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At 4:00 PM EST today, boxing returns to NBC network TV for a doubleheader featuring an IBF title eliminator for the #2 seat between former Cruiserweight champions Tomasz “Goral” Adamek (47-2-0 29 KO’s) and Steve “USS” Cunningham (24-4-0 12 KO’s) and an intriguing Heavyweight attraction between prospects Vyacheslav Glazkov (13-0-0 9 KO’s) and American Tor Hamer (19-1-0 12 KO’s) over eight rounds.
Adamek and Cunningham fought back in 2008 when they were likely more primed as the undisputed Cruiserweight bests than they are today in the subsequent Heavyweight division.
It adds even more interest seeing how the first fight played out. From the early rounds, Cunningham imposed his own plan of boxing and managed to take the majority of the rounds on most observer’s scorecards.
But knockdowns of Cunningham in the 2nd, 4th, and 8th rounds edged Adamek a fine Split Decision verdict. But again, it still punctuated the fact that Cunningham is the sleeker boxer of the two and with caution he can win a decision in the rematch.
Cunningham’s skill set is never performed without virtue. I never saw a fight of his in which I didn’t applaud that. What’s the problem? Vaguely, I’ll say this; He cannot give, or take punches. His double fight series with power punching Cuban Yoan Pablo Hernandez recently left him in the dust as a Cruiserweight champion, losing both bouts even though he fought so much better throughout.
He gets caught too easily sometimes and hits the deck like a sack of potatoes. And not that he needs to do so seeing the success he has had boxing it out, but he doesn’t have crack in his shots. They can often, quite frankly, come out like quick pawing shots which aren’t impressive to judges who have no camera angles.
That just shows even more what Cunningham must do. He has to resist from ever planting his feet, always use his impressive footwork to his advantage for defense. And when he does come forward, he needs to throw quick 1-2 combinations to damage the cut-prone Polish star until, with luck, he can capture an eventual decision win.
Adamek, who has fought at Heavyweight for an extended run, is more used to the division, coming in at the weigh in almost 20 lb more than the 203 lb natural Cruiserweight Cunningham. Despite this, Cunningham is ripped from vigorous training with Nazim Richardson. But how small is too small for Cunningham against the larger Adamek?
This is yet another reason why he must avoid the ruthlessness of Adamek and time his shots oh-so-carefully to avoid hitting the canvas. Not that he cannot get up from the deck, but Cunningham simply doesn’t need it as I can count at least four fights he otherwise would have won aside from the knockdowns he suffered.
Boxing fans have noticed the “robotic” patterns that Adamek has produced recently and it is a bad habit. Vitali Klitschko stabbed him with the jab until he stopped Adamek with an avoidable beating in September, 2011. And an injured Eddie Chambers timed sharp right hands straight on Adamek’s jaw on numerous occasions during their June clash also.
Adamek has proven to be determined, as previously stated, but he leaves himself opened to composed boxers. And Cunningham is the ultimate example of that.
Adamek’s heavy hands and snapping, wide shots please judges more than Cunningham’s well formed composure, so I pick him to win a close decision in which Cunningham hits the deck at least once but captures a vast amount of the rounds.
Deja Vu? We wait to see.
Be sure to tune in at 4PM sharp if you aren’t at the Sand’s Casino event in Bethlehem, PA for the televised co-feature. Two of the heavyweight’s best prospects in Tor Hamer and Russian Vyacheslav Glazkov face off over a future defining eight rounds. This is a solid return for boxing on network TV channel NBC.
Corey Quincy is a boxing writer for Saddoboxing, his personal blog Blboxing and more. Follow him on Twitter at Quincyboxingfan and like his Facebook page at Boxing Legends.
