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Klitschko – Adamek: Bigger and Better?

NEAR WROCLAW, IN DUKEOUT DREAMLAND – Sooner or later, there will be another great heavyweight championship fight.
It's already much later than it should have been, long past the meltdown stage of too late type territory.
Whether that much needed current classic comes down in Wroclaw, Poland when Vitali Klitschko, 42-2 (39), defends his WBC belt against Tomasz Adamek, 44-1 (28), is just one of many questions about an event that could add even more luster to an area of the globe that has seen an upswing in industry and prestige. If the result of Vitali-Adamek is good, it will be another boost to a solid boxing scene around here.
There seems to be more of a buzz around Klitschko – Adamek, even in Germany, than there was for Wladimir – Haye. The answer to whether or not Vitali-Adamek could be better than Wlad-Haye is a similar question: Could it be any worse?
Actually, there wasn't that much disappointment over Wlad – Haye, which ended up being an easier ticket to find than Wlad – Ruslan Chagaev. By now, most folks in the general Germany expect that the Klitschkos will put up, and whoever they're fighting will shut up.
K2's TV ratings remain huge here. The Klitschkos are very popular, though there has been slight but noticeable declining attendance at live gates while ticket prices have remained unchanged. Remember we're talking giant stadiums and tens of thousands of fans. The reason there was so much open space at Wlad-Haye, beside the horrible rain, was probably that the locals figured out Wlad had nothing to fear before he did.
Is the reason boxing is so popular in this part of the world because most fans, across neighboring EU borders, get broadcasts in basic TV packages at no extra charge?
Almost certainly. It's the equivalent of those long ago US network afternoons. This year's model usually employs a much later starting time, usually after the finish of football/soccer. That's a very powerful lead-in.
Even if the bouts are less than stellar, the effect on the general public, by my estimate well over tenfold of US percentages; is the equivalent of watching a weak late night movie. No harm, no foul, no ripped-off feeling from pay-per-view garbage.
Could Vitali – Adamek be a very good fight for as long as it lasts?
Quite likely. Probably the shorter the fight, the better the action.
Could it be as exciting as Vitali – Lennox Lewis ? Wishful thinking to me, but Klitschko could get a similar type cut from the same type roundhouse punches and that would mean high drama.
Any way it could it be another “Thrilla in Manilla”?
Not in this lifetime, my friend.
Will Vitali-Adamek sell out?
It seems like it already has, not counting expensive resale outlets, but I've found that appearances like that can totally change once you get into the country where the event actually takes place. That said, any fight at this brand new, 40,000 capacity stadium in a very revitalized part of Poland, built for next year's European football championships; would sell out if either principal was involved. With both, if it ain't booked now you probably aren't going.
Should Klitschko be worried?
Been there too many times.
Should Adamek be worried?
How can he not be?
Is it crunch time for Adamek?
One way or another. Win or lose, it's the last stop on his well-executed quest for a meaningful heavyweight title tilt.
What should Adamek do in the fight?
What he shouldn't do is stand still.
If 6'1 1/2 Adamek fights small, a la Shannon Briggs and Samuel Peter, he gets stopped or run out of the ring inside the distance, maybe even half the distance. If he fights like he did against Chris Arreola, who he outhustled and out popped, though not by much, it will just be a matter of how wide the margin on the scorecards is.
We'll never know what would have happened if Odlanier Solis's knee held up, because it didn't. Still, Solis seemed to be on the right track both in darting game plan and attitude. Adamak has those strengths, and that's what it will take. Get in and get out, without paying. Near impossible against the 6'7 1/2 Klitschko lately, and seemingly harder with every frame.
If Adamek fights exactly like he did against Andrew Golota, he has a realistic chance at finding Vitali's chin with the arc of an overhand right. Trouble for Adamek is, Klitschko is no Golota. It will take a perfect shot to drop him.
What should Klitschko do?
What he shouldn't do is get frustrated if Adamek has any early success.
Barring circumstances, if Klitschko gets tagged and immediately loads up for a KO too early, try and get a last second bet down on Adamek. But if Klitschko keeps counterpunching he should have no deep worries.
So does Adamek have a shot?
Yes. It could be very competitive inside, and competitive inside scoring gives the underdog his best chance.
It seems like Adamek has the best chance of defeating Klitschko since his comeback fight against Peter.
Does that say something about a sorry state of the heavyweight division?
Leave that to the Sweet Science Universe.
Is Klitschko past his prime?
In awesome condition at 40 years old, Klitschko may not have hit his prime yet. A sub-par Klitschko looked ready to be taken against Kevin Johnson, but still won every round. Against Albert Sosnowski it appeared Klitschko was aging backward, and he didn't show any fading in his few moments versus Solis.
What are realistic odds on the fight?
Five to one in favor of Klitschko, unless he turns old in the ring, and even then he's at least a two to one favorite.
This is a fight where both the winner and the quality of the whole fight will be clear by round two. If Klitschko lands a sweeping shot to the arm that moves Adamek a yard sideways where he then gets shoved to a knee, then it might as well be over and you might as well get a beer.
If 22 year old Adamek lands more than a grazing combination in the first minute, get ready.
If Adamek lands a few left-right clips in the first round, we've hit oil baby.
Will there be a splattering highlight film knockout?
As long as no one gets hurt, I pray so.
Who wins?
The best man, of course. That still looks like Klitschko.
And hopefully, everyone both faithful and crazy enough to believe there's at least another Marciano-Walcott, Spinks- Holmes or Holyfield-Dokes out there soon.
Featured Articles
Argentina’s Fernando Martinez Wins His Rematch with Kazuto Ioka

In an excellent fight climaxed by a furious 12th round, Argentina’s Fernando Daniel Martinez came off the deck to win his rematch with Kazuto Ioka and retain his piece of the world 115-pound title. The match was staged at Ioka’s familiar stomping grounds, the Ota-City General Gymnasium in Tokyo.
In their first meeting on July 7 of last year in Tokyo, Martinez was returned the winner on scores of 117-111, 116-112, and a bizarre 120-108. The rematch was slated for late December, but Martinez took ill a few hours before the weigh-in and the bout was postponed.
The 33-year-old Martinez, who came in sporting a 17-0 (9) record, was a 7-2 favorite to win the sequel, but there were plenty of reasons to favor Ioka, 36, aside from his home field advantage. The first Japanese male fighter to win world titles in four weight classes, Ioka was 3-0 in rematches and his long-time trainer Ismael Salas was on a nice roll. Salas was 2-0 last weekend in Times Square, having handled upset-maker Rolly Romero and Reito Tsutsumi who was making his pro debut.
But the fourth time was not a charm for Ioka (31-4-1) who seemingly pulled the fight out of the fire in round 10 when he pitched the Argentine to the canvas with a pair of left hooks, but then wasn’t able to capitalize on the momentum swing.
Martinez set a fast pace and had Ioka fighting off his back foot for much of the fight. Beginning in round seven, Martinez looked fatigued, but the Argentine was conserving his energy for the championship rounds. In the end, he won the bout on all three cards: 114-113, 116-112, 117-110.
Up next for Fernando Martinez may be a date with fellow unbeaten Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez, the lineal champion at 115. San Antonio’s Rodriguez is a huge favorite to keep his title when he defends against South Africa’s obscure Phumelela Cafu on July 19 in Frisco, Texas.
As for Ioka, had he won today’s rematch, that may have gotten him over the hump in so far as making it into the International Boxing Hall of Fame. True, winning titles in four weight classes is no great shakes when the bookends are only 10 pounds apart, but Ioka is still a worthy candidate.
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Emanuel Navarrete Survives a Bloody Battle with Charly Suarez in San Diego

In a torrid battle Mexico’s Emanuel “Vaquero” Navarrete and his staccato attack staved off the herky-jerky non-stop assaults of Philippine’s Charly Suarez to win by technical decision and retain the WBO super feather world title on Saturday.
What do they feed these guys?
Navarrete (40-2-1, 32 KOs) and his elongated arms managed to connect enough to compensate against the surprising Suarez (18-1, 10 KOs) who wowed the crowd at Pechanga Arena in San Diego.
An accidental clash of heads opened a cut on the side of Navarrete’s left eye and forced a stoppage midway through the fight.
From the opening round Navarrete used his windmill style of attack with punches from different angles that caught Suarez multiple times early. It did not matter. Suarez fired back with impunity and was just as hungry to punch it out with the Mexican fighter.
It was savage.
Every time Navarrete connected solidly, he seemed to pause and check out the damage. Bad idea. Suarez would immediately counter with bombs of his own and surprise the champion with his resilience and tenacity.
Wherever they found Suarez they should look for more, because the Filipino fighter from Manila was ferocious and never out of his depth.
Around the sixth round the Mexican fighter seemed a little drained and puzzled at the tireless attacks coming from Suarez. During an exchange of blows a cut opened up on Navarrete and it was ruled an accidental clash of heads by the referee. Blood streamed down the side of Navarrete’s face and it was cleared by the ringside physician.
But at the opening of the eighth round, the fight was stopped and the ringside physician ruled the cut was too bad to continue. The California State Athletic Commission looked at tape of the round when the cut opened to decipher if it was an accidental butt or a punch that caused the cut. It was unclear so the referee’s call of accidental clash of heads stood as the final ruling.
Score cards from the judges saw Navarrete the winner by scores of 78-75, 77-76 twice. He retains the WBO title.
Interim IBF Lightweight Title
The sharp-shooting Raymond “Danger” Muratalla (23-0, 17 KOs) maneuvered past Russia’s Zaur Abdullaev (20-2, 12 KOs) by unanimous decision to win the interim IBF lightweight title after 12 rounds.
Both fighters were strategic in their approach with Muratalla switching from orthodox to southpaw at various times of the fight. Neither fighter was ever able to dominant any round.
Defense proved the difference between the two lightweights. Muratalla was able to slip more blows than Abdullaev and that proved the difference. The fighter from Fontana, California was able to pierce Abdullaev’s guard more often than not, especially with counter punches.
Abdullaev was never out of the fight. The Russian fighter was able to change tactics and counter the counters midway through the fight. It proved effective especially to the body. But it was not enough to offset Muratalla’s accuracy.
There were no knockdowns and after 12 rounds the judges scored it 118-110, 119-109 twice for Muratalla who now becomes the mandatory for the IBF lightweight title should Vasyl Lomachenko return to defend it.
Muratalla was brief.
“He was a tough fighter,” said Muratalla. “My defense is something I work on a lot.”
Perla Wins
Super flyweight Perla Bazaldua (2-0) eased past Mona Ward (0-2) with a polished display of fighting at length and inside.
Combination punching and defense allowed Bazaldua to punch in-between Ward’s attacks and force the St. Louis fighter to clinch repeatedly. But Ward hung in there despite taking a lot of blows. After four rounds the Los Angeles-based Bazaldua was scored the winner 40-36 on all three cards. Bazaldua signed a long term contract with Top Rank in March.
Photo credit: Mikey Williams / Top Rank
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Late Bloomer Anthony Cacace TKOs Hometown Favorite Leigh Wood in Nottingham

Frank Warren’s Queensberry Promotions was at Motorpoint Arena in Nottingham, England, tonight with a card featuring hometown favorite Leigh Wood against Ireland’s Anthony “Apache” Cacace.
Wood, a former two-time WBA featherweight champion, known for dramatic comebacks in bouts he was losing, may have reached the end of the road at age 36. He had his moments tonight, rocking Cacace on several occasions and winning the eighth round, but he paid the price, returning to his corner after round eight with swelling around both of his eyes.
In the ninth, Cacace, an 11/5 favorite, hurt Wood twice with left hands, the second of which knocked Wood into the ropes, dictating a standing 8-count by referee John Latham. When the bout resumed, Cacace went for the kill and battered Wood around the ring, forcing Wood’s trainer Ben Davison to throw in the towel. The official time was 2:15 of round nine.
Akin to Wood, Northern Ireland’s Cacace (24-1, 9 KOs) is also 36 years old and known as a late bloomer. This was his ninth straight win going back to 2017 (he missed all of 2018 and 2020). He formerly held the IBF 130-pound world title, a diadem he won with a stoppage of then-undefeated and heavily favored Joe Cordina, but that belt wasn’t at stake tonight as Cacace abandoned it rather than fulfill his less-lucrative mandatory. Wood falls to 28-4.
Semi-Wind-Up
Nottingham light heavyweight Ezra Taylor, fighting in his hometown for the first time since pro debut, delighted his fan base with a comprehensive 10-round decision over previously undefeated Troy Jones. Taylor, who improved to 12-0 (9) won by scores of 100-90, 99-91, and 98-92.
This was Taylor’s first fight with new trainer Malik Scott, best known for his work with Deontay Wilder. The victory may have earned him a match with Commonwealth title-holder Lewis Edmondson. Jones was 12-0 heading in.
Other Bouts of Note
In his first fight as a featherweight, Liam Davies rebounded from his first defeat with a 12-round unanimous decision over Northern Ireland’s previously undefeated Kurt Walker. Davies, who improved to 17-1 (8), staved off a late rally to prevail on scores of 115-113, 116-112, and 117-111. It was the first pro loss for the 30-year-old Walker (12-1), a Tokyo Olympian.
In a mild upset, Owen Cooper, a saucy Worcestershire man, won a 10-round decision over former Josh Taylor stablemate Chris Kongo. The referee’s scorecard read 96-94.
Cooper improved to 11-1 (4). It was the third loss in 20 starts for Kongo.
A non-televised 8-rounder featured junior welterweight Sam Noakes in a stay-busy fight. A roofer by trade and the brother of British welterweight title-holder Sean Noakes, Sam improved to 17-0 (15 KOs) with a third-round stoppage of overmatched Czech import Patrik Balez (13-5-1).
Photo credit: Leigh Dawney / Queensberry
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