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No one paid much attention to the name “Sergei ‘White Wolf’ Lyakhovich” until the night of April 1st when he dethroned WBO Heavyweight Champion Lamon Brewster with a convincing unanimous decision.
The Showtime-televised fight, an all-out war of attrition, saw both fighters landing heavy shots in a definite fight of the year candidate. As a result of the grueling battle, Brewster, suffering a detached retina, was forced to hand his title over to Lyakhovich, who won the crowd over with his heart and resolve, boxing skills and fast hands.
Now, on November 4th, Lyakhovich, 23-1 (14 KOs), will make the first defense of his WBO strap when he steps into the ring against former title challenger Shannon Briggs, 47-4-1 (41 KOs) in Phoenix, Ariz.
*********.com caught up with the new champion during a workout held at the Central Boxing Gym in Phoenix.
The Belarusian native spoke of his origins; that he came from a working class family; and that it was his father who suggested he try out boxing.
My dad and my whole family are fight fans,” said Lyakhovich. “So when I was 12 years old, my father told me to try boxing, and I liked it. After a few tournaments, I decided it was fun.”
Lyakhovich launched a stellar amateur career that, by the time he turned pro, would reach 145-15 and earn him a place on the Belarusian Olympic team in 1996.
After three pro fights in his home country, Lhyakhovich came to the U.S., on the advice of his manager, Ivailo Gotzev, to make his home in Scottsdale, Ariz. in 1999.
Since then, it’s been a long but steady climb towards contention and a world title.
“My life has changed a lot,” Lyahkhovich says. “I get lots of attention, people recognize me. My financial situation is much better.”
Most importantly, he says, he’s fulfilled his dream of becoming heavyweight champion.
While he admits that the financial aspects of fights are important, the new champ places more emphasis on his desire to unify the division and give the public one recognized champion.
Lyakhovich is also irked on the current trend of labeling all four heavyweight champions as “Russian” or “East European.”
“I don’t understand why the fighters from eastern Europe are being lumped together,” says Lyakhovich. “We are all different, with different styles, but we do have the same goal and that is to be unified champion.
“It doesn’t matter where you are from or the color of your skin. Hard work is how you get here. Believe me, when that guy is hitting you, the last thing you are thinking about is where he is from, or the color of his skin.”
As for fighting one of the other three champions, Lyakhovich stated, “I have only spoken with Oleg Maskaev, briefly, and I was actually scheduled to fight Nicolai Valuev, just before I left Belarus, but that fight fell through.
“As for Wladimir Klitschko, I trained with him when we were preparing for the ‘96 Olympics and we sparred a couple of times. I want to fight Klitschko for his title-I have something I want to give him.”
Lyakhovicyh says his desire to fight Klitschko is no grudge match, but that “I respect him—but I can’t say I like him or dislike him.”
Before Lyakhovich will have a chance to garner other titles, he will have to get past Shannon Briggs on Nov. 4th.
“Shannon Briggs is a good fighter,” he says. He has fast hands. I think this is his last chance and he will come in the best shape of his life. He is capable of taking you out in a second.
“But that is not going to happen. I have more skills. I am a better boxer than he is. I have faster hands and better feet.”
The Showtime-televised fight, an all-out war of attrition, saw both fighters landing heavy shots in a definite fight of the year candidate. As a result of the grueling battle, Brewster, suffering a detached retina, was forced to hand his title over to Lyakhovich, who won the crowd over with his heart and resolve, boxing skills and fast hands.
Now, on November 4th, Lyakhovich, 23-1 (14 KOs), will make the first defense of his WBO strap when he steps into the ring against former title challenger Shannon Briggs, 47-4-1 (41 KOs) in Phoenix, Ariz.
*********.com caught up with the new champion during a workout held at the Central Boxing Gym in Phoenix.
The Belarusian native spoke of his origins; that he came from a working class family; and that it was his father who suggested he try out boxing.
My dad and my whole family are fight fans,” said Lyakhovich. “So when I was 12 years old, my father told me to try boxing, and I liked it. After a few tournaments, I decided it was fun.”
Lyakhovich launched a stellar amateur career that, by the time he turned pro, would reach 145-15 and earn him a place on the Belarusian Olympic team in 1996.
After three pro fights in his home country, Lhyakhovich came to the U.S., on the advice of his manager, Ivailo Gotzev, to make his home in Scottsdale, Ariz. in 1999.
Since then, it’s been a long but steady climb towards contention and a world title.
“My life has changed a lot,” Lyahkhovich says. “I get lots of attention, people recognize me. My financial situation is much better.”
Most importantly, he says, he’s fulfilled his dream of becoming heavyweight champion.
While he admits that the financial aspects of fights are important, the new champ places more emphasis on his desire to unify the division and give the public one recognized champion.
Lyakhovich is also irked on the current trend of labeling all four heavyweight champions as “Russian” or “East European.”
“I don’t understand why the fighters from eastern Europe are being lumped together,” says Lyakhovich. “We are all different, with different styles, but we do have the same goal and that is to be unified champion.
“It doesn’t matter where you are from or the color of your skin. Hard work is how you get here. Believe me, when that guy is hitting you, the last thing you are thinking about is where he is from, or the color of his skin.”
As for fighting one of the other three champions, Lyakhovich stated, “I have only spoken with Oleg Maskaev, briefly, and I was actually scheduled to fight Nicolai Valuev, just before I left Belarus, but that fight fell through.
“As for Wladimir Klitschko, I trained with him when we were preparing for the ‘96 Olympics and we sparred a couple of times. I want to fight Klitschko for his title-I have something I want to give him.”
Lyakhovicyh says his desire to fight Klitschko is no grudge match, but that “I respect him—but I can’t say I like him or dislike him.”
Before Lyakhovich will have a chance to garner other titles, he will have to get past Shannon Briggs on Nov. 4th.
“Shannon Briggs is a good fighter,” he says. He has fast hands. I think this is his last chance and he will come in the best shape of his life. He is capable of taking you out in a second.
“But that is not going to happen. I have more skills. I am a better boxer than he is. I have faster hands and better feet.”
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