Adamek - Cunningham II Set for Dec 22nd
By Ken Hissner, Doghouse Boxing (Dec 19, 2012) Doghouse Boxing
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Steve Cunningham (L) - Tomasz Adamek (R)
Photo ©
Marcin Kondek |
It
was four years ago that Tomasz “Goral” Adamek, 47-2 (29), from Zywiec,
POL, and now out of Jersey City, NJ, and Philadelphia’s Steve “USS”
Cunningham, 25-4 (12) met at the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ, where
Adamek took the IBF Cruiserweight title on a split decision. Now the
site is the Sands Casino Resort in Bethlehem, PA, over NBC on December
22nd in the “Little Town of Bethlehem” just days prior to
Christmas! This will be a 12 round IBF North American title defense for
Adamek.
Main Events and Ziggy Promotions held a luncheon and press conference
Tuesday at the Wisla Club in Garfield, NJ. Adamek, promoter’s Kathy
Duva and Ziggy Rozalski were at the main table along with the
combatants, Cunningham trainer Naazim Richardson and Darryl Peoples of
the IBF.
“This will be an afternoon show (4pm EST) over NBC at the Sands
Casino. We tried to get the Prudential but it was booked. We have
promoted at the Sands and it’s a beautiful venue that we plan to fill,”
said Duva. Asking Duva why there wasn’t a rematch right away due to it
being considered a “fight of the year” she said “it was over Versus and
we couldn’t get HBO or Showtime to take it”.
Both fighters are very respectful to each other and both now under
contract to Main Events. “I want to thank Kathy Duva to once again
co-promote with me. She makes it easy because she does all the
work. This should be a tremendous fight. May the better man win,” said
Ziggy. Richardson said “one of the toughest spirited boxers I ever
worked for is Cunningham”. Cunningham acknowledged his team including
his wife Livvy, who serves as manager, Richardson and cut-man/ass’t
trainer Buddy Osborn.
“I’ve
wanted this rematch since the time we last fought. I thank the IBF,
who sticks to their rules and made my trips to Europe (7) much
easier. May this bring glory to my God,” said Cunningham, the former
two-time IBF Cruiserweight champ.
“Tomasz never put in a bad performance,” said Duva. Adamek added “I
know Steve wanted this rematch since I took his title in 2008”. This
will be an IBF eliminator for the vacant No. 2 spot with the winner
meeting the No. 1 contender Kubrat Pulev, 17-0 (9), of Bulgaria, who is
European and IBF International champion, in order to get a title shot
with champion Wladimir Klitschko. All but 3 of Pulev’s fights have
been in Germany.
Since their first meeting Adamek has had 12 fights winning all but a WBC
title fight with Vitali Klitschko, brother of Wladimir. Cunningham has
had 6 fights in regaining his IBF title before losing it. Cunningham
is 36 and Adamek will be 36 December 1st. Cunningham made his
heavyweight debut in his last fight and plans to come in at about
210. Adamek has been 9-1 as a heavyweight and plans to come in at about
220.
Both fighters are very likeable and especially Adamek whom Duva calls “a
man of few words” is extremely humble. Cunningham plans to “win this
fight” though not talking about how he plans on doing it. In their
first fight Cunningham fought Adamek’s fight by being very
aggressive. He was knocked down in 3 separate rounds. All of the other
rounds were mostly won by Cunningham with matchmaker J Russell Peltz
having Adamek a 1 point winner while this writer gave Cunningham the
edge.
Now with a good 10 pound weight advantage and twice as active since
their first meeting only gives Adamek that much more of an edge. He
came off the canvas in his last fight against Travis Walker to come back
and stop his opponent. Both Cunningham and Adamek were on the same
card in September. About a dozen members of the press were
present. Publicist Ellen Haley of Main Events saw to it as usual all
members of the press were well taken care of leading up to and including
the press conference. There are 3 other bouts currently scheduled with
locals Will Miranda and Jerome Rodriguez in a 6 and a 4 rounder. PA
lightweight champion Niam Nelson of Philadelphia will be in an 8
rounder.
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E-mail questions, comments to Ken Hissner
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