Tomasz Adamek Vs Kevin McBride: Can the Clones Colossus Pull Another Upset?
By Donald C Stewart
He represented Ireland in the 1992 Olympics in Ireland, beat Mike Tyson with the former champion stuck on his stool after the sixth and has not done a great deal apart from that!
Even at the Olympics he went out in the first round. The truth is that Kevin McBride 35-8-1 29 KO’s, has the heart of a lion but not the record to match. I grew up with the Clones Cyclone – Barry McGuigan – fighting for World Titles, the Clones Colossus does not necessarily carry the same pedigree as his countryman.
On April the 9th in Newark, New Jersey, he climbs into the ring alongside Heavyweight contender, Tomasz Adamek 43-1 28 KO’s, and many outside of Kevin’s head don’t give him much of a chance.
It is clear that the man who finished Mike Tyson’s career has this as his last opportunity to show he is a contender. Coming out of retirement to fight in 2010 his comeback fight was another loss – not the comeback of mythology or future champions.
That having been said, McBride does not lack belief…
Adamek has come up from Light Heavy and like many who have made that transition is quick and light on his feet. I have opined that this quality on David Haye will be his advantage in any bout against any Klitschko that may or may not be happening. It would be churlish to change my opinion now. Adamek will prove a stern test for McBride and as he has acknowledged himself the only real option that he has is to knock Adamek out.
If he manages that his dream of becoming the first Irish born Heavyweight Champion of the World will come closed but in the current market he needs kudos and he needs it now!
Beating Adamek will add to it but he needs to be able to survive a few years yet. If things had happened differently in the Prizefighter Heavyweight competition in October 2010 we might have seen McBride a lot earlier.
McBride lost to Matt Skelton in a dramatic semi final that everyone apart from the judges it seems thought he had won. Skelton went on to lose the final to Audley Harrison and what came next has taken up far too many words of disappointment. Had McBride faced Audley in the final it might have been so much different and Haye would possibly have had a better fight last year!
The heart that McBride takes into the ring must come against Adamek with a set of skills to counteract the speed of Adamek and McBride has been working hard on his fitness. He needs to be toned and aggressive bordering on intimidating. If he can achieve that he climbs into the ring with hope to go with his heart. When he fought against his idol Tyson he was aware of the tactics required and fought with those tactics in mind.
Nobody necessarily saw Tyson being defeated in that fight in the way that he was but the skill in planning the Tyson victory demonstrates that McBride has the head to plan and execute a plan. If he had only kept winning he might have had a better career, better statistics and better odds against Adamek.
I don’t think Ireland shall see an Irish born Heavyweight Champion of the World anytime soon. McBride shall go at Adamek and we may see an upset if he can land on Adamek’s chin. McBride knows, as we all do, that a lucky punch can deliver a lot but Adamek’s speed means that McBride also needs to be very lucky, very in shape and very fortunate if he is to progress beyond this bout.
The hunger that comes from this being a last chance to progress can work for you but it can also make you careless and too eager. Adamek can be patient and wear down a colossal man who may have the heart to win but not the skill to last the distance.
The question after April is where do these two go no matter what happens? The division is not filled with anything apart from Haye and the Klitschkos. The rest of the Heavyweights can wait out the result of all the sparkle from this circus and then scrap for what is left at the end of the year.
I have a funny feeling the only name in the hat will be Polish after the contest in April 2011. Kevin McBride disagrees.
Time shall tell.