-08 Aaron Conway Las Vegas, US W TKO 1
1997-07-11 Cleveland Woods Las Vegas, US W RTD 2
1997-04-08 Willie Johnson Biloxi, US W TKO 2
1997-03-06 Mark Johnson Asbury Park, US W KO 1
1997-02-06 Tim Knight Beverly Hills, US W KO 1
1997-01-31 Trent Surratt Inglewood, US W KO 1
1997-01-09 Ronnie Smith Beverly Hills, US W TKO 3

1996-12-28 Fabian Meza Irvine, US W KO 1
1996-12-17 Greg McGhee Pikesville, US W KO 2
1996-11-29 Sean Fink Roanoke, US W KO 1
1996-11-08 Moses Harris Las Vegas, US W KO 1

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