Photos: Tom Casino/SHOWTIME – The always-exciting Tomasz Adamek will defend his International Boxing Federation (IBF) cruiserweight title against undefeated Johnathon Banks in the main event this Friday, Feb. 27, on ShoBox: The New Generation on SHOWTIME (11 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the west coast). The aggressive-minded Adamek (36-1, 24 KOs), of Jersey City, N.J., by way of Poland, will be making the first defense of his IBF title against Detroit’s Banks (20-0, 14 KOs), the IBF’s No. 8-ranked contender who is managed by Hall of Famer Emanuel Steward, at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J..
In the 12-round ShoBox co-feature, Giovanni Lorenzo (26-1, 18 KOs), of New York City via the Dominican Republic, will meet Dionisio Miranda (19-3-2, 17 KO’s) of Barranquilla, Colombia, in an IBF middleweight elimination bout. The winner could be next in line to challenge champion Arthur Abraham..
The event is promoted by Main Events and Ziggy Promotions, in association with K2 Promotions. Tickets, priced from $38, can be purchased at the arena box office or by calling Ticketmaster (201) 507-8900. The first live fight starts at 8:30 p.m. ET.
What the fighters and camp members said Wednesday:
TOMASZ ADAMEK
“I am thankful to everyone who came out today and is supporting the fight.
“I am the world champion and the best cruiserweight right now. After the fight with Johnathon on Friday, I will still be the champ and still be the best.”
JOHNATHON BANKS
“I want to thank my staff, Main Events and especially Tomasz for giving me this opportunity to fight him.
“I don’t take a fight I don’t think I can win. I can box, I have the ability and I’m confident. He’s a dangerous fighter. We know that. I have the skills to win.”
EMANUEL STEWARD (Banks’ manager)
“Adamek is a big star. He’s created a great buzz and I enjoy watching him fight. It will be the Adamek show but come 11 p.m. (ET) it will become the Banks’ show. Banks will knock him out. I feel very confident. No matter what happens it will be a great fight. Both guys will be fighting for recognition.
“Banks is the strong puncher but Adamek has heart. It will be exciting”
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GIOVANNI LORENZO
“I am very well prepared mentally. Better then I have been before. Each fight you need to step up to a higher level. On Friday you will see why they call me a ‘Chico Malo.’ ”
ALFREDO MARCHIO (Miranda’s trainer)
“Dionisio has been training in Miami before coming here. Coming from Colombia where the average person earns between $500-600 a month, this is an amazing opportunity. He will show up and give it his best for ShoBox.
“He is a contender, not just an opponent. I expect fireworks. His opponent is a top-10 contender. This is a situation where it is contender versus contender. We’ll be ready to fight (IBF middleweight champion Arthur) Abraham.”