Golota lasts only 53 seconds

CHICAGO – WBO heavyweight champion Lamon Brewster made quick work of Andrew Golota on Saturday night, scoring a technical knockout 53 seconds into their scheduled 12-round bout at the United Center.

Brewster knocked down Golota three times with thunderous left hooks, the first coming 13 seconds into the bout. After Golota got up, Brewster continued to attack and knocked the challenger between the second and third ropes.

Then, Brewster (32-2, 28 knockouts) landed a series of punches and ending the fight with another left hook that dropped Golota.

It was a quick end to the fight, and, possibly, Golota’s career. The 37-year-old Golota (38-6-1, 31 KOs) said he would retire if he didn’t win.

Golota was fighting in his fourth title bout.

Golota was coming off a controversial decision loss to WBA champion John Ruiz in November and a draw against IBF champ Chris Byrd seven months earlier. The loss to Ruiz especially grated on Golota, who knocked his opponent down twice in the second round that night.

Saturday, Golota simply showed nothing fighting in his adopted hometown. He received mostly cheers, with a few boos, from the crowd of 20,126 in the pre-fight introductions.

On the undercard, Tomasz Adamek of Poland won the vacant WBC light heavyweight championship, earning a 12-round decision over Paul Briggs of Australia in a bloody fight.

Briggs and Adamek each dealt plenty of punishment, but there were no knockdowns.

Judge John McCarthy had Adamek winning 115-113, while John Keane scored it 114-114. Nobuaki Uratani scored it 117-113 for Adamek.