By Dan Ambrose: Photo credit: KMG/Dmitriy Abramov – Polish heavyweight Tomasz Adamek (44-1, 28 KO’s) is basically slower, less defensively competent version of Chris Byrd in facing WBC heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko (42-2, 39 KO’s) on Saturday night at the Stadion Miejski, Wroclaw, Poland.

On the positive side of things, Adamek has slightly more power than Byrd. However, on the negative side of his game, Adamek is slower, less skilled at picking off punches and doesn’t have the iron chin that Byrd had in his prime.

Overall, I see Adamek as a weaker version Byrd. Some Adamek fans might get excited about this comparison given that Byrd did beat Vitali in 2000. But that was after Vitali tore up his shoulder early in the fight and couldn’t fight well after the injury. He ended up quitting on his stool after the 9th round with a commanding lead of 88-83, 88-82 and 90-81 on the three judges’ scorecards.

This was with Vitali only able to use one arm. On Saturday night, Vitali will have two good arms against a small Adamek that will be giving away five inches in height and reach, and at least 30 pounds in weight. The size advantage for Vitali is going to be monumental here. And this isn’t a fight where Adamek is facing one of his slow opponents that don’t throw a lot of punches like Kevin McBride and Michael Grant.

Vitali is going to be putting a hurting on Adamek, and with his only defense being his ability to run around the ring, Adamek is going to be in a boat without any paddles in this fight. It’s a hopeless mismatch, but at least Adamek will have finally got his payday bout. Maybe he can then lure Vitali’s brother Wladimir Klitschko into taking him on and giving him a good whipping as well.

Personally, I just hope Adamek moves on after his loss to Vitali and actually takes on some of the top contenders in the heavyweight division instead of the older fighters that he’s been padding his record with in the last two years.