By James Slater: There was a chance that Vitali Klitschko, the seemingly unbeatable WBC heavyweight king, would take an optional title defence in June, against a selected “keep busy” opponent. However, according to both Dan Rafael of ESPN.com and Boxrec.com, this will not now be the case; “Dr. Iron Fist” will instead travel directly to Poland for his next fight, against national hero Tomasz Adamek – the exciting-looking match-up to go ahead at a venue to be determined on September 10th.
It is expected that the clash will play out in front of a huge outdoor crowd of many thousands of fans, and reportedly two Polish stadiums are in the run to host the big fight. Sure to be a massive event – maybe even bigger than the expected late June or early July rumble between Wladimir Klitschko and David Haye – Vitali Vs. Adamek has the look of an attractive, if one-sided, fight.
34-year-old Adamek, now 6-0 as a heavyweight, has been aching for this big opportunity for quite a while. Fresh off a clear points win over the lumbering Kevin McBride, the warrior known as “Goral” says it has always been his dream to become heavyweight champion. Now, against the giant who made surprisingly short work of the previously unbeaten Odlanier Solis in his last fight, the former light-heavy and cruiser boss gets his chance. But as big a fight as the September showdown will be, has the much smaller, lighter-hitting challenger got a real chance of winning?
At age 39 (40 by the time of the first bell), the thinking in some places (maybe amongst Team-Adamek) is that Vitali has to go some time. There haven’t been too many heavyweight champions who reigned at an older age than Vitali, but so far the well-conditioned, iron-chinned ruler has smirked in the face of Father Time. And even though the elder Klitschko brother has said he has no wish to break George Foreman’s record as being the oldest ever heavyweight champion, it’s possible Vitali could do just that.
If Adamek IS banking on Vitali at last showing his age in September, he may be in for a shock. But knowing Adamek as we do – as one of the fiercest competitors out there – it’s unlikely he will be looking for any advantage come fight time. Adamek, 44-1(28) has never taken the easy route, and it is to his credit that he has sought out the Klitschkos. The Polish hero gets Vitali, British hero Haye gets Wladimir. Has either guy got a genuine shot at ending the formidable reign of the finest heavyweight boxing brothers in history?
Neither challenger figures to fall early, or without a fierce fight. To me, though, Haye has the firepower needed; Adamek does not. That said, is Adamek a better, smarter fighter than Haye? In what could be the best year for the heavyweight division in quite some time, we will soon find out.
Good luck to both Klitschko challengers: they will need it!