Bethlehem, PA: On March 15th Tomasz “Goral” Adamek and Vyacheslav “Czar” Glazkov will finally meet in the ring live on NBCSN Fight Night from Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem. The fight was supposed to take place last November but Adamek had to postpone at the last minute when he came down with the flu. Now the match-up that everyone has been waiting for will happen in front of a packed house at Sands (less than forty tickets remain).
This “Crossroads” fight has everyone wondering whether experience or youth will prevail. According to Hall of Fame Matchmaker J Russell Peltz, “When you add all the positives and negatives about each guy, you realize that no one is betting the bank on either man and that’s why it’s a good matchup, an intriguing matchup. Will Adamek’s experience, mobility and will to win overcome Glazkov’s youth and strength?” Those positives and negatives are highlighted below in the Adamek-Glazkov Scouting Report:
Category
Tomasz “Goral Adamek
Vyacheslav “Czar” Glazkov
Age
37
29
Record
49-2-0, 29 KOs
16-0-1, 11 KOs
Weight
222
220
Strengths
Adamek is an experienced fighter. He has fought 339 rounds and he has an uncanny ability to find a way to win.
Glazkov has remained active. He has boxed 17 times since turning pro in 2009. Glazkov is in the prime of his career. He competed in the 2008 Olympics in Beijing and won a Bronze Medal.
Weaknesses
In the twilight of his career, Adamek has been less active. He boxed just once in 2013. He sometimes likes to brawl too much.
Glazkov has not fought many experienced opponents and he can be a slow starter.
Experience
Adamek has faced top-notch opponents: Vitali Klitschko, Chris Arreola, Chad Dawson and Steve Cunningham. He won world titles at cruiserweight and at light-heavyweight. In 51 fights, he has lost just twice, by unanimous decision to Dawson in 2007 and by TKO to Klitschko in 2011.
An extensive and impressive amateur career and his Olympic experience has prepared Glazkov to compete on the big stage but he is far less experienced as a pro. He defeated Garrett Wilson on two days’ notice when he was set to fight Adamek and was willing to fight anyone. Glazkov fought the cagey Malik Scott in his 15th pro fight.
Power
Adamek has been a heavyweight for four-and-a-half years. He has grown into his power, though it is average for a world-class heavyweight.
Glazkov does not have one-punch power, but can break someone down. His power also is average.
Speed
A smaller heavyweight, Adamek possesses more speed than some of the bigger men in the division. He is relatively quick for a heavyweight.
A natural heavyweight, Glazkov did not grow into the division like Adamek. He still is a smaller heavyweight so he, too, is relatively quick.
Endurance
Adamek has proven that his endurance is one of his biggest assets. He finished strong against Dawson and stronger than his opponents in most of his close fights. He lasted 10 rounds with Klitschko, who out-weighed him by 37 pounds. Adamek has gone 12 rounds nine times.
Glazkov has shown he can go 10 rounds, but has never has gone 12; this will be his first scheduled 12-rounder. Still untested, Glazkov finished strong in his 10-round draw with Malik Scott. He has gone 10 rounds three times.
Accuracy
Adamek throws a lot of punches, but his connect rate is less than scintillating. Adamek connected on 167 of the 705 punches (24%) he threw in his 10-round unanimous decision win over Dominick Guinn on Aug. 3, 2013.
Glazkov is more accurate with his punches and does not throw as many as Adamek, so his connect rate is higher. In his 10-round draw with Malik Scott on Feb. 23, 2013, he threw 463 punches and landed 127 of them (27%).
Agility
Adamek moves like a smaller man.
Glazkov also moves like a smaller man. He can also walk around the ring on his hands which takes tremendous balance and agility to do.
Defense
Defense is not in Adamek’s vocabulary; his offense is his best defense. He doesn’t move his head enough and he gets hit too much, though he often makes his opponent pay for it.
Defense is Glazkov’s best quality; it is tricky and solid.He deflects punches off of his gloves, elbows and arms. This was especially true against Malik Scott.
Chin
Adamek has been knocked down, but he gets back up and gets stronger. He has a world-class chin.
Glazkov has never been down. However, after only 17 pro fights his chin is still unproven.
Style
Adamek is a straight-forward, pressure fighter.
Glazkov is a slow starter, but picks it up. He is more defensive-minded than Adamek, but tends to get more aggressive as the fight goes on.
Intangibles
With years of professional experience as a world champion and as a world-class heavyweight, Adamek knows his craft and is comfortable in the ring. His will is as strong as his chin.
Glazkov has youth on his side. His Olympic bronze medal indicates that he is an elite heavyweight. He will not be intimidated.
Crowd Support
Adamek will bring his vocal legion of Polish supporters to Sands.
Though he is making inroads among Ukrainian-Americans, Czar hasn’t been around long enough to develop a large following in the US and his countrymen are likely distracted by the unrest in Ukraine.
The Match-Up
This is a 50/50 fight and these are the lingering questions:
Will Adamek’s age be a factor?
Will Glazkov’s be able to overcome his inexperience?
Has Adamek’s inactivity helped him to recover better from past wars in the ring or will he be burdened by ring rust?
Will Glazkov’s chin and will hold up to Adamek’s straight-forward punches?
Who learned more from their sparring sessions?
Heavyweight Steve “USS” Cunningham, who is scheduled to square off against Amir Mansour on the April 4th edition of Fight Night and has fought against Adamek twice in his career, also thinks this is a wild card fight, “This will be a good fight. It’s two Europeans fighting each other but Adamek has meshed his European style with an American style so it makes for an interesting match-up. I’m going with Adamek for experience on this one, but it would not surprise me if Glazkov really steps up.” One thing is for sure, this fight brings more questions than answers to the table but the wait will be over soon.