By Gary Purfield
Fighters:Tomasz “Goral” Adamek 43-1 (28 KO) from Poland and now residing in Jersey City, NJ and
Kevin “the Clones Colossus” McBride 35-8-1 (29 KO) from Ireland now living in Brockton, MA
Where:
Prudential Center Newark, NJ
When:
Saturday April 9, 2011
TV:
Integrated Sports PPV 9pm ET/6pm PT $29.95 and on Ustream in U.S./Canada at http://www.ustream.tv/brickcityboxingUSA and Worldwide at http://www.ustream.tv/brickcityboxinginternational
Undercard:
Sadam Ali vs. Jorge Pimentel 8 round welterweight
Andrzej Fonfara vs. Ray Smith 8 rounds heavyweight
Josellito Collado vs. Rafael Lora 6 rounds featherweight
Shemuel Pagan vs. Willie Morgan 4 rounds lightweight
Jose Peralta vs. TBA 6 rounds junior welterweight
Vinny O’Brien vs. Shakir Aquel Dunn 4 rounds, welterweight
Last fight:
Adamek: 5th Round TKO over Vinny Maddalone
McBride: 3rd Round win over Franklin Egobi (Prizefighter Tournament)
This Saturday night Tomasz Adamek will again fight in front of a large and raucous crowd of loyal fans at the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ. The test this time is being billed as the last big hurdle as he takes on Irish giant and former Tyson conqueror Kevin McBride. The title last big hurdle clearly implies Adamek’s final bout with a tall heavyweight before he takes on one of the Klitschko brothers later this year if he gets past McBride.
Since entering the heavyweight division the former undisputed cruiserweight champ has beaten multiple bigger men including Andrew Golota, Jason Estrada, Chris Arreola, and Michael Grant. Whether it is height, weight, or punching power each of his heavyweight opponents have provided him a small window and test for what he will encounter when he faces a Klitschko.
Now with maybe his largest test in reference to size this Saturday night against McBride Adamek has one more chance to hone his skills against a giant before looking to do what no heavyweight has been able to do recently, dethrone the Klitschkos’s from their perch atop boxing’s glamour division. Time to break down all aspects of Adamek vs. McBride.
Boxing ability: Adamek is hands down the better boxer and technician. Prior to heavyweight he was known as a brawler but since joining the land of giants with the guidance of trainer Roger Bloodworth Adamek has become more of a mobile boxer. Adamek has an underrated jab he used well against the much taller Grant. He employs excellent movement in both directions. He has learned to get in, land punches, and get out before being hit. This was especially effective against Arreola. Adamek also uses decent head movement to get past the reach of tall heavyweights. McBride has a decent jab but you would expect a better stick from someone with his reach. While McBride’s boxing skills are decent Adamek runs away with this category.
Physical: Throughout his career Adamek comes to fight in shape. He is strong and well-conditioned. He maintains a steady attack from round one through the final bell. McBride carries a big body and seems to tire midway through fights. Against Golota he was dead tired by round five and was knocked out in the next round. Adamek is the better physically conditioned athlete.
Power: This category is what McBride is banking on. Adamek has good power but simply put McBride is a very big man and with that comes a big punch. He has the size to take out many heavyweights with a heavy straight right hand.
Speed: Another one hands down to Adamek. While he had average speed at cruiserweight he is considered fast by heavyweight standards (hand and foot speed). McBride on the other hand is a lumbering puncher whose shots can be easily detected and countered. McBride moves slowly on his feet. Adamek should have no trouble out maneuvering his opponent to go on the offensive or counter at will.
Defense: Another area where Adamek has shown significant improvement since moving to heavyweight. Before he was more than willing to stand and trade but now is able to use his feet and head movement to avoid taking punches. This area is not a wash though. McBride’s size alone gives him reach and a chance to avoid punches with simple movement. Adamek is the more skilled defender but McBride will make it somewhat difficult at times for the shorter fighter to land clean effective punches.
Chin: If McBride is counting on his size and power to be ninety percent of his advantage this area is his other card for the last ten percent. His enormous size advantage means he can absorb a shot from a smaller heavyweight. Before we just give this hands down to the bigger man it should be noted Adamek has a rock solid chin that has been tested and he passed against big heavyweights including Arreola and Grant. Adamek absorbed big shots in both fights. He had his rough moments but with his solid chin and great conditioning survived to take the win in both fights. Still, McBride gets the ever so slight edge here.
Experience: Adamek is been in far bigger fights against better opposition. McBride lost to Golota who was well past his prime when they fought. His other big fight was the win over Tyson but Iron Mike had called it quits by that point. Adamek has taken on the best at light heavyweight and cruiserweight. Other than the one loss to Chad Dawson at light heavyweight he has beaten everyone in his path. He has also faced good to very good competition at heavyweight. In addition Adamek has more experience under the bright lights and big crowds.
Wear and Tear: This one is even. Both have been in some tough drag down brawls where they took some punishment.
Common Opponent (Andrew Golota): These two have one common opponent in fighting Golota at a time when he was past his best. Styles make fights so one has to be careful drawing conclusions from performances against common opponents the results do speak for themselves. McBride was stopped by Golota in six while Adamek knocked out his fellow countryman from Poland in round five in dominant fashion.
Keys to Victory
Tomasz Adamek:
- Simple, use your superior skill. Use the faster hand speed, foot speed, boxing skills, and defensive skills to pepper the bigger foe with shots that will wear him down. If done effectively Adamek could stop his giant opponent late from an accumulation of punishment or on cuts as the Irish big man does have a history of being opened up.
- Don’t be on the ropes and don’t get into a slugging contest (at least not early while McBride still has energy). The only way Adamek can lose is from getting caught by a big shot so minimize McBride’s chances of landing the homerun punch.
- Head movement will be a key to get past the long jab of the six foot seven McBride so Adamek can get inside, work, and get out.
Kevin McBride:
- Land a big punch. No secret that McBride does not have the skills and talent of his opponent. What he has is size. He will need to land a big shot and then follow up to finish to have a chance to win.
- Make the fight ugly and bully Adamek to the ropes. By fighting in close with rough tactics especially against the ropes he will somewhat limit the many advantages of his opponent including speed, movement, and skill.
Prediction: McBride is not only contending with a far more skilled fighter but will also have to deal with the packed Prudential Center that will be a loud and hostile environment in support of Adamek. The constant movement of the smaller but faster and more skilled Adamek will be far too much for the proud Irishman to handle. McBride will give Adamek a tough fight and may even stun the Polish warrior once or twice but over the course of the fight skill will take over and win out. In the end Adamek will stop McBride late, likely around the tenth or eleventh round on either cuts or the referee simply moving in to stop what becomes a one sided affair.
To study up on past fights or simply enjoy some action leading up to Saturday check out past fights from each fighter linked below.
Adamek:
Unanimous Decision over Michael Grant 8/21/10
Majority Decision win over Chris Arreola 4/24/10
5th Round TKO win over Vinny Maddalone 12/9/10
McBride:
6th Round TKO loss to Andrew Golota 10/6/07
6th Round KO win over Mike Tyson 6/11/05
Question, comment, agree, disagree, or anything at all, send it to gpurf3@hotmail.com
