Moore said he chose Hamilton because he wants to help young people in the city, especially those who are underserved or heading in the wrong direction.
“We're trying to create an atmosphere where kids can learn how to box, the discipline and all that,” she said. “Buster Douglas and Lamon Brewster are going to be bringing that to Hamilton this year and in the years to come.”
Douglas is most famous for knocking out then-undefeated world heavyweight champion Mike Tyson in 10 rounds at the Tokyo Dome in Japan. It was considered the biggest upset in the history of the sport, considering Tyson was a 42-1 favorite to win. He lost his first title defense eight months later to then-number one contender Evander Holyfield.
A former multiple-time boxing champion, Brewster won his first title when he captured the WBO North American Boxing Organization title in 2002. He won his first heavyweight belt in 2004 when he defeated Wladimir Klitschko by fifth-round TKO to win the WBO title, a title he held for nearly two years.
Lamon Brewster said that when he was an amateur boxer, seeing professionals in the crowd was a thrill and “brought out the best in me,” and Douglas was one of those professionals in 1995. The two became friends over the years, and now, decades later, they plan to help future generations of boxers while also supporting Hamilton's youth.
Ever since his days as a professional boxer, Brewster has wanted to help amateur boxers and support them on their journey, and now, in partnership with Douglas, he is making that dream a reality.
Moore said after the first tournament, he would like to consider inviting other champions from neighboring states and also getting amateur boxers to participate.
“We're looking to build on it,” she said, “but we want to get this first year started.”
The plan is to hold a pro-am bowling event on Aug. 23, where bowlers and amateurs will play together, followed by 15 amateur matches the following afternoon. The amount of space will vary by venue, with Hamilton High School being considered.
