Adamek Stops Banks in the 8th Round in Newark

Adamek Stops Banks in the 8th Round in Newark

By Ken Hissner at ringside, DoghouseBoxing (Mar 1, 2009)

Poland’s Tomasz Adamek retained his IBF cruiserweight title Friday night stopping previously unbeaten Jonathan Banks at 1:50 of the 8th round at the Prudential Center, in Newark, New Jersey before over 5,500 fans screaming “Polska” and Adamek”.

For the first 5 rounds Detroit’s Banks, 20-1 (14) used his jab while Adamek, 37-1 (25) used his right hand trying to counter Banks over his jab. In the 6th round Adamek seemed to even things up rocking

Banks with a left hook to the head. “Banks started slowing down after the 4th round,” said former IBF champ Steve Cunningham after the fight. He was more than a interested “fan” hoping to fight the winner.

“This is a bigger crowd then in December for Adamek-Cunningham,” said Main Events promoter Kathy Duva. She was quite pleased as she should be. Duva and Adamek both evaded the question “is Cunningham next?” Adamek can pass it to Duva but she has final say. Banks is rated #7 and Cunningham dropped to #3 behind #2 B.J. Flores with #1 vacant. Flores couldn’t work out a deal with Duva to fight Adamek.

Adamek thrilled his many followers dropping Banks with a right hand into the bottom strand of the ropes in the 8th. He staggered to his feet with his back to the referee Eddie Cotton before managing to turn around. He was out on his feet with his hands to his side. Cotton reached down and wiped his gloves without asking him to take a step forward or to put his hands up showing he wanted to continue. Banks was a “sitting duck” for Adamek. Once again Adamek dropped the defenseless Banks before Cotton finally stopped the onslaught. If Manny Steward was working the corner for Banks like normal, he may have thrown the towel in. Word is he was in Texas for Saturdays HBO show.

“I’ll be back,” said Banks. He was late getting to the press room but didn’t want to disappoint his fans and congratulate Adamek. “I lost to a strong champion,” he added before leaving. Adamek then took the podium and was immediately asked about a Cunningham rematch. Adamek said he will fight anyone. After the fight in the ring he talked about moving up into the heavyweight division but never mentioned it in the press room. “I knew from the beginning my opponent was dangerous with his right hand. My corner urged me to get faster and he will get slower,” said Adamek. As Cunningham sat with his lovely wife Livy, he was holding a small Polish flag. Always the gentlemen, Cunningham and Adamek had embraced earlier. When Cunningham asked Adamek about a rematch Adamek simply said “are you Polish?” He learns fast.

Duva is keeping Adamek busy expecting to have him defend his title every 3 months this year. She is also bringing in Ireland’s John Duddy April 24th at the Prudential Center. You have to give her credit for while Don King only had Cunningham fighting once a year, Duva is keeping her champion fighting on the average of four times a year.

Another Main Events fighter Giovanni Lorenzo, 27-1 (18), out of Newark, made short work of Dionisio Miranda, 19-3-2 (17) of Colombia at 2:48 of the 2nd round as referee Sammy Viruet counted Miranda out. “I want to thank God and Main Events. I wanted to fight Pavlik but lost to (Raul) Marquez so I must now fight the IBF champion Arthur Abraham (if he gets by Philly’s #11 Lajuan Simon next month). If Lorenzo couldn’t beat Marquez he should consider himself fortunate he wasn’t in with Pavlik.

Miranda was missing quite a bit with the big bombs as Lorenzo bided his time mostly using a jab until being hit with a right hand he countered with a right of his own dropping Miranda. Lorenzo is #5 and Miranda #9 in the IBF ratings. “I get paid more when I score a knockout,” said Lorenzo. His promoter seemed happy to pay it.

Super middleweight Jerson Ravelo, 19-4 (12), of Newark, did his best impersonation of the “road runner” as he jabbed Houston’s Don Mouton, 8-3-1, (7) almost at will while on the run. Moulton who was surprisingly ahead on one of the judges scorecards but finally caught up with Ravelo in the 8th and last round dropping him with a left hook. Ravelo’s many fans were in shock while others who were upset with his lack of aggression were thrilled. Ravelo was up and down again that fast forcing referee Benjy Esteves, Jr. to call a halt at 0:49 of the round. “They underestimated me do to my record,” said a jubilant Mouton.

Paterson’s Henry Crawford, 21-0-1 (9), had his way easily winning a 6 round decision over Keenan Collins, 12-5-2 (8), of Reading, Pennsylvania, who was fortunate to survive to the end. This was a welterweight match. Scores were 60-54 twice and 59-55.

Jeremy “Hollywood” Bryan, also of Paterson, easily defeated the much taller Osvaldo Rivera, 2-1-1 (1) of the Bronx in a 6 round junior welterweight fight. Rivera did not “fight tall” rarely using his reach but instead using his left hand to try to go to Bryan’s body since he holds his hands high. Bryan has that Hopkins style. Judge’s scorecards were 60-54 twice and 59-55.

Coming back after a 46 month lay-off Philly’s Chuck “T” Tschorniawsky, 25-10-1 (14) couldn’t get past the snapping jab of Pittsburgh’s Jesse “Future” Lubash, 10-0, (6) in a welterweight 6. “T”s trainer Billy Briscoe had seen enough calling a halt to referee Esteves at 1:22 of the 2nd round.

In the opener Philly’s Anthony Flores, 7-0 (4), was quite impressive in moving in and out as well as going toe to toe when he had to in what looked like a shut-out from here in taking a 58-56 on all scorecards over Ikem Orji, 4-1 (1), of Nigeria, via Laurel, Maryland. Orji came in over the 130 limit at 134 forcing Flores to come in heavier at 133 to his normal 130 weight. “I thought I won every round,” said a shocked Flores along with his co-manager Doc Nowicki when the original score was a majority win.

Something tells me an Adamek-Cunningham rematch would bring in even more than the 5,500 here tonight. Cunningham would fight a smarter fight but Adamek now holding the belt would be more aggressive to keep it. One thing for sure, Kathy Duva has found a gold mine in Newark!

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Ken at: kenhissner@yahoo.com