Tomasz Adamek vs. Chad Dawson - Feb 3 2007

The broadcasts will begin at a 6:00 PM
Pacific on Showtime East




Undefeated WBC light heavyweight champion Tomasz Adamek is set to defend his crown when he faces a challenger with also a perfect record Chad Dawson on Saturday February 3rd at the Silver Spurs Arena, in Kissimmee, Florida. Showtime will broadcast the bouts at 9:00 PM ET/PT from Osceola Heritage Park.

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WBC light heavyweight champion Tomasz "Goral" Adamek (31-0, 21 KO's) Jersey City, New Jersey via Zywiec, Poland. 30-years-old, 6'2 ½", 175 pounds, trained by Andrew Gmitruk, managed by Ziggy Rozalski.

Style: Adamek is a standup boxer/puncher with great heart, an average chin, pretty good pop in his hands and not above going south of the border if he needs to make his point. Everything is set up off the jab but if he gets pressured, or in trouble that all goes out the window and he will start winging shots. Adamek has an extensive amateur background going 108-12. He won back to back Polish National championships and won the bronze medal at the 1998 European championships. Adamek turned pro in 1999 and has fought most of his career in Poland, England, Finland and Spain. This championship will mark Adamek's third title defense and only his third bout in the United States

Strength: Adamek's best virtue is tremendous heart and courage. He has displayed valor in both of his fights with Briggs and he is more than willing to go full throttle to score victories. Adamek's best weapon is a sharp left jab and he uses to set-up a whistling right cross that can cause damage. You don't really think about one-punch KO power with this guy but that's what happened when he floored the German challenger Thomas Ulrich to score a knockout victory. Adamek has a great deal of experience in both the amateurs and the pros and he has the ability to score with hard, crisp combinations and grind out victories.

Weakness: Adamek's chin is only so-so and the last time out he was floored in the first round on a flash knockdown. Of more concern is that Adamek is also a bleeder and he was prone to cuts in both his wars with Briggs. The Polish light heavyweight champion is not a fluid boxer and his lateral movement when he's in the ring against a slick moving southpaw will become more and more obvious as the title fight shifts to the later rounds.

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Challenger Chad Dawson (23-0, 15 KO's) New Haven, Connecticut. Southpaw, 24-years-old, 6'3", 175 pounds, trainer of record Dan Birmingham, manager Mike Criscio.

Style: Boxer, mover, and glider. Dawson can set the pace but he feels more comfortable waiting to counter with quick hands for a tall rangy athlete. It isn't that he doesn't throw the left, but look for right jabs, right hooks and even right uppercuts in close quarters.

Strength: Dawson is a tall, rangy athletic southpaw with quick hands but he does his best work his right glove. Right jabs and right hooks are followed by right uppercuts and even right handed bolo punches. Yes, he does throw combinations and left crosses but his right hand is the key to the fight. Dawson also has nice lateral movement to go with athletic skill and balance.

Weakness: This is a big step up in class for the undefeated lefthander and only his third fight at light heavy limit since moving up from the super middleweight ranks. He has never been tested by anyone with Adamek's toughness and determination and he might be in for a shock to find out just how resolute the Pole will be in the ring.


Here's what the two uneaten gladiators had to say:

Question: Tomasz, what are your thoughts about fighting on U.S. television?

Adamek: I am very happy to be on American TV and on SHOWTIME. I am a hard fighter and I will fight to the end. You will be happy watching me.

Question: Chad, what are your opening thoughts?

Dawson: I want to thank Tomasz for giving me the opportunity to fight for the world title and want to thank Gary Shaw and Don King Promotions for putting on the fight. I am looking forward to a big fight. I know it is the toughest fight of my career. I am prepared and ready.

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In the telecast's co-feature, making his first start since winning the title in a bout against Levander Johnson that ended in tragedy 16 months ago, Jesus Chavez (43-3, 30 KOs) of Austin, Tex., will defend his IBF lightweight crown against IBF interim 135-pound champ Julio Diaz (33-3, 24 KOs) of Coachella, Calif.