Brewster-Golota face off in Battle of Chicago…Border War
 By "Big Dog" Benny Henderson Jr. (May 18, 2005)
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This Saturday May 21st at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois, two hard-hitting heavyweights will face off in an all out brawl presented by Don King Productions that will be featured live on HBO 9:45 Pm. ET/6:45 PM PT. ‘Relentless’ Lamon Brewster, 31-2 (27), will defend his WBO title against the always unpredictable Andrew Golota, 38-5-1 (31), in a scheduled twelve round showdown. The leather will fly with both fighters in dire need of the W. Who will be the victor, and who will go home belt less?
The champion Lamon Brewster earned the hardware in April of ’04 when he climbed off the canvass in the fourth round to claim his prize and defeated Wladimir Klitschko in the fifth round via TKO. Not only shocking the world but also putting a damper on Wladimir’s come back. Five months after the emotional victory Brewster defended his strap against good friend and sparring partner Kali Meehan. This fight wasn’t Lamon’s best performance and it drew critics in to debate his legitimacy as a force in the heavyweight division, even though it wasn’t a spectacular victory Lamon portrayed a massive amount of heart, which was never in question and kept his belt that he worked so hard for. With behind the scene distractions before the fight Lamon made no excuses for the bout and told the Doghouse after the fight that he felt the fight was close and he shouldn’t have let it get that close. Now Lamon is looking for respect, and he knows a convincing victory over the punching polish bad boy will get him his much-deserved props. But the most important aspect of this fight is providing for his family, and he simply stated last February in a Doghouse interview, “I can not allow him to take my belt.”
Heavyweight title and Andrew Golota, sounds funny if you think about it. The title has eluded Golota on three separate occasions, four if you count the off brand NABF belt. After two jaw dropping incidents against Riddick Bowe, Golota was awarded a shot at the then WBC champion Lennox Lewis. Well, Lewis literally destroyed the big man in the first round, dismantling Golota’s first attempt at a title at 1:35 in the first round. After signing with the spiked hair promoter Golota stepped in with the IBF champ Chris Byrd over a year ago. After bullying the much smaller Byrd around for twelve rounds the contest was ruled a draw in a fight that many people saw in Golota’s favor. Act three was six months ago against WBA champ John Ruiz at Madison Square Garden. After Ruiz tasted the canvas twice in round two and was deducted a point for hitting after the break, and about 190 clinches later Golota appeared to be the victor. All his hard work and effort was finally going to pay off… wrong! Three judges made one call, a bad one most declared. Unanimous decision in favor of and still heavyweight champion of the world, you get the picture, it wasn’t Golota.
Golota knows this is his last hurrah; no way will he get this opportunity ever again if Brewster beats him, in fact he stated if he doesn’t win he’ll go fishing. In the same sense Lamon knows this fight is his career, and if the same fighter who faced Meehan months back shows up it will be ended. Now tacking on legendary trainer Jesse Reid, Brewster looks to light a much-needed fire and showcase his ability to become one of the elite by defeating a top contender. Golota is tough as nails and has improved on his quitting ability and foul prone tactics the last few fights but his heart is always a factor. Brewster isn’t the most dominant tactician in the sport but he can press the issue and he isn’t afraid to brawl, as does Golota. This will be a dogfight; the one who bites the hardest will win.
Paul Briggs versus Tomasz Adamek
Paul Briggs, 23-1 (17), who hasn’t tasted defeated since his second pro fight eight years ago, looks to continue his winning trend against the unbeaten Tomasz Adamek, 28-0 (20), when the two face off for the vacant WBC light heavyweight title. Adamek, whom is also trained by Sam Colona, Andrew Golota’s trainer, is a hard hitting Polish pugilist but will have his hands full with the battle tested Australian Briggs who is coming off a nine month lay off after he handed down Stipe Drews’ first loss in twenty-nine bouts last August. This will be a barnburner.
Rhoshii Wells versus Alejandro Garcia
The rematch, when these two first met almost two years ago they both were toting undefeated records. Ten rounds later the ref had seen enough and stopped the bout giving Rhoshii Wells, 18-1-2 (10), his first loss in eighteen bouts. Three months after this bout Garcia was stopped by the undefeated Travis Simms in the fifth round to lose his title and break his win streak. After both gaining a victory after each loss, they are set to face one another again for the WBA light middleweight title. Alejandro Garcia, 28-1 (28), has stopped every opponent by knockout. Will lightning strike twice for the hard-hitting Mexican? That would appear to be the case.
Miguel Angel Gonzales versus Miguel Angel Rodriguez
Battle of the Miguels! Miguel Rodriguez, 26-1 (21), has knocked out his last five opponents and looks to keep that streak going but will have his hands full with Miguel Gonzalez, 49-4-1 (39) who hasn’t been stopped in six years. Gonzalez’s last action came eight months ago in a losing effort against Cory Spinks in Vegas but he looks to rebound this Saturday. This bout is an eliminator for the WBC welterweight title and the victor will move on to bigger and better things.
There is a projected appearance unless schedules change from former heavyweight champion Oliver McCall, 44-8 (31), who will go ten rounds with an unnamed opponent at this time. Oliver shocked the world with his second round TKO over the then unbeaten Lennox Lewis eleven years ago, but will be remembered most of all for his breakdown in the rematch three years later. The forty-year-old fighter still believes he has a chance at being heavyweight champ, but that which remains to be seen.
All and all this Chicago fight card seems to be a good one for the fights fans on hand. Three titles are on the line and all bouts are significant to all that battle it out this weekend. Will Golota finally strap on a title, or will Brewster send the big man into retirement? Will Briggs break another win streak or will his opponent Adamek continue on? What will go down in the rematch between Wells and Garcia, how will the Battle of the Miguels play out, and how much does McCall have left?
Stay tuned for ringside analysis and post fight interviews when Doghouse travels to witness the BATTLE OF CHICAGO…Border War!
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