COLOGNE, Germany -- Wladimir Klitschko can't even count on
family to talk him up ahead of Saturday's IBF and IBO heavyweight
title defenses against Lamon Brewster.
The 31-year-old Klitschko will attempt to avenge his fifth-round
TKO defeat to the American for the vacant WBO belt at Las Vegas in
2004 -- but Vitali Klitschko is not so sure his brother will
succeed.
"Nobody knows. My brother has his whole chance to beat Lamon
Brewster. It's a very important fight for him," Vitali told The
Associated Press. "But there is not one expert who can give the
prediction for the fight. It's boxing's heavyweight division and
every punch can decide the result."
At Friday's weigh-in, American boxing ring announcer Michael
Buffer introduced Klitschko (48-3, with 43 KOs) and Brewster (33-3,
29 KOs) and uttered his trademark "Let's Get Ready to
Rumblllllllle."
Looking relaxed, Klitschko tipped the scales at 243.6 pounds,
while the stoney-faced Brewster weighed in at 228 pounds.
"I will remain world champion," Klitschko declared. "I am
well prepared and very focused."
The 34-year-old Brewster is also considerably shorter at 6 feet
with a 77-inch reach. Klitschko is 6-6 with an 80-inch span.
"Wladimir is in good form," Vitali said. "But in heavyweight,
you can't be unfocused for even one second."
In 2004 at Las Vegas, Brewster was saved by the bell after being
knocked down by Klitschko in the fourth round.
Two left hooks by Brewster midway through the fifth round turned
the bout around, Klitschko going down for the second time after the
bell to end the round. The fight was stopped with Brewster on his
stool when the referee ruled Klitschko unfit to continue after he
struggled to get off the canvas.
Klitschko's camp initially claimed he was poisoned by Brewster's
entourage, but there was no evidence to support the claim and
Klitschko eventually accepted the defeat.
Klitschko bounced back to win his next six fights. He won the
IBF title by stopping Chris Byrd in April 2006, and beat Calvin
Brock and Ray Austin in two defenses since.
Brewster defended his WBO title three times, beating Kali
Meehan, Andrew Golota and Luan Krasniqi, but lost on a unanimous
decision to Sergei Liakhovich in April 2006 .