In a competitive battle for the IBF Cruiserweight strap, past light heavy champ Tomasz Adamek hung on to claim the bauble over defending title holder Steve “USS” Cunningham via split decision.

Adamek the quicker out of the gate, gets the early jump scoring knockdowns in stanzas two and four - both rounds saw Cunningham having the edge until on the receiving end of the Polish veteran right hands.

Cunningham then showed strong recovery ability and desire, as he grabs numbers five and six - problem is them early 10-8 rounds coupled with knockdown number three in pivotal stanza eleven would send the “USS” Cunningham to dry dock for repairs - at least on two of the three scoring judges sheets.

Tallies went Adamek 116-110, 115-112 Cunningham 114-112 - it was that kind of fight, with most stanzas of the coin flip variety and a strong argument for a return engagement.

 

Post Scripts:

• Tomasz Adamek ( 36-1, 24 KOs) ~ age 32 but younger in body - good power from both sides and worth the peek. The transplanted Pole now calling Jersey City home helped fill the Newark , NJ venue with former compatriots that helped the cause in a back and forth dandy affair.

• Steve Cunningham (21-2, 11 KOs) ~ age 32 - stranger on home turf but this one should bring attention for a gutsy performance. Maybe chin not the strongest but nothing wrong with the heart. Has earned a return with Adamek off a tough one to score. Has size and speed - not big puncher, but if able to upgrade the technique could well regain his lost bauble.
  
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Agbeko Retains IBF Bantamweight  Title Via Majority Decision
                   

In a hard fought co/feature it was Joseph Agbeko retaining the IBF bantam strap via majority decision over #1 rated William Gonzalez in a no-holds barred donnybrook that went to the judges.

Agbeko of the Bronx, NY via Ghana and his challenger from Managua, Nicaragua left little to the imagination in a firefight  that checked the Marquis of Queensbury rules at the front desk.

Styles made for a sloppy but busy affair - Agbeko drew first blood courtesy of the old inadvertent meeting of the minds that brought the red fluid from the Gonzalez forehead -  later another clash of heads a more serious wound over the left eye.

Gonzalez would retaliate with assorted offerings touching down below the proverbial 38th parallel, that resulted in Agbeko briefly looking for help from third man in charge Earl Brown who saw the respective lefty-righty awkward styles more the culprit than intent.  With neither fighter showing the needed clout this one went the distance - and with it, another scoring judges headache that saw it Agbeko 116-112, 116-112 - 114-114 for the majority decision win.

Post Scripts:

• Joseph Agbeko ( 26-1, 22 KO) ~ age 28 - tough, physically strong warrior typical of most African fighters. Not big puncher but aggressive style caught the judges eyes.

• William Gonzalez (21-3, 19 KO) ~ age 27 - Nicaraguan proved equal in guts department. Southpaw short on punching power but game and willing. Fought thru blood, sweat and tears that saw one of the judges in agreement with my scoring at 114-114 in points and 6-6 under round by round method.   

• Referee report cards: Both Earl Morton and Earl Brown earned passing grades in respective assignments - refreshing change from the norm with many today third man in charge.

 

GEL -  

Photo Credit: D M Warr/DKP