This is a new feature on this site that I will try and do as often as I can. I am about to watch Tomasz Adamek’s challenge for Steve Cunninghams IBF Cruiserweight title. I will post up after each round my thoughts of the round and my updated scorecard. I’m hoping at some time in the future I get the chance to watch a boxing match live without having to pay for it so I can do this properly but this will do for now. This is as much experimental as anything else so here goes:
Round 1
Cunningham circles for much of the first round. Adamek attempts to cut off the ring and has some success in landing combinations as Cunningham moves off the ropes. A fairly inactive round as Adamek was the busier fighter but Cunningham lands the cleaner shots throughout the round.
10-9 Cunningham (10-9 Cunningham).
Round 2
Cunningham’s shots are a bit more meaningful this round as he tries to establish his jab early. Adamek scores with some solid punches as Cunningham spins off the ropes and Cunningham responds. Adamek landing well during this round as Cunningham seems to be trying to gain his respect and it’s backfiring as Adamek outpunches the champion. Cunningham lands some good shots at the end of the round before Adamek drops Cunningham with a right-left hook combination. Cunningham beats the count easily.
10-8 Adamek (19-18 Adamek)
Round 3
Cunningham scores with a few jabs and a left hook at the start of the 3rd round. Adamek again looks to try and cut the ring off and Cunningham circles and paws with his jab. Adamek scores with a one-two but he’s eaten a few jabs to get those shots in. Cunningham scoring with his shots in this round but there’s not much power on them. Adamek lands some shots on the ropes but they didn’t do much damage. Good four punch combo to the head and body for the champion and he takes his first clean round of the fight.
10-9 Cunningham (28-28 Even)
Round 4
Cunningham jumps on Adamek and hurts him with two combinations in the first 30 seconds. Adamek tries to cover up but is taking some big shots; mainly the left uppercut. Cunningham battering Adamek all over the ring in this round although Adamek is taking the punches well. Cunningham backs off after a 90 second barrage and starts working his jab and Adamek goes back to stalking. Adamek scores with a right hand and Cunningham ties him up. Warning for Adamek for a low blow. Big right hand from Adamek over a lazy jab from Cunningham sends him down a 2nd time. Cunningham is up at 3 but that turned what was a dominant round into an Adamek round. Adamek attacks to end the round. Great round, candidate for round of the year!
10-9 Adamek (38-37 Adamek)
Round 5
The champion opens the round with two stiff jabs. Cunningham continues to score in this round as Adamek follows him around the ring. Good combination by Adamek as Cunningham gets off the ropes. Not much action from Cunningham now as Adamek lands a few jabs of his own. Solid combinations on the ropes by Adamek as he hooks to the head and then the body. Cunningham coming back now and he scores with some solid looping right hands. Good exchanges again here in the 5th with Cunningham scoring the better shots. Close round goes to Adamek for his aggression and more consistant attack.
10-9 Adamek (48-46)
Round 6
Cunningham again starts the round jabbing and landing with it. Adsamek scores to the body but Cunningham is landing his jab well in this round. The champion defends well on the ropes and goes right back to the jab. Adamek trying to land on the ropes but Cunningham having one of his better rounds although he’s wild with his power shots. Adamek closes the round well scoring with two left hooks but Cunningham landed his jab well and wins the round.
10-9 Cunningham (57-56 Adamek)
Round 7
Cunningham again opens the round jabbing and lands two good right hands early. More good boxing from the champion as he keeps Adamek in centre ring and keeps his jab in his face. Another right hand from Cunningham and Adamek takes it well. Adamek lands two good combinations that back the champion into the ropes. Big right hand from Cunningham and Adamek is unfazed. Cunningham finding his range with the right hand and he lands it two more times. Adamek again closes strong, throwing most of his punches for the round in the last thirty seconds but it’s another good round for the champion.
10-9 Cunningham (66-66 Even)
Round 8
Cunningham lands a big right hand early in the 2nd and again Adamek takes the punch. Another right hand from Cunningham who appears to be trying to do some damage early on here. Adamek unloads combinations on the ropes again but Cunningham defends well. The champion scoring with solid shots again in this round. Adamek lands a solid combination on the head of Cunningham. Left hook wobbles Cunningham and then sends him to the canvas for a third time on a delayed reaction. Cunningham beats the count and looks angered. Adamek tries to finish again and they exchange punches on the ropes with Adamek getting the better of it. Cunningham scores with two good left uppercuts but has an uphill battle ahead of him going into the late rounds.
10-8 Adamek (76-74 Adamek)
Round 9
Cunningham landing early with the right hand but Adamek doesn’t feel it. Cunningham outboxing a fairly inactive Adamek who is just following the champion around the ring. Cunningham showing a good variety of shots while Adamek doesn’t do much. The challenger scores with a right to the body but smothers his own work when he tries to follow up. Solid left hooks landing for Cunningham and Adamek isn’t answering back. Big two punch combo from Adamek and Cunningham seems hurt for a second but fights straight back and lands a solid left hook.
10-9 Cunningham (85-84 Adamek)
Round 10
Cunningham scoring early in the round again as Adamek tries to work the champion to the ropes. Good body punching from Adamek as he lands two good body shots. Cunningham controlling the range but not really landing a lot in this round. The pace has slowed down a lot and not a lot of shots being landed by either fighter. The challenger lands some good jabs and then a three punch combo. They exchange right hands and Adamek follows it up with a good combination. Adameks round based on the harder and cleaner shots being landed by him.
10-9 Adamek (95-93 Adamek)
Round 11
The champion takes control of the round early but Adamek finds his range earlier then usual. Cunningham landing a barrage punctuated with a right hand. Adamek comes back and lands some combinations. The champion trades with Adamek and comes off worse for wear. Adamek landing solid combinations this round as Cunningham has abandoned his jab and is trying to duke it out with Adamek. Big shots from both fighters but Adamek is getting the better of the exchanges. Both fighters looking tired heading towards the bell as they trade again. Cunningham needs a KO on this card if he wants to retain his title as I gave that round to the challenger.
10-9 Adamek (105-102 Adamek)
Round 12
Hard right hand early for Cunningham. They trade jabs and Adamek gets the better of it before Cunningham gets wild with a combo. They trade shots again, this time Adamek lands the more shots before Cunningham lands two solid hooks to finish the exchange. Sloppy work from two tired fighters during the middle part of the round although Cunningham is getting off first. Cunningham lands two good right hands as he backs up the challenger. Cunningham in control during the end parts of the fight but with three knockdowns against him it should prove too little too late although the fight was very close.
10-9 Cunningham (114-112 Adamek)
Scores are in. First judge has it 114-112 Cunningham. Second judge has it 116-110 Adamek. Third judge has it 115-112 for the new IBF Cruiserweight champion Tomasz Adamek!
Great fight! Would be a serious candidate for fight of the year if we didn’t have Cotto-Margarito and Marquez-Vazquez III this year already. The fight was very hard to score and I have no qualms with anyone scoring it different to me, although I felt the commentators were watching parts and judging it on them at times rather then watching the whole round. Check this fight out if you can find it, it’s well worth it.
