Adamek Passes “Big Challenge” Proves He Can Hang with the Big Boy’s / Julio, Ali and Pagan Victorious!
By: Mike Rivers
August 21st, Prudential Center, Newark, New Jersey: Giving away 6inches and 44 pounds IBF and NABO heavyweight champion Tomaz “Goral” Adamek retained his titles with a careful twelve rounds decision over “Big” Michael Grant.
The 6’1” Adamek started fast sticking and moving, jumping in and out using his boxing skills and his superior mobility to take the first five rounds from the 6’7” Grant. Grant began to land effective counters in round six rocking and cutting Adamek over his right eye.
In the seventh Grant began to come forward cutting off the former light heavy and cruiserweight champion. In the eighth Adamek was cut over his left eye and Grant continued to turn up the pressure landing well in round nine.
In the tenth Adamek rebounded appearing to gain his second wind moving again turning the tide back through round eleven. Grant took advantage of his size and a tiring Adamek to open up in the final round landing a couple of big right hands hurting Adamek who showed his champion caliber heart staying upright to grab a 117-111, 118-110, 118-111 unanimous decision and more importantly demonstrate for his second straight fight he can hang with the big boys. Adamek moves to 42-1, 27Ko’s while Grant slips to 46-4, 34Ko’s.
In entertaining semi main event jr middleweight Joel Julio returned to his winning ways battering Philadelphia’s Jamaal “Da Truth” Davis over ten rounds earning a 97-93, 98-92, 99-93 unanimous decision. Julio landed numerous clean heavy shots whether it was Davis tough beard or a wilting Julio punch Davis may have earned another big pay day. Julio moves to 36-4, 31Ko’s with Davis dropping to 12-7, 6Ko’s.
2008 Olympian welterweight Sadam Ali displayed his superior speed and numerous skills countering the 35 fight tested but light punching Lenin “Volcano”Arroyo for five rounds before imploding the “Volcano” with a left hook to the liver was at 2:46 of round five. Ali stays unbeaten at 9-0, 5Ko’s while Arroyo falls to 20-13-1, 4Ko’s.
In his pro debut NY five time Gold Glove winner Shemuel Pagan dropped Philadelpia’s Raul Rivera in the second round on the way to a 40-35, 40-34, 40-34 unanimous decision. Pagan begins his pro career at 1-0 while Rivera remains winless at 0-3.
In a bout not very good for boxing Paterson, New Jersey’s Jeremy “Hollywood” Bryan won a first round RTD when Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania’s Daniel “super Sweet” Mitchell retired on his stool complaining he could not see. Bryan advances to 14-1, 7Ko’s while Mitchell drops to 5-2-1, 2Ko’s.
Atlantic City, New Jersey, Jr lightweight Osnel Charles won a closely contestedfour rounder with Union City, New Jersey’s Hector Collado with Charles first round knockdown of Collado being the difference. The sores were announced 38-37, 38-37, 39-37.
In a battle of jr lightweights making their pro debuts Middletown, New Jersey’s Tyrone Luckey stopped Fort Lauderdale, Florida’s Larry Yanez at 0:54 of round one.
