Lamon Brewster reached the height of his career as a world champion, and now he is ready to help others reach theirs.
Next week he will assemble some of the best amateur fighters in the Midwest for his first Lamon Brewster Amateur Boxing Midwest Invitational, sponsored by Sarge Johnson Boxing Center. It will be held on Nov. 9 from 2 – 5 p.m. at the Washington Park Family Center, 3130 E. 30th St.
“We really want to bring the love of boxing back to Indianapolis,” Brewster said. “We especially want to do something to inspire these kids, get a chance to speak to them, make them feel like they are a part of something and hopefully get them to want to come into the gyms.”
At least 32 fighters from Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky and Ohio are expected to participate in 16 bouts. Brewster, who has been a world heavyweight boxing champion, will also serve as a commentator for the event with amateur light-heavyweight boxing champion Montell “Ice” Griffin.
Brewster has partnered with the Mozel Sanders Thanksgiving Foundation, which presents an annual thanksgiving dinner for thousands of those who would otherwise not have dinner on the holiday.
Guests who come to the invitational are asked to donate at least one canned good, which would take a dollar off their admission.
Brewster believes the invitational will not only help promote aspiring fighters, but also motivate at-risk youth to consider boxing as a positive alternative to choices that could lead them into a life of crime.
An Indianapolis native, Brewster was the World Boxing Organization’s heavyweight champion from 2004 to 2006. He is, to date, the last reigning world champion from the United States.
Although he was forced to retire from boxing in 2011 due to an eye injury, Brewster has made the best of his retirement and recently returned to Indianapolis to have a positive impact on his hometown, especially by mentoring youth.
“I want to give back to the city what it gave me, which was an opportunity to become a world champion,” said Brewster, who discovered boxing while growing up in a rough neighborhood in the Haughville area of the city’s Westside.
Brewster believes that boxing can have a positive impact on youth today as it did when he was a child. Among other things, he noted, boxing can offer positive goals, physical fitness and the confidence to stand up to those who may attempt to bully them.
“It gives these kids a reason to get off the street, it educates them, provides mentors, and helps them to feel good about themselves,” Brewster said.
Brewster has been joined in presenting his invitational by his friends and fellow professional fighters Riddick Bowe, Chris Byrd and Ray Mercer. They noticed a growing void in the amateur field, citing a decline of activity in the Midwest as well as the fact that the last men’s U.S. Olympic boxing team did not receive any medals.
They agreed that a boxing invitational that brought fighters from different states in the Midwest could help rekindle interest in the sport while also having a positive impact on the community.
“We feel like it is our duty to not only give back to the sport, because it saved our lives, and allowed us to become world champions and support our families, but also to give back to our communities,” Brewster stated.
Midwest champions, he added, will be eligible to compete next year in matches hosted by legendary professional fighters in other regions of the country.
Brewster jokingly said boxing fans in some states have been holding a grudge against him because he defeated fighters from those states.
“They say they’re gonna’ come here and kick our butts,” he said. “So I’m telling all of our Indiana fighters, I don’t care if you’re a man, woman or child, get in shape and don’t let me down, because our reputation is on the line.”
Get ready!
– What: Lamon Brewster Amateur Boxing Midwest Invitational
– Featuring: Lamon Brewster, Montell “Ice” Griffin and top Midwest amateur fighters
– When: Nov. 9, 2-5 p.m.
– Where: Washington Park Family Center, 3130 E. 30th St.
– Tickets: $11 regular admission, $10 with canned good, $5 for children 6-13, free for those 5 and under.
