Boxing News Boxing News
TOMASZ V DAWSON BOXING COUNTDOWN…
LIVE ROUND BY ROUND CLICK HERE
Photo © David Martin
Tomasz AdamekRecord: 31 Wins 0 Losses |
Chad DawsonRecord: 23 Wins 0 Losses |
Adamek-Dawson Promotion: Don King
Tickets: TBA
Venue: TBA
TV: Showtime Boxing
Adamek-Dawson
Four talented, crowd-pleasing boxers with a combined record of 130-6 with 89 knockouts—a winning percentage exceeding 95 percent — will be featured during an excellent world championship doubleheader on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING on Saturday, Feb. 3, it was formally announced Thursday during a press conference at Miami Arena in Miami, Fla.
In a battle of unbeatens in the main event, exciting and talented Tomasz Adamek (31-0, 21 KOs) of Jersey City, N.J., by way of Zywiec, Poland, will defend his WBC light heavyweight title against hard-hitting WBC No. 2 contender “Bad” Chad Dawson (23-0, 15 KOs) of New Haven, Conn., via Hartsville, S.C.
In the telecast’s co-feature, making his first start since winning the title in a bout against Levander Johnson that ended in tragedy 16 months ago, Jesus Chavez (43-3, 30 KOs) of Austin, Tex., will defend his IBF lightweight crown against IBF interim 135-pound champ Julio Diaz (33-3, 24 KOs) of Coachella, Calif.
The fight card, entitled “Super Saturday” is being promoted by Don King Productions in association with Gary Shaw Productions and will include a third world championship bout on the non-SHOWTIME televised undercard—IBF junior middleweight champion Cory “Next Generation” Spinks will defend his crown against mandatory challenger, No. 1-ranked “Smooth” Rodney Jones.
PLEASE NOTE: During the conference King announced that the aforementioned South Florida arena may no longer be the home of this tremendous night of boxing. King is currently seeking, “a new home,” for “Super Saturday.’
Tomasz Adamek
“I showed I am a gladiator in my two fights with Paul Briggs. People know now I have a lot of heart and boxing skills. I give all credit to God.
“Dawson’s a regular guy. He will be a tough opponent, hungry to take my title. It’s not going to happen. I will stop him.”
Jesus Chavez
“Julio Diaz is a very good, well-respected boxer that comes from a boxing family.
“Particularly in this fight, winning will be a personal achievement for me. I’ve had to overcome a lot in my career and this will be no different.
“This is my third big shot at stardom. This would be strike three for me so I have to hit a home run.”
Julio Diaz
“Chavez is the most polite, dangerous opponent lightweight in the division. Don’t be fooled by his unassuming nature. Don’t drop your guard. When he steps into the ring he’s different.
“We’re going to have a great war. I’m going to try to hurt him more than he hurts me.”
Final Quotes Tomasz Adamek – Chad Dawson
 Click for larger image © Tom Casino Showtime Boxing |
One night before the Super Bowl on Saturday, Feb. 3, Adamek (31-0, 21 KOs) will defend his WBC light heavyweight crown against Dawson (22-0, 1 NC, 15 KOs), while IBF lightweight titleholder Chavez will defend against Interim IBF 135-pound champion Diaz on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING (9 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the west coast). |
Fans attending the fight card at Silver Spurs Arena in Kissimmee, Fla., will get a third world title fight: IBF Junior Middleweight Champion Cory “The Next Generation” Spinks against IBF No. 1 contender “Smooth” Rodney Jones. Tickets, priced at $27, $52, $102, and $202, with a limited number of $502 Golden Ringside seats, are on sale and can be purchased at the Silver Spurs Arena box office weekdays between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.; by calling (407) 839-3900; by logging on to www.ticketmaster.com, or at any TicketMaster outlet. The event is being promoted by Don King Productions, with the main event presented in association with Gary Shaw Productions, LLC.
Tomasz Adamek (31-0, 21 KOs)
“I would like to thank SHOWTIME and Don King for allowing me to be here. I have trained very hard for this. I invite everyone to watch a great show Saturday night. I will bring the title back to Poland.”
Chad Dawson (22-0, 1 NC, 15 KOs)
“I am here to bring the title back to the USA. As Don King likes to say “Only in America.’ I am 150 percent prepared. I am destined for greatness in boxing.
“I have only seen Adamek’s last fight and what I can see is that he has bad defense. He has a hard head and is an aggressive fighter. If an aggressive fighter gets in the ring with a boxer, it is a perfect match for the boxer.
“My training has changed, I run with heavy boots to build up my legs. Floyd Mayweather Sr. has me sparring more that I have ever sparred before.”
Jesus Chavez (42-3, 29 KOs)
“There has been and there will be a revolution come Saturday. I have always been in a revolution, struggling with gang, jail, etc. I have the American dream, to be successful. “Only in America.’
“I would like to wish everyone good luck and some will have a successful night and some won’t. I am considered a hard puncher and if there will be a knockout, there will be one.’’
Julio Diaz (33-3, 24 KOs)
“If you watch this fight, you will not be disappointed, Make the best man win, but I will knock him out. I am not underestimating my opponent, but I am the stronger fighter and it is my time to shine. I will not fail!”
Tomasz Adamek Interview
By Jim Everett
| Saddoboxing had the opportunity to have an exclusive phone interview with undefeated Tomasz Adamek 31-0 (21) who will face Chad Dawson 23-0 (15) on “Super Saturday” to defend his WBC Light Heavyweight title. The championship fight will be the biggest fight ever in the greater Orlando area at the Silver Spurs Arena at Osceola Heritage Park in Kissimmee , FL. |  Click for larger image © Tom Casino Showtime Boxing |
Adamek made his US television debut last year in a violent and exciting rematch against Paul Briggs. His 12 round decision made the Honorable Mention list of Ring magazines’ 2006 Fight of the Year and Round of the Year. Here is what he had to say about his latest win and his upcoming third title defense against Chad Dawson.
Saddoboxing: Before we begin the interview I would just like to congratulate you on your win last year against Paul Briggs. I felt it was one of the best fights of 2006.
Tomasz Adamek: “Thank you”.
SB: Speaking of the Briggs fight I believe your knockdown was the first of your career. How did you react to that?
TA: “It shows that you have to be careful at all times. He surprised me with the punch and I was not prepared for it”.
SB: Between the scoring of 10-8 in round one and loosing a point in the 9th round for low blows did you feel you were falling behind on the scorecards?
TA: “Not at all. I knew I was ahead in the figh”t.
SB: Did you feel at home fighting in Chicago since so many Polish fans came out to support you?
TA: “Yes, fighting in Chicago made me feel at home. I appreciate all the fans coming out to support me. I also look forward to many Polish fans coming out to support me in Kissimmee”.
SB: What did you do to celebrate your win over Briggs?
TA: “I am a catholic. When I win I thank God for giving me the strength for my victory”.
SB: How long of a break did you take after the fight before you started training for Dawson ?
TA: “I have been boxing for 17 years. All the time I train, I do not take time off from training”.
SB: Did you train through the holidays or take any breaks to spend time with family?
TA: “Only two days off during the holidays to spend with family”.
SB: How has your training been going with Buddy McGirt?
TA: “I enjoy training with Buddy McGirt. He respects me and I respect him. This is our second fight together”.
SB: Why did you add Buddy McGirt to your training team?
TA: “Unfortunately my trainer Andrew (Gmitruk) from Poland is not healthy. When you are fighting in America you need to have an American trainer. Boxing in America is different than European style”.
SB: Have you made any specific changes in your training regimen to prepare for Dawson being a southpaw fighter?
TA: “I have been working with all southpaw fighters during sparring”.
SB: Do you have any predictions for the fight?
TA: “I feel I can move mountains and I will win the fight”.
SB: You have said you would like to stay at light heavyweight for a while. Any one in particular you would like to face in the future?
TA: “I don’t think about that right now, the only thing I have in mind is Saturday’s fight and after that I will think about who I will fight next”.
SB: What specific goals would you like to accomplish in 2007?
TA: “I want to fight in 2007, I want to show a good performance and I want to show the people good boxing”.
SB: Do you have anything you would like to let your fans know?
TA: “I want to say hello to all my friends and all of the people cheering for me”.
SB: Thank you for your time and I wish you the best of luck on Saturday and in your career.
TA: “Thank you”.
Special thanks to Jerry Dabrowski for his help in translating and setting up the three-way phone interview.
Adamek – Dawson Result
|
|
|
|
Last night at the Silver Spurs Arena in Kissimmee, FL, “Bad” Chad Dawson outboxed Tomasz Adamek but had to climb off the canvas to take the Polish fighter’s WBC Light Heavyweight title on a packed Don King card.
Also on the bill, Julio Diaz was declared the new IBF Lightweight Champion when Jesus Chavez injured a knee in the third round and was unable to continue, Cory Spinks retained his IBF Light Middleweight belt with a comprehensive 12 round shutout over challenger Rodney Jones and former WBC Cruiserweight titlist Wayne Braithwaite hit the comeback trail with a seventh round stoppage over Gustavo Enriquez.
The main event saw Chad Dawson use superior handspeed and a southpaw stance to baffle Tomasz Adamek for nine rounds. Dawson never let Adamek get set to punch and the Pole seemed lost and unable to throw in the face of the American’s quick footwork. As the pace slowed at the midway point of the bout, Adamek began to enjoy limited success but that paled in comparison with the wide variety of offense that Dawson was using to rake the champion to both head and body.
Adamek went down after taking a body shot in the seventh but looked to be more off balance than hurt. The European came roaring back to have his best round of the contest to that point but was still being picked off at will by Dawson.
The next two rounds again saw Adamek unable to let the punches fly as Dawson improved upon his ever widening lead by scoring with his heaviest shots of the bout.
Disaster nearly struck in the tenth for Dawson when Adamek caught him on the inside with a perfect right hand. Dawson hit the canvas but beat the count and managed to finish out the round. For the next two frames a tired Adamek tried his best to stop Dawson but the southpaw put his speed of hand and foot to good use to finish out the fight.
Dawson, 23-0 (15), swept the score cards with marks of 118-108, 117-109 and 116-110 and is now the new WBC Light Heavyweight Champion. During the post fight press conference, Adamek, 31-1 (21), cited Dawson’s speed as a major factor in the loss but vowed to return and regain a world title.
In the co-feature, lightweight Julio Diaz used his height and reach advantages to boss IBF Champion Jesus Chavez for the first two rounds. At the start of the third frame, Chavez threw a jab before collapsing to the canvas in pain from an injured knee. Unable to continue, Chavez, 43-4 (30), was counted out and Diaz, 34-3 (25), declared the new IBF Lightweight Champion.
38 year old Rodney Jones, 37-4-1 (22), finally got another world title shot seven years after losing a close decision to Harry Simon in 2000 but Cory Spinks, 36-3 (11), completely outclassed the veteran over 12 rounds by scores of 118-109 and 120-108 (twice) to retain the IBF Light Middleweight title for the first time.
Making a comeback after suffering back to back losses in 2005, ex-WBC Cruiserweight kingpin Wayne Braithwaite, 22-2 (18), stopped Mexico’s Gustavo Enriquez, 15-7 (12), in the seventh round.
Showtime Boxing’s Report:
In a near shutout, 24-year-old “Bad” Chad Dawson took the World Boxing Council (WBC) light heavyweight title from tough Polish champion Tomasz Adamek by unanimous decision in his first world title fight Saturday at Silver Spurs Arena at Osceola Park in Kissimmee, Fla. In a bizarre co-feature on the SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING world-title doubleheader, interim lightweight titleholder Julio Diaz won the International Boxing Federation (IBF) title by knockout over embattled veteran Jesus Chavez.
The exciting night of boxing was presented by Don King Productions in association with Gary Shaw Productions, LLC, before a capacity crowd of 5,000-plus and aired live on SHOWTIME at 9 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the west coast).
Dawson, on the biggest stage of his six-year career, turned in his most complete performance. Adamek-Dawson, a battle between two undefeated fighters, was a “pick “em” fight going in and turned into a near one-sided beating of the champion. Dawson of New Haven, Conn., by way of Hartsville, S.C., won by scores of 116-110, 117-109 and 118-108 to improve to 23-0. Adamek dropped to 31-1.
“He was brilliant,” said blow-by-blow announcer Steve Albert. “It was a masterful virtuoso performance. We have a new star in the light heavyweight division.”
With blistering hand speed and powerful punches, Dawson controlled the first nine rounds, his confidence building as the fight wore on. Adamek, in his third world title defense, had no answer but to weather the growing storm and hope for a chance knockout.
Then, in the 10th round, Adamek got the break he needed. He caught Dawson flush with a straight right hand and Dawson went down. After the challenger rose to his feet, Adamek attacked with desperation, but it was too late.
Dawson used his foot speed and quick hands to elude and defend against Adamek for the remainder of the round. With that, Adamek won his first round of the night.
Dawson regained his focus in the 11th and 12th to win both rounds on two out of three scorecards and punctuate a decisive victory.
“It’s been a long time coming,” said the young champion who was nearly overcome with emotion in a post-fight interview with Karyn Bryant. “I knew I could do it and no one can take that away from me. Floyd Mayweather was the difference for me. He’s the best and it paid off. I am on top of my game.”
Later in the interview, Dawson’s promoter Gary Shaw dropped the names of Antonio Tarver, Roy Jones Jr., and Bernard Hopkins as potential challengers for his world champion.
In the co-feature Chavez, a two-time world champion from Austin, Texas, suffered a fight-ending knee injury at 22 seconds of the third round. Diaz had dominated the bout behind a solid jab and won each round on all three scorecards.
Early in the third, Diaz, of Coachella, Calif., continued to lead with his jab. Chavez, in retreat, seemed to slip, twisting his right knee as he collapsed to the canvas in agony. Chavez tried to regain his feet but went down again as the referee reached the count of 10.
“This is yet another bizarre and unfortunate incident, not only in his career, but in his life,” said SHOWTIME color analyst Al Bernstein.
In addition to having persevered through injuries to both shoulders in recent years and a left-knee injury early in his career, Chavez was making his first start since he won the IBF lightweight belt in a bout against Leavander Johnson on Sept. 17, 2005. After that fight, Johnson slipped into a coma and died days later from a brain injury. Just returning to the ring could be considered a victory for the 34-year-old fighter who dropped to 42-4.
“It was a little weird,” said Chavez, seated in the center of the ring for his post-fight interview. “It just sort of gave out and that was my good leg. It’s been hard. I’ve had injuries and I just want to apologize to the world. I fight with my heart and this is disappointing.”
Diaz, the 2000 “Prospect of the Year” in USA Today, captured the outright IBF 135-pound title for a second time and improved to 34-3.
“He needed to be 100 percent to face me,” said Diaz. Then, looking ahead, Diaz added, “Everyone is talking about Juan Diaz. Right now, there are too many Diaz’s in the division. It’s time to get rid of some of them.”
The exciting telecast will re-air on SHOWTIME and the premium network’s multiplexes this week as follows:
DAY CHANNEL (BOLD; UNDERLINE; ALL CAPS)
Monday at 8 p.m. ET/PT SHOWTIME EXTREME
Tuesday at 10 p.m. ET/PT SHOWTIME TOO
Wednesday at 11 p.m. ET/PT SHOWTIME
The producer of the SHOWTIME telecast was Ray Smaltz with Bob Dunphy directing.
Tomasz Adamek Vs Chad Dawson Boxing Undercard
correct at time of printing
Jesus Chavez vs Julio Diaz
Cory Spinks vs Rodney Jones
Dawson Adamek Boxing News
Boxing News of Tomasz Adamek, Chad Dawson from around the internet brought to you by the saddoboxing.com news wire…