Lone Voice In The Crowd? Lamon Brewster Gives Mormeck A Chance Against Klitschko This Saturday

By James Slater – Ask just about anybody – fight fan or fight expert – and chances are very good they will tell you this Saturday night’s world heavyweight title defence by Ring Mag, IBF, WBA, WBO, IBO king Wladimir Klitschko against Jean Marc Mormeck is one of the biggest mismatches the division has seen in many a year. Seen as just too small, too lacking in power and possibly too old and past his best at age 39, Frenchman Mormeck will be shocking the absolute world if he somehow pulls off a win in Dusseldorf.

Klitschko, pretty much at his peak at age 35, mentally anyway, says he is looking for his 50th KO, and it will be enough of an upset if “Dr. Steel Hammer” fails to collect it in three days time. But any heavyweight, no matter their age, size or perceived lack of punching power, has to be given a chance. .There have been, as we know, stunning upsets before; results that nobody saw coming: think novice Leon Spinks’ win over the great Ali, “Rock” Rahman’s sensational KO over all-time great Lennox Lewis and, the biggest of them all, Buster Douglas’ head spinner of a win over the “invincible” Mike Tyson.

Make no mistake, Mormeck, if he is to win on Saturday, will instantly have his name put right alongside that of “Neon” Leon, Rahman, and big Buster. And one man who knows a whole lot about the subject says he is willing to at least give “The Marksman,” as the former cruiserweight king is know, a chance.

Lamon Brewster, former WBO heavyweight champ and the last man to beat Wladimir, told this writer over the phone recently how he rates “tough guy” Mormeck, 36-4(22) and how the warrior from Seine-Saint-Denis will have a chance if he has prepared the right way.

Here’s what “Relentless” told me:

J.S: As you know, Wladimir is facing Jean Marc Mormeck on March 3rd – a fight most see as an easy win for Klitschko. How do you see that fight going, Lamon?

L.B: “Firstly, I’m a big fan of Mormeck; he reminds me of Marvin Hagler. But it will be hard for anyone to beat Wladimir, because he is so on top of his game. I think Mormeck can use my fight with Wladimir as a blueprint. He has to be mentally strong; to put pressure on. Mormeck tends to plod, though, and he has to cut off the ring. I hope Mormeck is working on his foot-work right now.

“Mormeck has the skills and he has that determination. He has to go to the body and keep on. If he can endure enough in the early rounds, and if he can endure Wladimir’s big shots, and if Mormeck can take it to the later rounds, Wladimir will begin to show his weaknesses. Pressure can definitely get to Wladimir. Mormeck is a dangerous fighter. Wladimir won’t be stupid and try and stand in front of Mormeck; he’ll try and win on points, by winning each round. The thing is – and I’m amazed no-one ever asks me how to prepare their fighters to fight a Klitschko – nobody uses the left hook nowadays. Mormeck will have to to to win.”

So, has that pre-fight prediction (one that at least says the fight will be competitive) sold you any on the fast-approaching fight? Or are you still resigned to putting Saturday’s heavyweight title defence firmly alongside the “safe” defences all the great ones took at one point in their career: think Ali-Jean Pierre Coopman, Ali-Richard Dunn, Larry Holmes-Marvis Frazier, George Foreman-Joe Roman, etc, etc, etc.

Personally, though I hate to disagree with Brewster – a man who knows more about boxing than I and most of the posters of this website ever will – I have to in this case. I go for Wladimir inside five.

I would pick a Klitschko KO 1, but Wladimir is and always will be a cautious fighter; a man who takes no chances whatsoever. If it ain’t broke don’t fix it. Look for “Dr. Steel Hammer” to have a good look at his man, break him down and take him out before the end of the 5th. Mormeck, not lacking in guts, will give it and go and go down swinging – but he will go down; unless his corner throws in the towel first.