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Adamek vs. Cunningham
II Final Press
Conference
Photo: Rich Graessle
BETHLEHEM, PA - The participants of Saturday's big NBC
broadcast TV boxing show met for the event's final press
conference today in Bethlehem, PA. The conference was hosted
by promoter Kathy Duva, CEO Main Events, and included the
fighters and teams involved in the heavyweight double
header.
In the 12-round main event, Tomasz Adamek, 47-2, 29 KOs,
faces Steve Cunningham, 25-4, 12 KOs, in a highly
anticipated rematch of their classic first encounter in
2008. Adamek won that fight by close split decision. In the
8-round co-feature, Vyacheslav "Czar" Glazkov, 13-0, 9 KOs,
takes on Tor Hamer, 19-1, 12 KOs, in a battle of rising
prospects.
KATHY DUVA (CEO, Main Events):
"Welcome everyone to "Bigger, Better, Stronger" at the Sands
Hotel and Casino, here in beautiful Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.
And what better place to be than Bethlehem over Christmas
weekend. There are two heavyweight fights on this card, and
they'll both tremendous. We've seen one of them before, so
we know what to expect, and the other one is going to be a
nice little Christmas surprise I think. I know that everyone
up here is determined, they're heavyweights, they're bound
to throw punches, and when you have a combination like that
and as much at stake as we have here, you get fireworks.
It's just got to happen."
"Just to be clear, this is on NBC network. That's Channel 4
in New York, and different channels across the country. This
is a big thing. Back in the afternoon, 4PM. That is the
primetime spot in Saturday afternoon sports."
(About the main event) "We've seen this fight before, and
yet it's going to be all new. They are both in a different
weight class. They both have different trainers. They both
have taken the long path back to each other from very
different directions. So this is one of those fights that
when the bell rings, I'm going to sit back and just try to
enjoy it."
STEVE CUNNINGHAM"
"I'm feeling very blessed to be in this position to fight on
network television. My team is great. I feel confident. I
feel good. I'm just ready to fight. It's show time, or I
guess it's NBC time. I hope you guys enjoy what you see on
Saturday. I'm going to bring my best. I'm sure he'll bring
his best, and hopefully we'll live up to the hype."
ZIGGY ROZALSKI (Event Co-Promoter):
"Thank you Kathy, it's a pleasure working with you. We've
worked (together) for many years. Thank you Main Events
staff; thank you NBC. Also Steve Cunningham, thank you for
taking the fight because this is good for us and good for
you. Whoever wins is going to go forward. Whoever loses is
going to go fishing. And may the best man win."
ROGER BLOODWORTH (Head Trainer of Tomasz Adamek):
"It's great to be back on NBC, on network. Everybody gets to
see a fight. I said before that there are not going to be
any losers in this fight, because we expect Steve to bring
his best. We're bringing our best. We had a great camp. The
fans are going to love it. It's going to be a great fight. I
don't have to tell you to buy tickets because it's on free
TV."
TOMASZ ADAMEK:
"I know everybody is waiting for Saturday. I'm waiting too.
I'm ready. We had a good camp. This is Steve's big chance,
the rematch from (our fight in) 2008. But I'm working very
hard. I started with Roger (Bloodworth) in 2009, and I am a
different fighter, as everybody will see. I'm feeling good.
I had good sparring. And I'm ready for war."
DON TURNER (Head Trainer of Vyacheslav Glazkov):
"He's been over here about three and a half weeks. We've
been working hard. I know the guy he's fighting. I've seen
him. It's a good test. It's should be a great fight, but
this kid (Glazkov) is in good shape."
VYACHESLAV "Czar" GLAZKOV:
"Sorry, my English is poor. (Via translator) I'm coming to
fight and it's going to be a great show. Thank you. "
TOR HAMER
"Nice to meet you guys. I look forward to a good fight. I
think it's going to be a great show. It's good to perform on
NBC. It's going to be a very great night for boxing
nationwide. I hope we live up to it, and (that there are)
not too many surprises."
QUESTIONS FROM THE PRESS:
What was your first reaction on getting this fight and how
do you feel about getting the rematch now?
STEVE CUNNINGHAM:
"It just came out of the blue. It's just one of those
things, opportunity presents itself. You can either sit back
and watch it go down without you, or you can do something
about it and be part of it yourself. This is a very good
opportunity for me. If I beat him, I take his ranking, I
take his belt, and put myself in position to be heavyweight
world champion, which is my goal now. So I couldn't pass it
up. What heavyweight would pass it up? Of course in an ideal
world, we would like more fights at heavyweight to build up,
but let's do it."
TOMASZ ADAMEK:
"My career is long, since 1999. For me, looking for the
heavyweight title (shot) again, I have to beat everybody. I
was happy when I heard that Steve got the chance because we
can have the rematch. I think he was angry after our fight
in 2008. That fight was very good, interesting for TV, for
fans, and I believe it will be the same on Saturday
afternoon."
Will this fight be like the fight of four years ago (2008)?
STEVE CUNNINGHAM:
"Well the poster says it all - "Bigger, Better, Stronger". I
feel I'm a little bigger. I feel I'm stronger. I feel I'm
better. It's the same thing with him. It's the same with
him. It's going to be different, it's going to be similar. I
can't tell the future. I'm going to go out and perform my
best, just as I know he is. We're going to see what happens.
TOMASZ ADAMEK:
"We're going to see what Cunningham brings to the ring. I'm
ready for everything. For war? I love war because the fans
love watching war, and I'll have more fans after these kinds
of fights. I'm ready for everything. It's my job."
How important is this fight?
STEVE CUNNINGHAM:
"I look at every fight like that. Of course this is like
every other fight - the biggest fight of my career. I look
at it like that. I train with that mindset, and I pray to
perform.
In what round is this fight going to end?
STEVE CUNNINGHAM:
"I've never been a guy to predict. I leave that to Muhammad
Ali. I fight. I fight to win. If I see that I can end the
fight, I'll go for it. If not, I'm still working. I'm still
fighting to win. So I'm not predicting."
TOMASZ ADAMEK:
"Only God knows what will happen on Saturday. I'm healthy.
I'm ready to fight. God gave me talent, a big heart. Let's
go do it. It's my job."
What do you think the main difference in the fight will be
given the higher weight class?
STEVE CUNNINGHAM:
"Of course a little more power. I feel stronger. I feel more
comfortable at this weight. I feel confident. I'm just ready
to go. Like he says, we fight. That's what we do. That's
what we get paid to do. That's our job. I'm ready to fight.
I can show you better than tell you. Then after the fight we
can talk."
TOMASZ ADAMEK:
"As you'll see, I'm a different fighter. I have a new coach.
I don't stand in front of an opponent. I stand side to side
and slip a lot of punches. I can hit harder too. It depends
what Steve brings to the ring. If he wants a war, I'm ready.
I'm a tough mountain boy."
(For Adamek) How do you handle being the favorite in this
fight?
TOMASZ ADAMEK:
"For me it doesn't matter. I'm the favorite, not the
favorite. I'm going into the ring, bring my heart, show my
class, and win this fight. I was many times, not the
favorite, and (still) won the fight. I'm never looking for
this."
(For Cunningham) Is this fight personal for you?
STEVE CUNNINGHAM:
"No. It's not personal at all. The first fight he won fair
and square. Two judges said he won, and one said I did. He
gets the decision. I didn't harbor any hate, or any anger. I
don't have any hate or anger. Shoot, I was rooting for him
in some of his fights. We have much respect for the man and
his team, but we have to face each other again. No hard
feelings. It's the business. It's what we do. We put on a
show for America and hopefully they accept it, and enjoy
it."
DECEMBER 22 FIGHT INFO:
December 22nd at Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem in
Pennsylvania. The main event features current IBF North
American Heavyweight Champion Tomasz "Goral" Adamek (47-2,
29 KO's) of Kearny, N.J. vs. Steve "USS" Cunningham (25-4,
12 KO's) of Philadelphia, Pa., in a 12-round heavyweight
fight.
The main event and co-feature will be broadcast on NBC
network TV beginning 4PM ET. The card is presented by Main
Events and Ziggy Promotions in association with Peltz
Boxing, DiBella Entertainment and Pushka.
To purchase the remaining tickets while they last, contact
the Sands Bethlehem Event Center box office 610-297-7414,
Main Events 973-200-7050 and Peltz Boxing 215-765-0922,
Ticketmaster, http://www.ticketmaster.com/Tomasz-Adamek-vs-Steve-Cunningham-tickets/artist/1794999
, and Ticketmaster Sales: during regular hours 800-745-3000,
Ticketmaster Express: automated phone line for self-service
ticket sales, even after hours, 866-448-7849.
For additional information on the event, seating
arrangements, or ticketing, visit the event page located on
the website. www.sandseventcenter.com
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