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Newly-crowned IBF Cruiserweight
Champion Tomasz "Goral" Adamek of Jersey
City and Golwice, Poland returns to
Newark's Prudential Center on Friday,
February 27th to make the first defense of
his world title against Detroit's
undefeated Johnathon Banks when Main
Events and Ziggy Promotions, in
association with K2 Promotions, bring
boxing back to "The Rock." The inaugural
event of Main Events' "Brick City Boxing
Series" at the Prudential Center also will
be aired on Showtime as part of its ShoBox
boxing series.
Just a month ago, Adamek (36-1, 24
KO's) thrilled thousands of cheering fans
as he electrified Newark's state-of-the
art arena, scoring three knockdowns over
defending champion Steve Cunningham, to
earn a blistering 12-round win in a fight
that many boxing scribes have dubbed "The
Fight of the Year." Also the former WBC
Light Heavyweight Champion, Adamek is no
stranger to "Fight of the Year"
consideration. Making his first-ever US
appearance, the former Polish national
amateur standout traveled to Chicago in
May of 2005 and defeated Number One
Contender Paul Briggs in a brutal 12-round
slugfest hailed as a candidate for "Fight
of the Year" honors.
Rated number 8 in the world by the IBF
and number 1 by WBO, Banks (20-0, 14 KO's)
is a product of Detroit's famed Kronk Gym, where he is managed by
Motor City boxing legend, Emmanuel
Steward. A Hall of Fame
trainer/manager/color commentator, Steward
has helmed the careers of numerous notable
world champions, including Thomas "Hit
Man" Hearns, former Heavyweight Champions
Michael Moorer and Lennox Lewis and
current World Heavyweight Champion
Wladimir Klitschko, to name a few. Banks
has had the benefit of training side by
side with Lewis and Klitschko throughout
his career and is associated with the
Klitschko brothers' promotional arm, K2.
Noted Boxing writer Tim Smith said of
the Adamek - Cunningham battle , "Fight Of
The Year: My pick is Tomasz Adamek -
Steve Cunningham for the IBF
Cruiserweight titleÉ.I saw it live at the
Prudential Center in NewarkÉ.(The fans)
were treated to a rousing display of
courage and guts. Adamek had Cunningham on
the canvas three times in the fight, and
twice he had him down and hurt. But
Cunningham kept bouncing back up and
firing at Adamek, who has a granite
chinÉ.How either man stayed upright for 12
rounds is beyond me."
"Sometimes, when a fighter with an
exciting style, like Tomasz Adamek, gets
the chance to perform in front of a huge,
enthusiastic crowd of supporters, the
level of excitement rises to the point
where magic happens," said promoter Kathy
Duva of Main Events. "Tomasz' appearance
at the Prudential Center last month was
one of the most exhilarating nights of
boxing that I have experienced in a long
time. I can't wait to get back there on
February 27th to watch Tomasz make the
magic happen again with Johnathon Banks. I
have no doubt that everyone who was lucky
enough to be there in person last month
feels the same way."
"We are looking forward to this fight
for Johnathon," said Tom Loeffler,
managing director of K2 Promotions.
"Adamek is considered the #1 Cruiserweight
in the world, but Emanuel has been working
with Banks his entire career to get him
ready for a fight like this. Johnathon has
sparred numerous rounds with Wladimir over
the last few years, and he hits a lot
harder than Adamek. It is a tough fight,
but we believe that Banks will beat Adamek
to become champion and join Wladimir and
Vitali Klitschko as Champions for K2
Promotions."
"Boxing is back in Brick City and
Prudential Center is proud to usher in a
new era of championship fighting with Main
Events", said Brian Gale, director of
marketing and booking at the arena. "We
are excited to welcome back Adamek and
hope to give boxing fans quality fights
for years to come at Prudential Center."
An exciting seven-bout undercard
featuring local fan favorites is being
finalized and will be announced shortly.
The first bout starts at 8:30 p.m. and
doors open at 8 p.m.
Tickets go on sale Thursday, January 29
at noon. Priced at $38, $53, $78, $103,
and $253, tickets can be purchased at the
arena box office or by calling
Ticketmaster at 201-507-8900.
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