Polish heavyweight Tomasz Adamek outpointed American Steve Cunningham in a split decision in their IBF title eliminator at the Sands Casino Resort in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. The win was Adamek's second split decision victory over Cunningham, as he also eked out an SD win four years earlier in New Jersey.
But Tomasz Adamek's victory came with a little controversy, courtesy of Judge Debra Barnes' bizarre score card. The fight was initially announced as a draw: David Greer scored the fight 116-112 for Adamek; Tim Miller had it 115-113 for Cunningham and Debra Barnes' initially had it at 115-115 even. But for whatever reason behind the snafu, whether it was failure at basic arithmetic or just a cruel twist of fate, Barnes' score was changed (or corrected) to 115-112 in favor of Tomasz Adamek (48-2, 29 KOs) that obviously bewildered a visibly dejected Steve Cunningham (25-5, 12 KOs).
"I really don't know what more I can do. What can I say? What can I do? Real men cry, real men shed tears. You can't knock everyone out. We did our thing in the ring. It saddens me. I can't be getting cheated like this. It's sad, man, it's sad. It's nonsense. What needs to be done in boxing for this not to happen again? This isn't a game. What else do I have to do?"
In 2008, Tomasz Adamek knocked Steve Cunningham down three times during the fight, but failed to sink him as he settled for a split decision verdict. It took four years for Tomasz Adamek and Steve Cunningham to meet again, and although both fighters are older and heavier this time around, both fighters came to fight...
And a game plan: Steve Cunningham, in an interview before the fight, said that he will exploit his reach advantage (82" vs.75") and utilize his jab, while Tomasz Adamek stated that he will use his quickness and power to gain an edge.
After the customary 'feeling out' process in the first round, true to form, both fighters began to implement their prepared fight script against each other. Steve Cunningham began to let his left jab go and dictate the tempo, while Tomasz Adamek attempted to pressure his opponent to land his power shots.
For the first four rounds, Steve Cunningham began holding court and was successful in fending off Tomasz Adamek's attacks by his constant movement, stiff jabs and hard rights.
But in the fifth, Tomasz Adamek began to press the issue as he finally penetrated Steve Cunningham's defenses and landed his shots. Although Cunningham would fire back, it was obvious on who between them had the more lethal firepower.
It became a see-saw battle, starting in the sixth up until the end of the fight. Just when you think one fighter will have the round under wraps, momentum would shift making it a very hard fight to score. Throughout the entire 12 rounds, the fight was close and could have gone either way as both fighters were doing everything they could to gain an advantage over one another.
Both fighters had their moments: Tomasz Adamek cutting the ring and landing hard rights to his opponent's face while pinning him in the corner, while Steve Cunningham would suddenly come alive and retaliate with his own hard punches to the jaw.
The give and take was intense -- both fighters would score and make their punches count when they mattered: Steve Cunningham with his accurate left jabs and jarring overhand rights; Tomasz Adamek with his double-fisted hard attacks. It was a battle between two determined gladiators right from the start. And the firefight did not let up until the bell tolled to end the 12th and final round of the bout.
Steve Cunningham had an edge over Tomasz Adamek in total punches landed, 209-169, and he also outjabbed the Pole, landing 129 of 349. But Tomasz Adamek connected more power punches than his American opponent, 120-80.
Roger Bloodworth, Adamek's trainer, put the fight in perspective --
"It all depends on what you were looking at. If you looked at effective punching, which is what the judges saw, they would have give this to Tomasz. If you liked running and being a stylist, then you wanted Cunningham. I think the more effective puncher won this fight, and that was Tomasz."
True, it was a close fight that was hard to score and this writer would have no problem if it ended up the way it was first announced -- a draw.
What do you think?
Note: This article was first published on Detroit Fight Sports Examiner
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