IBF/IBO heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko suffered a broken left middle finger yesterday during his fight with Lamon Brewster, and is now wearing a cast that extends past his elbow. Seems a little dramatic for a broken finger, although some are calling it a "broken hand."
News of the injury surfaced today, from Klitschko assistant trainer Jamen Ali Bashir. Bashir says that the injury will take eight weeks to heal, which means it'll be a while before Wlad returns to boxing activity, not that there's any pressing rush at this time.
Brewster trainer Buddy McGirt and the Klitschko team have both agreed that Brewster would have been knocked out in the seventh round had McGirt and his fighter not decided to call it a day. Looking back, it sure might have helped Brewster to get a tune-up fight in before he took this one, but it's tough to turn down a payday or opportunity like that when you're 34 years old and have been out of the ring for a year.
But to think that Klitschko was dominating with that injured-hand jab is pretty amazing. If it hadn't been hurt, he might've knocked Brewster out with a jab at some point.