By James Slater: Tomasz Adamek, seen by many fans as the best possible challenger capable of putting an end to the dominant reign of the Klitschko brothers, was shocked by this past Saturday’s clash between Vitali Klitschko and Shannon Briggs.
The skilful Pole, who faces tough warrior Vinny Maddalone in December, told Fightnews.com that the October 16th beat-down “Dr Iron Fist” gave the too-brave-for-his-own-good Briggs was one of the most terrifying fights he has ever seen. “Goral” also made it clear that he has a much better chance at beating the WBC heavyweight king, due to his style of fighting; a style that is 100-percent different to Briggs’ near-static approach.
Adamek says he will use movement, speed and “constant position change” to unravel and tire out the 39-year-old Ukrainian.
“Shannon was basically motionless, no head movement, no movement at all, with his hands low and standing in front of one of the hardest hitting men in the division,” Adamek said of Saturday’s brutally one-sided fight. “He fought like he wanted to die in there. [He] just went through the motions, sheer will, not even trying to defend himself or use even most basic techniques.”
Adamek is not alone when it comes to being quite appalled at the one-sided affair. The former 175 and 200-pound champ also joined those people who criticised the referee on Saturday night, claiming the fight should have been stopped. Adamek, a good guy, also expressed his concerns for Briggs, and wished him a speedy recovery.
Now, moving on to his own, seemingly imminent challenge of Kitschko (imminent unless Vinny Maddalone can cause the upset in December, of course!), Adamek spoke of how he will make it a much tougher night for the 39-year-old.
Just how will “Goral” defeat the much bigger, more powerful man?
“You cannot compare me to Shannon Briggs,” Adamek told Fightnews. “We have nothing in common. Starting with 60-pounds weight differential, and in his case, lack of everything which is my trademark in the heavyweight division: hand speed, quick movement, and constant position change. Vitali had some problems with smaller, agile guys like Chris Byrd and to some extent Corrie Sanders. Against me, Vitali would be more tired after three-rounds than he would be fighting Briggs for 36.
“[it will be a] much faster fight, much more energy spent defending himself, not from one but multiple punches.”
But can Adamek hurt Vitali? Moving in and out, letting fast combinations go sounds like a great plan, but if Adamek fails to land anything that slows down Klitschko, it may well be he who winds up burning the most energy; while Klitschko constantly comes forward, slowly wearing his man down. And if Adamek does get tired against Vitali, what then? Can the smaller man’s chin stand up to even a fraction of the bombs the WBC king landed on Briggs’ chin?
Adamek is certainly no fool, and he has done his homework when it comes to studying both Klitschkos, but is he simply too small to derail them?