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Liverpool’s Tony Dodson hopes to climb a few places in the European super middleweight rankings on November 15 when he takes on the Czech Republic’s Tomas Adamek at The O2 in North Greenwich, London.
Amusingly, Dodson thought he’d been paired with former world light-heavyweight champion Tomasz Adamek when first hearing news of the fight.
“I thought they wanted to put me in with the Polish Adamek,” admits Dodson. “He’s a former light-heavyweight world champion and is now fighting for the world cruiserweight title. A genuine world-class fighter.
“It might sound crazy to some people, but I’d have had no problems fighting him. Bring it on. I’d fight both of them.”
Alas, it wasn’t to be. Dodson gets Adamek by way of Prague rather than Poland. Ranked at no.20 by the EBU and currently 12-1 (5) as a pro, Adamek may not boast the world-class credentials of his heavier namesake but he does carry significant danger to Dodson.
“I need this kind of fight,” says the 24-4 (12) Dodson. “It’s a good test for me against a guy who carries a decent European ranking. If I can do a number on Adamek I will then fly up the rankings and be in a position to think about a European title shot. Sometimes I look up and down the European rankings and think half of these guys haven’t beaten anything like the names I’ve beaten.”
The 28 year old Adamek’s sole defeat arrived via split-decision in a June 2007 European Union light heavyweight title fight with Antonio Brancolion. Having campaigned mainly as a light-heavyweight throughout his two-and-a-half-year pro career, Adamek will touch down in England with little to fear.
“I’m expecting him to be big and strong,” says Dodson, a former British super-middleweight champion. “He’s listed as being around 6’1, so we’ll be about the same height on the night. To be honest, I prefer fighting tall guys, as there’s more to aim at. A fight like this should bring out the best in me. There’s a lot at stake and I’ve been given a good opponent.”
Despite Dodson’s appreciation of what Adamek brings to the contest on November 15 he is, as always, bullish about his own chances. A pro since July 1997, Dodson is now a seasoned competitor – someone who has been in there with the best in Britain and the rest of Europe. He’s had his highs, as well as his lows, and claims he’s feeling as good as ever at 28.
Having seen all there is to see in the ring, Dodson isn’t worried by anything that appears on Adamek’s 12-1 resume.
“It’s a good-looking record on paper, sure, but he doesn’t have many ‘names’ on it,” adds Dodson. “He’s only ever lost once, by split-decision, but most of his wins have been against inferior fighters to me. He’s never faced anyone at my kind of level before. Even the guy that beat him (Brancolion) isn’t on my level.
“The one thing you can guarantee with me is that I’ll fight anyone. I don’t care what their record is or how big they are. I boxed and beat Brian Barbosa in my 15th fight when nobody wanted to go anywhere near him. I’d fight both Adameks on the same night and I’ll give any super-middleweight in the world a fight. Reputations don’t mean anything to me.”
