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Klitschkos Come Knocking on Brooks' Door
By Steve Kim (June 26, 2002)

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They say that as one door closes, another one is bound to open. And that's exactly what happened to the highly respected Tommy Brooks when after refusing a pay cut to be Mike Tyson's trainer he was released in favor of Ronnie Shields, who would co-train Tyson alongside Stacy McKinley for Lennox Lewis.

But as his six-fight run with Tyson would come to an end, knocking on the door were a pair of brothers who many think are the future of the heavyweight division — Wladimir and Vitali Klitschko.

Brooks couldn't have been any more fortunate. Not only did he get paid every cent (eventually) that was owed by Tyson, but his reputation was intact as he was nowhere near the turmoil filled corner in Memphis on June 8th.

"It was like a blessing in disguise to get away from that organization, that's number one," said a relieved Brooks. "I could work with anybody but these guys were making it ridiculous, y'know? You got to listen to everyone crying and moaning and then they don't want to pay you on top of that. It's crazy. I think the Klitschkos are two beautiful guys. They're young guys, they're up and coming and they want to learn. It's like a breath of fresh air working with these guys because they really appreciate what you're showing them."

Brooks was contacted by the Klitschkos' promoter Peter Kohl of Universum several months ago.

"When Wladimir fought Francois Botha I went over for the fight," explained Brooks. "His people sat down with me and Peter just asked me, 'What do you want?' I had never been approached like that, so I was kinda dumbstruck. They said, 'We'll give you anything you want as long as you'll be a part of Universum'. So they hadn't gotten back to me for awhile. They were waiting for a new television contract so I guess everything came into play and I met them in Atlantic City and he came again with, 'Whatever you want.'"

Brooks isn't completely unfamiliar with the Klitschkos having worked with them in Houston, Texas a few years back while he was co-training Evander Holyfield with Don Turner. This Saturday night he gets his first test run with Wladimir who takes on the rugged Ray Mercer — someone who he is not completely unfamiliar with either.

"It's ironic because I worked with Ray before when I was part of 'Triple Threat'," pointed out Brooks. "Ray, he's a sergeant, he's a trooper, he's going to stay there. You're going to have to beat Ray down and I'm trying to get that across to Wladimir. This guy is not going to quit. He's not like most guys who come over there for a payday. This is his life, this is his livelihood and he knows that this is his last go-around, so you're going to have to beat him around."

Mercer is now on the other side of 40 and hasn't been that active the past few years — especially against world-class opposition — but what he does bring is a iron-clad chin and toughness. Being tough and durable was enough for Ross Purrity to outlast Klitschko a few years ago in his only career loss. His brother Vitali would get plenty of heat for retiring against Chris Byrd back in 2000. Critics derided them as 'the Quit-schkos' and 'Chicken Kiev' (a classic moniker handed out by our own Michael Katz). The brothers have immense physical talent but they still must shake the reputation as pampered front-runners.

Brooks says that he hasn't broached that subject with them at this time. He says it's simply too soon.

"I'm trying to get my way in with them and regardless of what your credentials are, such as mine, guys still have to trust you and I just don't want to go in and say, 'I'm this, I'm that' because that turns guys off real quick."

But in the two siblings — who say they will never face each other in a real fight — Brooks says he's got willing pupils.

"They catch on so fast it's unbelievable. I really won't have enough time to make a difference in this fight for Wladimir but he's picked up a few things, we're going to throw a few wrinkles at Ray."

Brooks has a few things he still has to work on with Wladimir, whom many call the prototypical 21st Century heavyweight.

"Number one, he pulls straight back," points out Brooks. "That's a no-no. Especially when you're fighting American fighters. Number two, I'd like to see him be able to close the show, he satisfied with just hitting the guy with one solid shot. I'm trying to get him to close the show with two or three shots and it's over with."

One of the more interesting dynamics of this relationship is that Brooks is co-training the two hulking Ukrainians alongside Fritz Sdunek who has shepherded the two brothers throughout their professional careers. But unlike Team Tyson, this isn't 'Team Turmoil'.

"None, whatsoever," claims Brooks, who has worked with the likes of Eddie Futch, Angelo Dundee, Ace Miller and Don Turner in the past, "because Fritz knows I've been to the big dance on many occasions and he hasn't. I think he's aware of the fact that I have some input that could only enhance him. And he's a smart guy and I've never been one of the guys where it's 'me, me, me, I, I, I' We're a team and anybody will tell you that I'll work with anybody. I treat people like I want to be treated. I'm not going to step on anybody."

It's a far cry from working with the likes of Stacy McKinley and characters like Steve 'Crocodile' Fitch.

"Fritz is the kind of guy where we talk and he listens to what I have to say and he sees the big picture. Where as the guys with Tyson, everybody has their own agenda," said Brooks, pointing out the contrasts. "It's like they didn't understand, this is all about Mike, it's not about Tommy Brooks and like I tried to tell Stacy all the time, 'Look man, it's not my fault you haven't been successful. I paid my dues just like you did' I carried the spit bucket, I had to wait my turn George Benton used to tell me all the time, 'Son, just take your time, it's gonna happen for you' and it did."

As for a possible culture clash, Brooks believes that fighters are fighters.

"I think it's overblown," states Brooks. "I think any athlete can adapt. If you're fed the right information and you're shown the correct way to do it- you can adapt. These guys are adapting to what I'm showing them. Another six months, you'll see the difference."

And according to Brooks, communicating with the Klitschkos isn't that difficult as they do have a grasp of the English language.

"No, not at all, I told them that, 'If you help me with my German, I'll help you with your English," said Brooks, laughing. Of course, in the gym, everybody speaks the universal language of boxing.

TYSON

Was Brooks surprised at the way his former fighter got manhandled by Lennox Lewis on June 8th?

"Not at all," replied Brooks. "I was surprised in a sense that Mike wasn't in fighting shape. It looked as though he was in shape but there's a difference between being in shape and fighting shape. And you saw that in the first round when the first jab Lennox hit him in the nose, it was over with.

"More to it than that, Mike was too complacent to win. When Jim Gray did the interview with him in the lockerroom, I've never seen Mike that calm before a fight. He's always pacing the floors, biting at the bit, y'know, it's 'lets get this over with'. He was just too calm, too complacent."

Brooks also believes that 234 pounds was much too heavy for Tyson against a fighter of Lewis' caliber.

"That just goes to show you that he wasn't in fighting shape," Brooks said. "He was just more concerned about his appearance. Mike is a very proud guy and he takes pride in his appearance but obviously they weren't doing what they were supposed to be doing in the gym. You can't blame the trainers, you gotta blame Mike for that one because he should've been putting in the work."

Brooks also questions the less-than-Spartan atmosphere of Maui, Hawaii as the choice for their training camp.

"C'mon, you gotta be kidding me," says Brooks, with a laugh. "I mean, first of all, if a guy is supposed to be broke, why are you training in Maui? I mean you gotta import everything there. And number two, that's a vacation spot, man. You got people on vacation there and from what I understand the weed is flowing like wine. So those guys partake in that type of thing, it's kind of hard for you to stay focused and do what you're supposed to do."

Ultimately things worked out for the best for Brooks and unlike many others who have worked with Tyson he was fully compensated and he left with his integrity intact. He fully admits that if he was in Maui with Tyson the opportunity to work with the Klitschkos might have never come. Brooks reflects on his departure from Tyson.

"The more and more I think about it, I think it was more of a thing where they couldn't control me," he said. "You just can't tell me anything and I was going to buy it. You know what I mean? I'm my own man, I'm my own person and I'm not just going for the okey-doke.

When they first offered the new contract to me, the first thing I said was, 'Where's Mike?' ' Well, he's
in
Cuba'. I said, 'Where at in Cuba? Why do you want to know that?' Because I want to see him and see if he knew about this bulls__t and I want to talk to him one on one.

"And Shelly (Finkel) tells me it's not a good idea to talk to Mike, hey, that was the writing on the wall right there. This guys supposed to be my friend and he's telling me not to talk to the guy I trained? C'mon, man."

So now, Brooks embarks on his newest journey with his newest fighter, Wladimir Klitschko, a guy he thinks could be the game's next great big man.

"Wladimir, God-willing, stays healthy, he's the future," says Brooks. "Otherwise, I wouldn't be there."

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