IBF Heavyweight International Champion Tomasz Adamek did not overly impress ring observers with his good but not spectacular decision-winning performance against Michael Grant in August. His trainer Roger Bloodworth offers details and insights, as well as some comments about the Klitschkos and next opponent Vinny Maddalone:
BoxingInsider.com: In the Grant fight Tomasz was hurt several times.
Roger Bloodworth: He got caught pretty good with a right hand in the fourth or fifth round but it really didn’t hurt him. His condition was good enough where he came right back. In the 12th round, Grant threw a lot of rights but not many of them landed. I was really happy to see he learned to slip and roll. And his defense was a lot better in that fight.
BoxingInsider.com: After Tomasz was hurt a few times, he fought with seemingly no regard, no fear of being hurt again. Was that a concern for you?
Roger Bloodworth: No. Because that’s his job. How he’s supposed to fight. And Tomasz trains hard so I know his conditioning. He wasn’t as hurt as people conceive him to be hurt. If he had been hurt badly he wouldn’t have been able to fight like that. So there was no reason to tell him to be careful in there, just stay with the gameplan.
BoxingInsider.com: Did Tomasz say anything between rounds about the punching power of Grant?
Roger Bloodworth: No. Tomasz is very calm in the corner. If something is wrong he tells you. Grant’s a strong guy – 6-ft-8 – I don’t care if he drops a jab on you, it’s hard. He was expecting that.
BoxingInsider.com: Overall you were pleased with the performance?
Roger Bloodworth: Yeah, I really was. I watched it again on film. And to be honest with you, on film it looked a lot easier than working the corner. I like the fight. Tomasz is learning well. Like I told him, You can’t stand in front of a guy like Grant. So every time Grant had to set to throw the right hand, Tomasz would move. And he kept him off balance with his foot movement. And he was able to land punches when he was off balance also. He did a good job.
BoxingInsider.com: What does he need to improve on with the step up in class to the Klitschkos?
Roger Bloodworth: Everything. And I’m not being facetious. He needs more work on the head movement, foot movement, lateral movement. Because you don’t know what they’re going to bring into the game. Sometimes they’re gonna come in and box, sometimes they come in and attack. He has to be prepared for everything. I don’t think he’s that far away. We’re just going fight by fight.
BoxingInsider.com: Your comments on the next opponent for Tomasz – Vinny Maddalone?
Roger Bloodworth: The thing that I picked up about Vinny as I watched many of his fights, is that he doesn’t quit. If he gets hit, he just keeps coming. I applaud Vinny for taking this fight because it’s going to be a hard fight, and Tomasz needs those kind of fights if he’s going to progress.
Adamek (42-1, 27 KO’s) will be 34 when he meets 36-year-old Maddalone (33-6, 24 KO’s) on December 9 in Newark, NJ.