Albert “Dragon” Sosnowski: History and Future

by Damian “andyZOR” Markut – Tomasz Adamek isn’t the only Polish Heavyweight making waves in boxing. Albert Sosnowski 45(27 KO’s)-2, has come a long way to where he is today, the European Heavyweight Champion. From criticism, to adversity, to stardom, Sosnowski is just begging.

Early Career

Sosnowski (30) is a calm and really interesting individual. This is a person who never disrespects the game or his opponents, always coming in top solid shape for his fights, a person who likes what he does, a person who is laid back and you could actually have a decent conversation with..

Sosnowski’s sporting career started out in Kickboxing and Soccer. After experiences in kickboxing, he had offers in Poland to start a boxing career. The propositions started with him fighting as a amateur. Sosnowski at the time (19 years old) canceled the proposition and decided to turn pro instead. Albert Sosnowski made his boxing debut at the tender age of 19 in a gala in Denmark. Sosnowski won his debut by TKO in the first round.

With no amateur background, Sosnowski didn’t have any prior boxing knowledge and had to learn so in the Pro Ranks. Following his pro boxing career, he has worked up to a 19(12 KOs)-0 record, prior to losing to a boxer named Arthur Cook. Most boxing fans like to point and look at the losses, instead of looking at the facts. If anything, the loss to Cook was a learning experience, and not a setback in Sosnowski’s career. Sosnowski, 23 at the time, continued his pro boxing spree after the loss, fighting all over the globe in places such as Hungary, Poland, The UK, and Holland. Having worked up to a 34(20 KO’s)-1 record, Sosnowski was than put up with big test vs. Poland’s last boxing Olympic Medalist, Wojciech Bartnik,from the 1992 Barcelona Olympics.

Bartnik at the time was a former Bronze Metal Olympian with a record of 11(7 KO’s)-3.

At that time, that would be Sosnowski biggest fight. Whilst having a Bronze Olympian on your Pro Boxing Resume would be appealing, the two went at it in N. Ireland.

Bartnik was a struggling pro and Sosnowski was a inexperienced, but hard working, boxer. Sosnowski went on to dominate Bartnik in a pretty brutal fashion, at one point landing a hard uppercut which almost took Bartnik’s head off. Bartnik was down in the fight once, and Sosnowski won a well deserved and dominate 6 round UD. Following 3 more fights, Sosnowski beat Orlin Norris, and was in line for a WBF title shot against Lawrence Tauasa. Sosnowski finished the fight in impressive fashion winning a Majority Descision. A win of this caliber would boost Sosnowski a bit higher in the ranks and maybe bring him closer to a EBU title shot.

Following this impressive victory, he was put up against undefeated Frenchman, heavyweight hopeful Steve Herelius. Sosnowski won this fight in dominate workmanlike UD fashion.

In August 2008, Sosnowski suffered his first major setback in his career. Sosnowski, who was 4-1 favorite, was scheduled to fight experienced journeyman, Zuri Lawrence, both taking the fight on short notice. Sosnowski who has worked hard to get wherehe was at this point, landed the fight on ESPN’s Friday Night Fights and suffered his second defeat. Sosnowski in the fight has looked exhausted from the beginning and out of place much of the time. Sosnowski, who really likes to work hard in his fights, showed a lack of motivation and game plan. Sosnowski went on to lose this fight by 8 round UD. Sosnowski has claimed after the fight to have been real sick and exhausted before the fight. Without wanting to pull out, Sosnowski put on his gloves and toughed it out. If anyone has ever seen Sosnowski fight before prior to the Lawrence fight, they would know that that wasn’t the same Sosnowski from the Herelius, Tauasa, Bartnik, and Norris fights. Sosnowski showed guts which is a aspect heavyweights today lack there of.

After the first major setback of his career, 3 months later he suffered his first major break of his career. Albert Sosnowski has been known in the British boxing scene for quite some time, having fought there many times in his career. He was certainly no stranger to the Brits, but he was a underestimated and under appreciated fighter known as just an average boxer with a padded record.

On November 8th, 2008, Britain’s highly regarded heavyweight hopefull, Danny Williams, also referred to as the Tyson Conqueror by the Brits, was in line to fight another fellow British Heavyweight, John McDermott. The bout between Williams and McDermott was suppose to be a stay busy bout for Danny Williams, prior to a major clash to fight South African, Frans Botha in Egypt of that same month. Williams had been due to defend his British Heavyweight title with a rematch against John McDermott, whom he beat in July 2008.

A week prior to the fight, McDermott suffered a rib injury to the title fight in London vs. Danny Williams. With McDermott out, Williams needed a opponent willing enough to take the fight, and on 1 weeks notice. Albert Sosnowski was contacted and agreed to take the offer in a non title fight.

Sosnowski, who always keeps himself in great shape year round and never disrespects the sport, was a heavy underdog in the 10 round bout. Coming off the embarrassing Zuri Lawrence loss, the bookies had a Sosnowski win at +400, whilst a Williams win had a -600 odd.

The bout set to keep Williams busy for his future fight with Frans Botha in Africa, turned out not as planned. Sosnowski came in the fight in great shape and with a nothing to lose attitude. With mostly everyone picking Williams by victory, Sosnowski knew the odds were stacked as far as everything went, even fighting on Williams’ home turf. Sosnowski came motivated and ready to ruin William’s party.

As the fight progressed, Sosnowski was bullying the British Champion and making him pay when he landed nice combinations and pressed the action with good punch stat numbers. With the fight going in Sosnowski’s favor, in round 8 Sosnowski landed a wild left hook that staggered Williams and sent him on the canvas. Sosnowski, who is not a great finisher but has good punching power, immediately went after Williams when he got up from the canvas. Williams was staggered and Sosnowski capitalized and piled on his pressure. With Sosnowski’s constant pressure on Williams, he landed another powerful left hook which staggered Williams, but was stopped by the referee giving Sosnowski the TKO win.

After the impressive upset victory over Danny Williams, Sosnowski’s doors opened wide for bigger and better opportunities. With his hard work paying off, Sosnowski got a offer to fight for the EBU-EU heavyweight championship against Francesco Pianeta. Just 5 months after his impressive Williams win, Sosnowski was set to fight for the title against the German based, Italian Heavyweight who had a record of 18(11 KO’s)-0.

The fight was set in Düsseldorf, Germany on the Jason Estrada – Alexander Povetkin undercard. What was considered to be one of the Best European fights in 2009, Albert Sosnowski vs. Francesco Pianeta for the European Union EBU title, was scored a draw. Prior to the fight, several newspapers appeared and said that Sosnowski had been in the hospital suffering sickness for 2 days prior to the bout. With the biggest opportunity of his career right on the horizon, Sosnowski did not want to disappoint his Polish fans. In a fight where Sosnowski seemed to dominate the bout more so than Pianeta, it was scored a draw. Many observers believe that Sosnowski won the fight. On my scorecard he dominated the first half of the fight with little success in the later rounds, but gaining a close victory. The fight showed more positives than negatives from Albert Sosnowski, where as he showed great workmanship, positioning, and willingness to win despite the setbacks he had suffered in the hospital prior to the bout.

Present Day

After the Pianeta bout, Sosnowski was still in good regard with the Lawrence fight out of proportion and with 2 impressive bouts prior to that loss against better than usual competition. He was offered a vacant EBU title shot against very experienced Italian Paolo Vidoz, in London, England. Vidoz was no stranger in these fights, having been EBU Champion prior and fighting for the belt numerous times.

The bout took place on December 18th, 2009, 8 months after his draw with Pianeta. Sosnowski, determined to win and a heavy favorite to win, trained real hard. With his training camp in Warsaw, Poland, there he was set doing his roadwork and doing hard workouts in the gym. Albert was spending a lot of training time in the Legia Boxing Club gym in Warsaw, where he and his trainer, Jacek Dabrowski, prepared for Vidoz and sparred other fellow Polish Heavyweights like Mariusz Wach and Andrzej Wawrzyk.

With Sosnowski fully prepared, the title fight between him and Paolo Vidoz in London was packed with Polish fans cheering and supporting their beloved fighter. The atmosphere made it seem like the fight was in Poland rather than England. Sosnowski went on to win this fight in dominant fashion by way of Unanimous Decision.

On my scorecard and many others, Sosnowski seemed to not lose a single round. Sosnowski’s corner, as well as the man himself, were filled with delight and happiness after the 12th round. Sosnowski’s pursuit has finally arrived, and he won the title in dominate and impressive fashion. The Polish fans showed great support for Sosnowski on his victory.

Following the fight, Sosnowski vowed to hold on to the title and defend it as long as he can.

Future

Albert Sosnowski’s future seems to be quite a busy one. The fan favorite Pole is scheduled to fight former Gold Olympic Medalist and British Heavyweight, Audley Harrison. The bout is schedueld for 12 rounds for the EBU Heavyweight Title in London, England. The bookies as of now, see this fight in a slight favor of Sosnowski.

Seeing Albert’s recent good form and good performances, compared to Audley’s recent poor opponent choice and bad losses to, at the time, unknown heavyweight journeyman, Martin Rogan, a boxing better much be crazy to not take up Sosnowski for a 1.70 odd.

According to the EBU federation, after the Harrison fight if Sosnowski happens to win, next in line is Alexander Dimitrenko. So Sosnowski defiantly has his hands fill if he hangs on to that belt as he said he was going to.

2010 will be a tough year for Sosnowski.

Final Thought

Sosnowski works hard, trains the right way, always comes and gives it 100%, what more could you ask from him? Sure his boxing skills aren’t that of Wldaimir Klitschko or his brother Vitali, but Sosnowski is a good boxer none the less and has his own certain specialties.

He works hard, has good power, a nice jab, and consistent work rate. He may not be the Heavyweight Champion of the world, but hes good enough to at least challenge for it, and who knows…maybe if its the right time, he could win. Sosnowski is good for the sport and a general good fighter for a fan to follow.

This video I have made of Sosnowski shows highlights of his fight with Herelius, Bartnik, Pianeta, Williams, and more.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N45r_8sZcN4