By Chris Williams: According to the latest news gossip, there are rumors about a fight between 41-year-old journeyman Andre Golota (41-7-1, 33 KO’s) and Tomasz Adamek (38-1, 26 KO’s) in October of this year. News has been leaked about Adamek, 32, the International Boxing Federation cruiserweight champion, wanting to move up to the heavyweight division where he hopes to get a shot at some big money fights.
I had hoped that Adamek wasn’t serious about it, because frankly he’s too short, slow and too old in the tooth to make much of a mark in the heavyweight division at this point in his career. I can see nothing good coming of this regardless of whether or not Adamek can beat a shot Golota. I recognize that the money that cruiserweights make is poor compared to the heavyweight division, but I can’t see Adamek being nothing more than a circus attraction in the heavyweight division.
He’ll attract attention until he’s matched up with someone good like Eddie Chambers or Kevin Johnson. At that point, Adamek will take his beating, collect his money and then assume the role of a journeyman in the division. Believe me, it won’t take one of the Klitschko brothers to expose Adamek’s lack of size, work rate and power.
Johnson, Samuel Peter and Chambers will do just fine at that. Adamek’s work rate has dropped dramatically since he moved up from the light heavyweight division in 2007. He now looked really slow, mechanical and throws only a handful of punches each round.
Adamek would have lost against Steve Cunningham had the American fighter had better balance. He dominated and badly overworked Adamek in most of the rounds but kept getting knocked down as he would come in standing square.
Adamek won’t have the same success against good heavyweights, which is why he shouldn’t waste his time making the move. Adamek needs to make the most of the time that he has left as a cruiserweight champion instead of going after impossible goals like the trying to become a heavyweight champion.
Golota is coming off a 1st round defeat by Ray Austin in November, a fight where Golota dislocated his left elbow and couldn’t continue. Before that, Golota has accumulated three consecutive wins over B class fighters Jeremy Bates, Kevin McBride and Mike Mollo. Golota was defeated in back to back fights by John Ruiz and Lamon Brewster in 2004 and 2005. The fight against Brewster ended with Golota being knocked out in the 1st round.
Adamek can probably win this fight against Golota, there’s no question about it. Golota is old, slowed from age and injuries and not the same fighter he was in the early 90s. If this was a prime Golota, Adamek would have zero chance at beating him but that’s not the case. I just hope Adamek doesn’t kid himself thinking that he can be relevant in the heavyweight division if he gets by Golota.
The ranking bodies will likely shoot Adamek all the way up to the top five position in the cruiserweight division like they did David Haye after he defeated journeyman Monte Barrett. However, that doesn’t mean that Adamek could actually beat a good heavyweight. I don’t see him beating anyone but the lesser heavyweights, ones that don’t deserve to be ranked in the heavyweight division in the first place.
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