BREWSTER V GOLOTA, BRIGGS V ADAMEK MAY 21

Thursday, April 28, 2005 from the United Center in Chicago

ANDREW GOLOTA “To be or not to be, that is my question. I took two years off after the Tyson fight. After two years, I got tired of partying. I thought that something is missing in my life. I need to win a championship. I am proud of how I’ve come back.” When told that he seems to have matured over the past few years, Golota said, “I have learned discipline, discipline and strength.” “My last fight, against Ruiz, was my greatest disappointment. How did the judges see the fight this way? They were the only three people to see it this way.

“I will not lose. It will be my pleasure to beat Brewster at home in Chicago. I will not disappoint my fans here.” When told that Lamon Brewster questioned whether Golota could take his punch, Golota responded, “Can Brewster take my punch? Brewster dictated the fast pace in his fight against Klitschko. Brewster tried to be tough. If he fights me like he did Klitchko, he has trouble. I’m ready.

“This is a lifetime opportunity for me. If I don’t do this now, I never will. If I lose, I go fishing.” TOMASZ ADAMEK “I have about three weeks left in my training cycle. I have been working very hard and everything is great. My partnership with Sam Colonna [his trainer] is excellent and it will show on May 21.

“Briggs is very tough, goes forward and is a hard puncher. I like being the counter-attacker.

“After I win this fight, bring on the winner of Johnson vs. Tarver! I’ll fight anyone Don King puts in front of me.”

CHICAGO—A world heavyweight championship will be decided in Chicago for the first time in 24 years when World Boxing Organization heavyweight champion “Relentless” Lamon Brewster puts his title on the line against Andrew “Powerful Pole” Golota at the United Center on May 21.

Don King with Paul Briggs & Tomasz Adamek - Photo:Julio Mora

Another world title match will also be featured when Australian Paul “Hurricane” Briggs takes on Poland’s undefeated Tomasz Adamek for the vacant World Boxing Council light heavyweight crown.

Brewster (31-2, 27 KOs), 31, won his title by defeating Ukrainian giant Wladimir Klitschko with a spectacular fifth-round technical knockout at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas on April 10, 2004.

He successfully defended his title with a split-decision victory over Australian Kali “Checkmate” Meehan in his last appearance at Mandalay Bay on Sept. 4.

“Golota has overcome a lot of demons in his life to get back in the ring,” Brewster said, “but he will not be able to overcome me.”

“Chicago was the first major city I ever visited as a child and I have a lot of family there,” the Indianapolis native said. “I tried to get this fight in Indiana so the next best thing is to fight Golota in Chicago. I will make the Midwest proud.”

Golota (38-5-1, 31 KOs), 37, who has lived in Chicago since 1991 after emigrating from Warsaw, Poland, will make his third attempt in a row to win a world heavyweight title.

Golota fought International Boxing Federation champion Chris Byrd to a draw at Madison Square Garden on April 17, 2004, and after knocking down World Boxing Association heavyweight champion John “The Quietman” Ruiz twice in the second round at the Garden on Nov. 13 (and Ruiz had a point deducted for hitting on the break in round four), he still suffered a decision loss. Many ringside observers felt Golota had won both contests.

“I feel that I should have been named the IBF champion after I fought Chris Byrd,” Golota said. “After I fought John Ruiz, I should have been the IBF and WBA champion. Still, I am happy to be fighting Lamon Brewster for his WBO title. If there is any justice in this world, I will win the world title at home in Chicago on May 21.”

Tickets priced at $35, $75, $100, $200, $300 and $500 are on sale now and can be purchased at the United Center Box Office, www.ticketmaster.com, and at all Ticketmaster outlets. Tickets can also be charged by phone by calling (312) 559-1212. The event is being promoted by Don King Productions in association with the United Center.

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This marks the first time a world heavyweight championship will be decided in the Chicagoland area since World Boxing Association heavyweight champion Mike Weaver won a unanimous 15-round decision over James “Quick” Tillis at the Rosemont Horizon on Oct. 3, 1981.

“We’re bringing big-time boxing back to the Windy City and I’m very excited about it,” promoter Don King said. “It’s great to be doing this with my old friend Bill Wirtz at the United Center. Together, we’re bringing boxing back to the people in one of America’s greatest cities.”

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United Center President William W. Wirtz remembers Chicago’s proud boxing legacy.

“Chicago has always been rich in boxing history and tradition dating back to the Friday night fights at the old Chicago Stadium,” Wirtz said. “The United Center is proud to welcome world championship boxing back to Chicago.”

No. 1-ranked contender Briggs (23-1, 17 KOs) will face No. 4-ranked Adamek (28-0, 20 KOs) for the vacant WBC light heavyweight championship. This will be Adamek’s first fight in America and Briggs will be making only his second United States appearance. Briggs is training in Big Bear, Calif., under trainer Jack Mosley while Adamek is trained by Sam Colonna in the Golota camp in Chicago.

“I am stoked that we are fighting in Chicago because there are a million Poles in the city and I get to smash Adamek in front of 20,000 of them,” said the brash, 29-year-old Briggs. “I intend to eat, sleep and breathe Tomasz Adamek and on May 21 I will be ready to show the boxing world that Paul Briggs is the future of the light heavyweight division.”

Adamek says he respects Briggs’ ability but will prevail.

“I have seen Briggs fight on TV,” Adamek, 28, said. “In every fight he shows a lot of heart but I will win. The Polish community in Chicago is very happy to support me. I am working hard in training with Sam every day to win. He is very good to work with. He's Italian with a very big heart.

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Don King Productions has promoted more than 500 world championship matches including some of the biggest events in history. DKP has promoted or co-promoted 12 of the top-20 highest-grossing live gates in the history of the state of Nevada including the top five:

• Holyfield vs. Lewis II, paid attendance: 17,078, gross: $16,860,300
  (NOTE: Also highest live-gate gross for any event in the history of the world.), date: Nov. 13, 1999;
• Holyfield vs. Tyson II, paid attendance: 16,279, gross: $14,277,200, date: June 28, 1997;
• Holyfield vs. Tyson I, paid attendance: 16,103, gross: $14,150,700, date: Nov. 9, 1996;
• Tyson vs. McNeeley, paid attendance: 16,113, gross: $13,965,600, date: Aug. 19, 1995; and
• De La Hoya vs. Trinidad, paid attendance: 11,184, gross: $12,949,500
  (Also garnered the most pay-per-view buys for a non-heavyweight fight at 1.4 million.), date: Sept. 18, 1999.

The United Center, home to the Chicago Blackhawks and Chicago Bulls, is the largest arena in the United States hosting over 20 million guests since it opened in 1994, averaging 200 events each year.

Some of the events the United Center has been proud to host include the 1996 Democratic National Convention, The Rolling Stones, Eric Clapton, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, Paul McCartney, U2, The Who, The 3 Tenors, Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus, Disney on Ice, the Big Ten Men's Basketball Tournament, the Men's NCAA Basketball Tournament, the Great Eight Classic, DePaul College Basketball, and Champions on Ice.

For more information contact Alan Hopper/Bob Goodman John LaHair Steve Brener/John Beyrooty Ivy Moon Don King Productions DCU Center BZA Public Relations SHOWTIME (954) 418-5839/5842 (508) 929-0126 818-344-6195 ext. 103/109 (212) 708-7319

BREWSTER V GOLOTA, BRIGGS V ADAMEK MAY 21 - DKP PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES

Lamon Brewster: “I wasn’t going to say much but sometimes you have to say what’s in your heart. I haven’t had an easy road. I’ve had many obstacles to overcome to get to where I am today: emotionally, physically and spiritually. I love Chicago. Where I grew up there was only one building and it made me reach for more in life than to be a factory worker in Indiana.

That’s why it’s great that I’m defending my title in the Midwest city that I always dreamed of living up to. Chicago is one of the greatest cities in the world, all the way back to
Jack Johnson, who made his home here. I owe it all to the Midwest. To just come from down the street and fight here, we don’t get opportunities like this where I’m from.

Don King took a chance on me when he didn’t have to. Andrew Golota is a force to be reckoned with and he’s going to bring his “A” game. I’m not Ali and I’m not going to pick this round or that. I’m going to give 100% on fight night and if they take me out on a stretcher, I will still have the belt around my waste.

Ali said, ‘The only way to be great is to fight good opponents.’”

Andrew Golota: “I would like to thank everyone for their support for all of these years, especially my family. Chicago is a great city. I’ve made my home here for the last 15 years. And all I can say is that Chicago needs a heavyweight world champion.”

Brewster beat one of the best heavyweights out there—Klitschko. But this time I can’t leave it in the judges’ hands. I will knock Lamon Brewster out.”

Don King: “We are bringing big-time boxing back to Chicago after 24 years. We put over 22,000 people in the stands in St. Louis and my good friend Bill Wirtz has assured me that the record will not stand. We will have over 23,000 in attendance on May 21. This is the battle of Chicago… Border War!”

William Wirtz : “Don King and I have been talking about bringing big-time boxing back to Chicago for 20 years. This is not words, words, words. This is happening now.”

Jesse Reid (Brewster’s trainer): “He was 18 the first time I met him [Lamon Brewster]. I always stayed in contact and now I get a chance to finish it. I look at his great spirit and great body and think of wonderful things.

Sam Colonna (Golota’s trainer): I’ve been asking for a fight in Chicago for a long time and it’s finally here. Andrew is in great shape and is training very hard. Come May 21, you will see a new heavyweight champion of the world, Andrew Golota.”

Paul Briggs: “I would like to thank my opponent Tomasz Adamek, because without him it wouldn’t be possible. I’m in great shape and I look forward to being the next light heavyweight champion of the world. There will be 10,000 of them [Polish fans] here but they don’t have to fight me, Tomasz does.”

Tomasz Adamek: “You gave me a chance and I will give everything for this fight. I am very happy that it is in Chicago where there are many Polish people.”

Alejandro “Terra” Garcia: [Through interpreter] I am a Mexican fighter. I don’t know much English right now but I am learning. I would like to thank Roshii Wells for taking this fight. I was planning to fight Mayorga and I don’t know why it didn’t happen but I will let that pass. The only reason I lost the only fight of my career is because I got careless in the ring and that will never happen again.”

Miguel Angel Gonzalez: “I want to get another opportunity for a world title. Thanks to Chicago for letting me fight in your city.”

Mark Suarez: “Whatever gets in my way will be defeated and that’s the way it is going to go. Be at the fights because my fight will be the most exciting of the night. I always take over.”