by Suge Green | Fri. Oct. 29, 2010

The Heavyweight Championship of the World was once the ultimate crown in the world of athletics as well as masculinity. It was the prize all fighters dreamed of one day grasping, regardless of their national, social or individual loyalties - the desire to be deemed the "baddest man on the planet" was a lust universal to combatants the world over.

The halls of history are lined with those who sacrificed all they had in order to position themselves to be the man standing across the ring from the guardian of the gold. Some have even sacrificed all more than once, with the feeling that a shot at the greatest prize in boxing is not to be denied.

How times have changed. Or is it the contracts?

A hungry, fit and talented fighter surely wouldn't pass on an opportunity to claim what was once boxing's most coveted prize - would he?

Earlier this year there was much talk of the upcoming bout between Heavyweight Champion of the World, Wladimir Klitschko and Alexander Povetkin. The undefeated Povetkin had been waiting in the wings for quite some time for his shot, and the boxing world was assured by his team of the Russian's readiness. Povetkin it was said, intended to get in the ring with Klitschko Sept. 11, in Frankfurt, Germany.

In late July however, serious roadblocks were encountered which led to negotiations falling apart - and the fight was ultimately scrapped.

It was reported these roadblocks were of a contractual nature. Rather than leaving the public speculating, Povetkin's team went public with the matter.

His manager sent details of what his promoter, Kalle Sauerland referred to as, "Twenty-six pages, which can only be described as a slave contract," to a Russian writer. The matter was reported on and briefly became a discussion item amongst boxing fans before Wladimir signed to face Samuel Peter in his September defense. The Klitschko-Povetkin contractual dispute was forgotten, with many suspecting Povetkin of cowardice.

A recent ONTHEGRiND BOXiNG audio interview with former Heavyweight Champion of the World Lamon Brewster is giving some observers cause to take a second look at the Povetkin matter.

Brewster told listeners he suffered an eye injury during his bout with Robert Helenius in January, on a Sauerland Event card. Brewster is no stranger to in-ring injuries of an optical nature, however he is a stranger to the care, or lack thereof he has been receiving courtesy of the hosts of his last fight. Brewster revealed he has been paying for medical expenses he incurred as a result of his fight with Helenius on the Sauerland Event card.

While Brewster's climb back up the heavyweight ranks was put on indefinite hiatus, the costs of the likely career-ending bout have continued to climb. Since January the former champion has undergone four eye surgeries, and struggled with the financial hardship of paying for the expensive operations (Brewster said Sauerland has NOT paid for his surgeries or shared the financial burden). The last man to defeat a Klitschko said doctors visits are now a regular part of his routine.

Sadly, Brewster also confided he can no longer play catch with his children, and he needs his wife to walk beside him in public so he doesn't bump into things.

When Povetkin's team went public with complaints about the contractual issues they were having with Klitschko's K2 Promotions, one of the major bones of contention was regarding medical insurance.

Ruslan Chikov reported at the time, "K2 refuses to provide health insurance for the duration of the fight and commits Povetkin to bear all of the costs of all medical expenses in treating injuries that he may receive in the fight."

Chikov got his information from Alexander Pavlov, the writer Povetkin's manager sent the contract to.

Obviously the health of Alexander Povetkin is of major importance to Sauerland Event. Can the same be said of Lamon Brewster?

Brewster spoke highly of Wilfried and Kalle Sauerland, and doesn't appear to have any axe to grind with Sauerland Event. Does Sauerland have an axe to grind with Brewster?

One can't help but ask.

In the case of Povetkin, medical insurance was deemed a necessity, and the Klitschko's K2 Promotions was quickly demonized by Sauerland Event for not providing it for the Russian challenger. The Heavyweight Championship of the World wasn't worth risking Povetkin's health for.

Who does Sauerland Event blame now, since they have failed to take on financial responsibility for the injuries Brewster suffered? There are no Klitschkos to blame in this case, as Brewster was injured competing on a Sauerland Event card.

If Sauerland Event won't risk Povetkin's health for boxing's ultimate prize, why did they risk Lamon Brewster's health for the unheralded Robert Helenius?