Does Tomasz Adamek (44-1; 6-0 against heavyweights) have any hope against Vitali Klitschko (42-2)?
Adamek had trouble with some of the heavyweights he defeated since moving up from cruiserweight. Klitschko is taller than Michael Grant and hits harder than Chris Arreola and technically runs rings around anyone Adamek has faced.
Klitschko had a bit of trouble early against another Polish fighter, Albert Sosnowski, before finding his rhythm in the 7th round and dominating late and scoring a 10th round TKO. Will Adamek's movement, quickness, and heart make a difference?
The odds are long against. Klitschko outweights Adamek by 25 pounds, is 6 inches taller and has a 5 inch reach advantage. He's barely lost a round in his career. The only things Adamek has going for him are the ever-repeated hope that Klitschko's age will suddenly catch up with him, and the home ring advantage of fighting in Wroclaw, Poland.
It would be a big upset if Adamek can wrest the WBC belt from Vitali, and in our eyes most likely the fight will resemble the Klitschko-Sosnowski bout, or last month's Helenius-Lyakhovich fight, depending on Adamek's workrate. But we shall see.
Our round-by-round scoring:
- Round One: Adamek a bit tentative. Klitschko stalking him. Adamek gets a jab in that Vitali doesn't notice. Klitschko lands a right. The two clinch when Adamek gets inside. Vitali's jabs getting in. Right hand from Klitschko fazes Adamek. He can't find the range to counter; Vitali pushes Adamek's head down whenever he gets inside. Klitschko 10-9.
- Round Two: Adamek not fighting like Lyakhovich at all, nor is he giving Vitali any trouble like Sosnowski. He does get in a tepid combo that backs Vitali up. Vitali gets in a few uppercuts. Adamek lunging in trying to make something happen, and one time he does connect and the crowd roars; Vitali counters with jabs. A lot more scrapping this round. Big right by Klitschko with under a minute to go. Another right and a left by Klitschko, and another one bounces Adamek off the ropes but he stays up. Klitschko 10-9; 20-18.
- Round Three: Let's see if Vitali smells blood. Klitschko's straight arm wards off Adamek's entry attempts. Peppering Adamek with jabs and straight rights, and uppercuts when Adamek ducks. The reach advantage is killing Adamek as it does with nearly everyone the Klitschkos face. Adamek having almost no success this round. Klitschko 10-9; 30-27.
- Round Four: Current odds on Klitschko have gone up to 500-1. That's worth a $5 bet on Adamek right? More of the same midway through the first round. Adamek gets in a looping right hook, starting to harass Klitschko a bit. He gets inside for a bit and didn't stay there, but he's doing a lot better knowing how to time Klitschko's approaches. He gets in a wide right hook to the side of Klitschko's head near the end. Can't really give him the round though, but it could be a draw. 10-10; Klitschko 40-37. Note: Official scorecards have it 40-36 across the board.
- Round Five: Adamek is looking a lot better, and Klitschko is breathing a bit hard. But the dynamic hasn't reversed. Klitschko hits Adamek with good rights and lefts to re-establish his dominance, as Adamek stays in perfect range for Vitali. Good uppercuts from Vitali near the end. Klitschko 10-9; 50-46.
- Round Six: Klitschko is picking his spots with rights and jabs, and after a minute he knocks Adamek against the post for a knockdown, though he doesn't leave his feet. It's just a matter of time as Adamek stumbles around the ring. More punishment from Vitali, but Adamek stays on his feet. Klitschko 10-8; 60-54
- Round Seven: Vitali stalking him as Adamek is doing nothing but head movement and bobbing a bit. Now he tries a few entries but doesn't commit. Bodyshot by Adamek his first strike in a few rounds. Klitschko doing less this round, too, waiting for KO punch. Very little activity with :30 left. Maybe Vitali put money on the 8th round. Klitschko 10-9; 70-63.
- Round Eight: Decent shot by Ademek early in the round, but Vitali has a few before and after it. And as the round continues the same pattern repeats. Jabs when Adamek enters, and left-right combos when he stays at a distance. KLITSCHKO trips and goes down! Not a knockdown but as the round ends we'll see if he moves okay next round. Klitschko 10-9; 80-72; official scorecards all 80-71.
- Round Nine: A more active round by Klitschko, peppering Adamek with shots. Good return shot from Adamek gets the crowd cheering but it's 10 to 1 in terms of those. Klitschko 10-9; 90-81
- Round Ten: If Adamek holds on it's going to be a huge landslide in the scoring. Adamek still lunging in occasionally against all odds. Adamek getting hit at will and in very bad shape, not defending himself. Somehow he stays on his feet, but the referee stops the bout. There was a good minute where Klitschko had free reign to hit him; in the last minute he hit Ademek more than he was hit the entire fight.
Klitschko wins yet again; the dominance continues. Respect shown for his opponent afterwards, but it wasn't a big challenge against a much smaller man who had no chance from the starts.
Adamek was a very weak #4 in our rankings and will drop out of the top ten, as is probably correct given his questionable performances against other top heavies.
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