By James Slater: The weights are in for two of the three big fights that will go down in an action-packed Saturday night. Up at heavyweight, WBC king Vitali Klitschko and his challenger Tomasz Adamek tipped-in at 242.9-pounds and 216-pounds respectively, while down at light-welterweight top contenders Breidis Prescott and Paul McCloskey both made the 140-pound limit at the first attempt in their WBA title eliminator. Saturday’s third big fight is the Yuriorkis Gamboa-Daniel Ponce De Leon featherweight clash, and they will both weigh-in later.
The two heavyweights will no doubt get the most attention tomorrow, and it’s safe to say, going by the physical condition of the two men, that will see a good, hard fight in Poland, between two fighters who have worked extremely hard in the gym.
Vitali may be 40-years-old now, but he looked fantastic on the scale today, his body lean and cut. In fact, “Dr. Iron Fist” has never looked better. The man who will be giving away over twenty-five pounds tomorrow looked great as well, however, with Adamek also looking as though he has had one of his best training camps. This is how two heavyweight rivals should look: both in shape, with no excess fat to be seen.
Now, can Adamek’s hard work in the gym translate into a wining effort inside the ring? Or will the bigger, stronger, heavier Klitschko do as the odds-makers say he will and prove to be too much for the former light-heavyweight and cruiserweight champ? Adamek, having worked as hard as he clearly has in the gym, will not leave the arena in his homeland without having given it 100-percent. I expect a good, exciting tussle, with Klitschko coming back from an early points deficit to win by late stoppage.
The light-welterweight showdown set for Belfast, Northern Ireland also promises to be a most interesting fight. Prescott has promised a KO win – stating that McCloskey will not go past six-rounds, while “Dudey” has also promised a win, stating that his superior boxing skills will get the job done. Both men looked great on the scale, with neither man looking in any way drained. Prescott says his last defeat, on points to Kevin Mitchell, came about largely due to the efforts of making 135. His large frame now more comfortable up at 140, the Colombian smiled menacingly whilst on the scale.
McCloskey was made to wait some 40-minutes by Prescott, who finally weighed-in well under the limit. Some have speculated that Prescott had to sweat off a little weight so as to come in under 140, but he sure looked good once he was on the scale. Under the limit by six ounces, Prescott weighed a fraction less than his southpaw opponent, who came in at just two ounces under the 140-pound limit.
I expect a fast-paced fight, with Prescott doing his best to land his bombs from the get-go, but with the tricky skills of McCloskey proving, well, tricky for the visitor. Prescott says he will be an even harder hitter up at 140 and if he is, and if he can nail McCloskey on the chin, maybe just shot will be enough.
I have a feeling McCloskey will box out of his skin and win a tight, close decision – but at the same time a Prescott KO cannot be ruled out.