Adamek Cunningham Rematch: page 3

Photo: Adamek-Cunningham II Controversial Scoring

•Dec 22, 2012

There were two scoring mishaps this evening at the sold out Sands Casino Resort in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. The first time around, Tomasz Adamek (48-2, 29 KOs) and Steve “USS” Cunningham (25-5, 12 KOs) were announced to have fought to a draw by legendary announce Michael Buffer. A moment later Buffer announced that a score of 115-115 was actually 115-112 in favor of Adamek, which made the Polish star the winner by split decision. Later it was revealed that another scoring mishap had taken place when it was disclosed that 115-112 was actually 115-113 for Adamek. The other judges had it 115-113 Cunningham and 116-112 for Adamek.

Naazim: Cunningham Needs Discipline to Disarm Adamek

David P. Greisman

•Dec 22, 2012

Noted trained Naazim Richardson, who will be in Steve Cunningham’s corner for the rematch between Cunningham and Tomasz Adamek, broke down the fight for BoxingScene.com shortly after both fighters weighed in.

Adamek Defeats Cunningham, Scoring Mishap Too

David P. Greisman

•Dec 22, 2012

By David P. Greisman - BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Steve Cunningham put forth the kind of performance that should have earned him long-awaited revenge in his long-anticipated rematch with Tomasz Adamek. Should have. Cunningham out-boxed and out-landed Adamek for the better part of 12 rounds. Only one judge saw it that way. The other two judges, however, somehow saw Adamek the winner, awarding him seven rounds on one scorecard and eight rounds on the other and giving him a controversial split decision victory. Deborah Barnes and Dave Greer had it 115-113 and 116-112, respectively, for Adamek, with the dissenting vote from Tom Miller reading 115-113 for Cunningham. Their first fight had ended in a split decision as well, though not with anywhere near as much controversy. Four years ago, Adamek had knocked Cunningham down three times over the course of their 12-round bout, those knockdowns proving to be the margin of victory That bout had taken place at cruiserweight. Four years later, Adamek and Cunningham met at heavyweight, with Adamek tipping the scales at 223 pounds and Cunningham coming in at 203.5. The question going into the bout was what difference the weigh difference would make — whether Adamek, who had been at heavyweight for more than three years, could use his additional 20 pounds to hurt Cunningham even worse than he had when both had been at cruiserweight.

Steve Cunningham Plans For Career Best Performance

Keith Idec

•Dec 22, 2012

You name it, Steve Cunningham has heard the criticism approaching his rematch against Tomasz Adamek. He wasn’t a big puncher at cruiserweight, so he’s not fit for fighting at heavyweight. His chin, which wasn’t exactly Vitali Klitschko-like below 200 pounds, won’t withstand heavyweight power. Adamek is too experienced at heavyweight for Cunningham to face him in just Cunningham’s second fight at that weight.

Adamek vs. Cunningham II: The Pre-Fight Report Card

Cliff Rold

•Dec 22, 2012

By Cliff Rold - Evander Holyfield-Dwight Muhammad Qawi I. James Toney-Vasily Jirov. Tomasz Adamek-Steve Cunningham I. They are the arguably the three defining wars in the history of the Cruiserweight division. Saturday night, at Heavyweight, the last of them gets its sequel. Long and often still regarded as Heavyweight’s bastard spawn, Cruiserweight has many times been a greater source of entertainment over the years than the more storied class. In the 2000s, as Heavyweight action fights seemingly went the way of the dodo bird, Cruiserweight filled the void. Adamek and Cunningham were a memorable part of that decade and continue to ply their trade in exciting fashion. After falling short in a second fight with Yoan Pablo Hernandez in Cruiserweight title action earlier this year, Cunningham made his move up.

BoxingScene Staff Predictions: Adamek-Cunningham II

Jake Donovan

•Dec 22, 2012

Tomasz Adamek and Steve Cunningham first waged war four years ago in a fight that served as one of the best of 2008. The bout also among the most memorable cruiserweight slugfests in the division’s still young history. As is historically the case with most top cruiserweights, both fighters now compete in the heavyweight division. Fittingly, they once again compete against each other, with the rematch taking place this weekend at Sands Resort Casino in Bethlehem, PA (Saturday, NBC, 4PM ET).

Cunningham Calls For A ‘Smart War’ in Adamek Rematch

David P. Greisman

•Dec 21, 2012

Former cruiserweight titleholder Steve Cunningham spoke with BoxingScene.com shortly after weighing in for his rematch against Tomasz Adamek. Four years ago, their first fight took place in the cruiserweight division, with Adamek knocking Cunningham down three times and winning via split decision. Now both boxers are heavyweights — Cunningham checked in at 203.5 pounds, Adamek at 223. BoxingScene.com: You were at 207 pounds for your first heavyweight fight. Now you’re at 203. Were you aiming to be lighter? Cunningham: “No. I was actually trying to hit the same weight that I did for the first fight, for the [Jason] Gavern fight. But that just goes in part with how serious I’m taking it, just the extra work and seriousness, the nerves. I’m still in great shape.” BoxingScene.com: Why were you aiming to be at 207? What’s the difference between that and, say, 203?

Adamek Weighs in at 223, Cunningham Hit Scale at 203.5

David P. Greisman

•Dec 21, 2012

BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Four years after they went to war for the cruiserweight championship, Tomasz Adamek and Steve Cunningham met for their rematch, which is taking place in the heavyweight division at the Sands Casino Resort in Bethlehem, Pa. Adamek, the first fight’s victor, weighed in Friday afternoon at 223 pounds, which is in the same range as his recent bouts at heavyweight and seven pounds heavier than he was for his September 2011 stoppage loss to Vitali Klitschko.

Adamek Won't Let Cunningham Squash His Title Goal

Jake Donovan

•Dec 21, 2012

By Jake Donovan - Everything is back to normal in the long and storied career of Tomasz Adamek. The former light heavyweight and cruiserweight king wasn’t in a good place around this time last year. A career-worst performance in a failed heavyweight title bid with Vitali Klitschko was followed by a brief split with American promoter Main Events, with whom Adamek became a huge attraction in the United States and more specifically in the Northeast region upon signing in 2008. The loss to Klitschko apparently had Adamek and his handlers in second-guessing mode, not quite sure in which direction to take his career. The Polish star eventually came to his senses earlier this year, rejoining the Main Events stable just as the company was in the process of building up its NBC Sports Fight Night series. Saturday afternoon will mark his fourth fight in nine months, when he faces Steve Cunningham at the Sands Resort Casino in Bethlehem, Penn. That the rematch headlines boxing’s return to NBC (4PM ET) for the first time in nearly a decade is a fitting development; it was their first fight – just over four years ago – that began Adamek’s run as a star attraction on the East Coast.

Cunningham is Expecting The Best Version of Adamek

Keith Idec

•Dec 20, 2012

Steve Cunningham underestimated Tomasz Adamek before their first fight. Cunningham came into that December 2008 cruiserweight championship match with complete confidence in his ability to out-box and out-slug Adamek. The Philadelphia native’s slight mental mistake cost him in a highly entertaining slugfest during which he got off the canvas three times, only to lose a 12-round split decision at Prudential Center in Newark, N.J.