Adamek-Cunningham Wage War!
Adamek Captures Cruiser Crown in Fight of the Year Candidate...

December 11, 2008 - Prudential Center, Newark, NJ
Ringside Report: Kurt Wolfheimer and Matt Richardson at Ringside
Photos: Ed Mulholland

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Cruiserweights Tomasz "Goral" Adamek and Steve "USS" Cunningham went to war over twelve rounds for Cunningham's IBF cruiserweight belt, in what was classified by many at ringside as the 2008 fight of the year,on Thursday night at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.

The fight swung back and forth like a pendulum as both fighters had their moments. In the end it was three knockdowns by Adamek that seemed to sway the bout as the judges awarded the polish warrior the well-deserved split decision victory and the IBF cruiserweight belt.

The card, promoted by Don King Productions in association with Main Events, also had a toe-to-toe war in the co-feature as Joseph "King Kong" Agbeko retained his IBF bantamweight title with a majority decision victory over Managua, Nicaragua's William Gonzalez. Both bouts were televised live on the Versus Network.

Steve "USS" Cunningham appeared determined to keep the IBF belt around his waist as he controlled the opening stanza by using his reach, popping crisp jabs and left hooks as Adamek pressed forward.

Tomasz Adamek, the former IBF light heavyweight champion, began to find spots to land heavy straight shots in round two. A looping left hook landed flush on the chin of the cruiserweight champion in mid round and the two combatants began to exchange heavy shots on the inside. Both were trading when a big left-right combination up top from Adamek, floored the champion as the bell sounded to end the round.

Cunningham immediately rose to his feet, and boxed his way through round three, even though Adamek had his moments.

The champion from Philadelphia, PA appeared in complete control in round four with his superior hand speed. Late in the round, a Cunningham right hand stunned Adamek, who backed into a corner. Cunningham, nicknamed "USS" for his stint in the Navy, moved in like a battleship, unloading heavy bombs as the man from Poland covered and held on while moving to the ropes.

Cunningham took a brief step back to reload and then attacked again looking for the knockout, however this time Adamek was ready for him and a big counter right sent Cunningham to the canvas with ten seconds to go in the round. Cunningham rose to his feet quickly and covered until the bell sounded.

"I thought I had him in the fourth," said Cunningham. "I went I for the knockout and he caught me. It cost me the fight."

The momentum in rounds five through seven swung back and forth between the two combatants, as each captured rounds. Cunningham used his speed and straight right hands to win rounds five and seven, while Adamek pressed forward with his less active, but heavier and more telling blows to take round six.

The fight turned again in round eight as Adamek dropped Cunningham for the third time in the fight with a big left hook, sending the partisan polish crowd into a frenzy. Adamek went right after him and caught him with another left right combination, but Cunningham recovered quickly and fought his way off the ropes

Adamek tired from the onslaught and Cunningham took advantage in rounds nine and ten with various combinations, backing up Adamek throughout. He did land another big right hand near the end of round ten to make it close.

Cunningham opened the eleventh as he did in the early rounds with a couple of nice flurries, but Adamek withstood the attack and once again pressed forward. The combinations from Cunningham earlier had put a nice mouse on the left eye of Adamek, but he would not be deterred. Adamek found room late with big right hands, which made the round too close to call.

Each fighter had his moments as both traded combinations while dead tired in a very close twelfth and final round, sending it to the scorecards.. Cunningham did stun him late, but failed to recognize it and Adamek retreated in the final moments. The crowd rose to it's feet in the appreciation of the efforts both fighters.

Judge Clark Sammartino saw it 116-112 in favor of Cunningham, but was overruled by judges John Stewart and Shafeeq Rashada, who had it 116-110 and 115-112 respectively, for the new IBF cruiserweight champion, Tomasz Adamek.

Adamek with the IBF cruiserweight belt secured around his waist upped his record to (36-1, 24 KO's). Cunningham who fought like a champion throughout falls to (21-2,11 KO's).

Cunningham, though disappointed was not downbeat afterwards as he spoke about the very close back and forth bout. "The knockdowns were flash knockdowns," said Cunningham. "I didn't feel his punches hurt me, but I give him credit for the knockdowns."

Adamek's Trainer Mike Skrowronski spoke of what won the fight for new IBF cruiserweight champ afterward. "Adamek's punching power was the difference. I could tell as early as the third or fourth round that he was too strong. Tomasz gave away more rounds then he needed to. It didn't need to be that close."

"He was a tough fighter, but he didn't have a punch and my style was the difference," said a satisfied Tomasz Adamek. "I knew when I first knocked him down in round two, that my punching power would be the difference in the fight." -- Kurt Wolfheimer

Adamek vs Cunningham Photos

Agbeko Decisions Gonzalez!

After numerous postponements, Joseph "King Kong" Agbeko finally got to defend his title.

He probably wished he could've postponed the fight again.

In a tough fight for the IBF bantamweight title, Agbeko had to work hard every round to secure a twelve round majority decision over William Gonzalez. Judges scores read 116-112 (twice) and 114-114.

Agbeko (26-1, 22 KO's) simply outworked Gonzalez down the stretch as he landed enough punches along the way to badly bruise Gonzalez' face while he opened up cuts over the challengers left eye and forehead. Gonzalez had his moments, particularly in the second, though his activity rate was not as productive as the even score indicated.

"I think I deserved a unanimous decision," Agbeko argued afterward. "He gave me good competition but I think I clearly beat him."

Gonzalez (21-3, 19 KO's) walked into a couple of straight rights in the first but he hurt Agbeko later in the round after landing a shot below the belt. Gonzalez, a southpaw, came out much more aggressive in the second, punching straight down the middle. Agbeko fought back but too many of his shots were wide and missed their target. Gonzalez charged out straight towards Agbeko in the third, connecting with a flush left hook.

Gonzalez took two hard rights in the fourth as Agbeko continued to come forward. He also landed a good left hook, straight right combination in the final ten seconds. Gonzalez's face began to show the wear and tear in the fifth as he absorbed punishment from Agbeko. Gonzalez landed a low blow after the bell in the sixth, his second of the fight.

The cut over Gonzalez's left eye began bleeding more in the seventh. Gonzalez, perhaps sensing the urgency due to his cuts, came out aggressively early in the eighth round but by the mid-point had resorted back to his passive style.

The pace continued in the ninth and by the tenth the challenger's face was a mask of crimson with a cut over his eye with another in between his eyebrows. He did good body work in the final minute of the round though, even temporarily stopping Agbeko in his tracks with a left hook to the body. Agbeko bounced back well though and all three judges scored the final two rounds for him.

Overall, both boxers gave a good, honest account of themselves in a scrappy fight.

Perhaps Agbeko put his best directly after the scores were announced. "He was a tough guy," Agbeko said, "but I was better tonight." – Matt Richardson

Agbeko vs Gonzalez Photos

Alexander Stops Fernandez!

Undefeated number one ranked WBC and number two-rated WBA super lightweight contender Devon "The Great" Alexander put on a near perfect performance as he scored a third round TKO of Christopher "The KO Kid" Fernandez in their scheduled eight round bout.

It was clear right from the opening round, that the hand speed of Alexander would do in the "KO Kid" as he as he backed him up with stiff right jabs and short combinations with little offered in return.

The assault continued in round two, as Alexander sat down on vicious combinations that forced Fernandez to retreat. A chopping left on the button sent Fernandez to his knees for an eight count. Stunned, he rose to his feet and moved for cover, but a hard four-punch combination to the body, sent him back to the canvas. Fernandez again rose to his feet and landed a low blow, which allowed him time to regain his composure. Alexander recovered and continued to pound away until the bell sounded to end the round.

Devon would not be denied upped the onslaught throughout round three, mixing up various combinations as Fernandez did all he could just to keep from getting sent to the canvas in a completely one sided round. Fernandez looked like a beaten fighter as he approached his corner when the bell sounded. Referee Brian Ornelia had seen enough and waved the bout off at the three-minute mark of the third round the TKO victory.

Alexander of Saint Louis Missouri ups his record to (17-0, 10 KO's) while Salt Lake City Utah’s Chris Fernandez drops to (15-6-1, 9 KO's). -- Kurt Wolfheimer

Crawford Clocks Cuevas!

Unbeaten welterweight prospect Henry Crawford had little trouble dismantling Maximino Cuevas, stopping him inside of two lopsided rounds.

Crawford (20-0-1, 9 KO's) started quickly, cutting Cuevas over the right eye in the first. Cuevas was rocked at the end of the round when he got caught with a right, left hook combination. He took more punishment in the next round too, though, and after two left hooks landed off of Cuevas' skull; his corner threw in the towel.

At first Cuevas appeared confused as to why the fight was halted. Only when referee Randy Neumann pointed to the bloody towel in a heap on the canvas did the fighter understand why. Time of the stoppage was 1:04.

Crawford, a prospect signed to Main Events, looked quick and agile but will have to step up the competition to prove his worth. Meanwhile, he now has almost as many losses as he does wins for an overall ledger of (10-9-1, 5 KO's). -- Matt Richardson

Bryan Destroys Geraci!

In the walkout bout of the evening, fans did not even get the chance to walk out as undefeated junior welterweight prospect Jeremy "Hollywood" Bryan dropped a completely outclassed Khristian Geraci four times en-route to a stoppage at 1:40 of the opening round.

The first knockdown came from two big lefts to the body. Geraci rose to his feet, but Bryan dug again to the body forcing him back to the canvas for a second time. Geraci retreated, but three more body shots made him take a knee. In his last gasp effort, Geraci backed into a corner and tried to trade, but Bryan attacked with a left hook to the ribs, followed by a right on the chin, which put Khristian to the canvas for the final time. The bout was immediately waved off for the TKO victory.

Bryan of Paterson, New Jersey improves to a sparkling (8-0, 4 KO's) while Pittsburgh, PA's, Khristian Geraci falls to (4-5-1, 3 KO's). -- Kurt Wolfheimer