By James Slater – It has been confirmed that Poland’s Tomasz Adamek, already a former champion at light-heavyweight and cruiserweight, will have the chance to make his heavyweight dream come true in his homeland this September. “Goral,” who will still go ahead with his April 16th bout (against a TBA, perhaps Hasim Rahman according to a number of sources), will challenge either Ring magazine, IBF and WBO ruler Wladimir Klitschko in September, or WBC king Vitali.
According to an article on Fightnews, the decision as to which brother Adamek will face in September will be made in the coming weeks. Reportedly, Adamek will fight Wladimir if Vitali loses to Odlanier Solis in March, or he will challenge Vitali if Wladimir loses to Dereck Chisora in April. If both brothers win (as most experts and fans think will be the case), the Klitschkos will have the final decision and will decide between each other who defends against the tough and talented Pole who is unbeaten as a heavyweight..
For his part, Adamek says he is not concerned over which sibling he faces.
“I am very happy,” Adamek said. “I would like to thank the Klitschkos for being very generous with the percentage offer. I am looking forward to this fight. It doesn’t make a difference to me which Klitschko I fight. Right now they are both the biggest stars in the boxing world and I want to fight the biggest stars.”
Vitali Klitschko offered his opinion on the 34-year-old who he may or may not be fighting in that huge, outdoor soccer stadium in Poland at the end of the summer.
“Adamek is very experienced, fast and a hard-punching opponent,” he said. “Whether it is Wladimir or me, we have to be very concentrated during the entire fight.”
So which Klitschko does Adamek have the best chance against, and which brother should he be hoping will agree to face him?
A small heavyweight, Adamek can all but forget about winning a fight with either brother by stoppage. To win, the talented and fast-handed contender will have to box out of his skin, stay out of harms way without making a single mistake, as he picks up points with fast flurries. These tactics are more likely to work against the older, slower, less fluid Vitali, as opposed to the more athletic Wladimir. This is not to suggest Adamek will be able to avoid Vitali’s jabs and right hands all night and win on points, but he appears to have next to no chance of doing this against Wladimir.
In my opinion, Adamek had better hope he winds up fighting “Dr. Iron Fist.” At age 39 (he’ll be 40 come September), Vitali has to slow right down some time soon, and Adamek, with his in-and-out, raiding approach, just might find himself in the right place at the right time. Sure, Adamek will be a considerable underdog against either brother, and rightly so – but has he at least a slim chance against the more “robotic” of the two giants from Ukraine?
Maybe I’m trying too hard to build up a scenario whereby Adamek puts up a good challenge, in a fight that is not a one-sided, slow but sure, beat-down. And Adamek does indeed deserve much respect for wanting to and agreeing to fight the best heavyweight on the planet (be it 34-year-old Wlad or Vitali). But in reality, is he destined to meet the same fate as the one guys like Sam Peter, Shannon Briggs, Albert Sosnowksi and all the rest met?
Not having a puncher’s chance, seeing as how he is no banger (not up at heavyweight, anyway), Adamek’s only hope is to be too fast, too sprightly and too consistently accurate against whichever Klitschko he fights. You tell me, against which brother will an Adamek who fights this way have the best shot of winning?