Update: Comcast SportsNet will air the Andrew Golota – Tomasz Adamek IBF Heavyweight International Championship fight in the Chicago area, on Monday, February 1st at 7:30 pm CT, and Wednesday, February 3 at 11:00 pm CT. This is the first opportunity to see this exciting fight in the U.S., it was originally only broadcast on TV in Poland.
by Geoffrey Ciani – Tuesday morning, I was given a brief glimpse into the training camp of heavyweight contender Tomasz Adamek as he prepares for his February 6 fight with Jason Estrada. This will be the second heavyweight contest for the former cruiserweight and light heavyweight champion. He had his first fight at heavyweight back in October when he thoroughly outclassed former four-time title challenger and fellow Pole, Andrew Golota.
After a light training session, I was afforded an opportunity to briefly chat with Adamek and his trainer, Andrzej Gmitruk. Adamek made one thing very clear—he is looking for a title fight later this year..
Q: What do you think will be your biggest challenge against Estrada?
Tomasz Adamek: He’s a good boxer. He’s bigger. My goal is to be champion in the heavyweight division. I need to win this fight.
Q: Ideally, if you could get any of the titles holders, be it either Klitschko brother or David Haye, which one would you most like to fight?
TA: I am ready to fight everybody because it is my dream to be heavyweight champion.
Q: So there’s no particular champion you would most like to fight first?
TA: We have a fight February 6, and if I win, maybe in April I will fight Chris Arreola. Maybe one more fight, and then I will be ready for a championship fight.
Q: Jason Estrada thinks that maybe you are looking past him to a potential April fight with Arreola. What are your thoughts on that?
TA: Every guy who comes into the ring wants to win, but I feel I will win this fight. I believe it I am stronger. I’m healthy, and when I’m healthy I am very fast and I have power. This is just my way to win a championship fight.
Q: How has the transition from cruiserweight to heavyweight gone and what are the main differences in your preparations?
TA: It’s mostly the same, but my sparring partners are heavier, like 240-250. I think it’s the same, but it’s natural. I eat more, I drink a lot of water. I think it’s the same, just the sparring partners are heavier.
Q: Prior to your jump to heavyweight, did you have problems making weight?
TA: Yeah, I had all kinds of problems especially when I was trying to make 175. Right now, I feel very good. I’m happier with my training because I don’t have to worry about my weight.
Q: Estrada commented that you’ll have problems with his fast hands. How would you reply to that?
TA: I’m fast, too. I’m also stronger. He must know that. My jab is very strong and my right hand packs a lot of power.
Q: In your transition in bulking up and gaining weight, have you studied any older Evander Holyfield fight tapes when he first made the jump from cruiserweight to heavyweight?
Andrzej Gmitruk: It is difficult to compare because Holyfield’s style is completely different than Adamek’s style, and of course, what we have to think about with Adamek in the heavyweight division is extremely good movement from the upper body and the legs. His speed is like that from the light heavyweight division, and also he’s got a good left hook and right hand so he’s actually a more complete boxer now.
Q: In an historical sense, recent heavyweight champions have been bigger, stronger, and heavier. How do you plan to cope with this?
AG: Of course, we are planning secrets. Ralph (Mendez) makes a very good contribution with his physical preparations. He knows Tomasz, and he made an extremely good plan because every day, every month Tomasz is getting stronger and he has not lost his coordination or his speed and this is very good for him. This is why he is very dangerous for everyone in the heavyweight division.
Q: So you believe Tomasz has succeeded in physically making the transition to heavyweight?
AG: It is very difficult to see. We discuss everyday our team—Ralph, me, and Tomasz, and other people—it’s not so easy to make the correct decision. Tomasz trained extremely good and Ralph made a very good program. For me, I am very satisfied and very impressed because this program keeps all the tools he needed which is very important for us because most of the heavyweight fighters, they use the power lifting, and they lose coordination, they lose speed, and they lose many other things just always thinking about putting on more pounds, but Tomasz has everything still there even with the additional pounds.
Q: How does it feel to be coming back to fight at the Prudential Center again?
TA: I feel like it’s my second home. My first home was Poland, but not this is my second home—The United States. The Prudential Center is where I won my second belt, the IBF cruiserweight, but now I need one more belt at heavyweight. But I am happy to come back to the Prudential Center.
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To contact Ciani:
ciani@boxing247.com
To read more by Ciani please visit The Mushroom Mag:
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