Liakhovich outpoints Brewster for heavyweight belt
Brewster loses...
Brewster loses...
CLEVELAND -- Sergei Liakhovich won the WBO heavyweight championship in his first fight in 18 months, unanimously outpointing Lamon Brewster.
The 32-year-old Brewster, considered the more powerful puncher, instead absorbed a pounding at the hands of the taller fighter from Belarus in the 12-round bout.
After taking a left to the ribs late in the final round, Liakhovich dropped his hands and signaled for Brewster to come after him. The champion tried his best, but by then his punches had run out of steam.
Liakhovich (23-1, 14 KOs) did serious damage in the sixth, ninth and 11th rounds, but Brewster (33-3, 29 KOs) lived up to his "Relentless" nickname by withstanding the pounding that left welts across his face.
Brewster had successfully defended his title three times after winning it in April 2004 with a fifth-round knockout of Wladimir Klitschko, the younger brother of former WBC titleholder Vitali Klitschko.
This time, the 6-foot-1, 228-pounder had trouble with his bigger foe, although he knocked the 29-year-old to his knees as the seventh round ended.
The pace took its toll on both fighters, who appeared tired in the eighth and most of the ninth -- until the 6-4, 240-pound Liakhovich landed a left that sent Brewster staggering. Despite cornering the champion, who tried to cover up, Liakhovich didn't have enough left to put Brewster away.
Brewster cornered the challenger and threw several powerful punches that found their mark in the fifth round. Liakhovich not only withstood the assault, but put the champion against the ropes with a series of combinations just before the bell.
Liakhovich carried the action in the sixth round, too, as they went toe-to-toe in the center for the ring. After Brewster missed with a left, Liakhovich cornered Brewster and landed several combinations. He ran Brewster against the ropes as many in the crowd began screaming for the fight to be stopped.
Brewster's handlers worked on a cut in the champ's nose between rounds. The right-hander took more abuse early in the seventh before knocking the challenger to his knees seconds before the bell.
The 32-year-old Brewster, considered the more powerful puncher, instead absorbed a pounding at the hands of the taller fighter from Belarus in the 12-round bout.
After taking a left to the ribs late in the final round, Liakhovich dropped his hands and signaled for Brewster to come after him. The champion tried his best, but by then his punches had run out of steam.
Liakhovich (23-1, 14 KOs) did serious damage in the sixth, ninth and 11th rounds, but Brewster (33-3, 29 KOs) lived up to his "Relentless" nickname by withstanding the pounding that left welts across his face.
Brewster had successfully defended his title three times after winning it in April 2004 with a fifth-round knockout of Wladimir Klitschko, the younger brother of former WBC titleholder Vitali Klitschko.
This time, the 6-foot-1, 228-pounder had trouble with his bigger foe, although he knocked the 29-year-old to his knees as the seventh round ended.
The pace took its toll on both fighters, who appeared tired in the eighth and most of the ninth -- until the 6-4, 240-pound Liakhovich landed a left that sent Brewster staggering. Despite cornering the champion, who tried to cover up, Liakhovich didn't have enough left to put Brewster away.
Brewster cornered the challenger and threw several powerful punches that found their mark in the fifth round. Liakhovich not only withstood the assault, but put the champion against the ropes with a series of combinations just before the bell.
Liakhovich carried the action in the sixth round, too, as they went toe-to-toe in the center for the ring. After Brewster missed with a left, Liakhovich cornered Brewster and landed several combinations. He ran Brewster against the ropes as many in the crowd began screaming for the fight to be stopped.
Brewster's handlers worked on a cut in the champ's nose between rounds. The right-hander took more abuse early in the seventh before knocking the challenger to his knees seconds before the bell.
Comment