7-foot heavyweight champion Nikolai Valuev arrived in Rosemont, Illinois, to determine whether he was a freak show or a legitimate heavyweight boxer. The outcome of the fight may not have produced a clear answer, but Valuev did what he was supposed to do in disposing of fringe contender Monte Barrett.
Valuev, who prefers to be known as a boxer instead of a giant, showed adequate defense but surprisingly kept his jab to himself most of the fight. As much as Valuev doesn’t want his size to be an issue, it can’t be ignored and was certainly the main reason why Valuev was victorious in relatively easy fashion. Barrett showed a lot of heart, not to mention a lack of a gameplan, against a man with a 100-pound weight advantage.
Barrett wore himself down quickly, throwing wild head-hunting shots that Valuev was able to deflect. Valuev didn’t show a lot of technical prowess, but he did counter Barrett at the opportune moments. Barrett was knocked down in the eighth and it was all but over for him at this point. Valuev dominated a weakened Barrett in the 11th and after two more knockdowns, Barrett’s trainer James Ali Basheer came in to stop the fight. Referee John O’Brien really should have done that but it seemed like he was willing to let the fight go on even though Barrett was in bad shape. Basheer did the right thing and deserves the credit he is being given for protecting his fighter.
Valuev’s future is unclear. A rematch with John Ruiz may be the cruelest thing a boxing promoter could do. I doubt that will happen but with all the other heavyweight champions locked into fights, it may take some time before a challenger for Valuev’s WBA title emerges. Whenever someone takes a fight with the champ, Barrett’s performance should serve as a warning of what not to do. Don’t stand and brawl with him. Exploit his lack of quickness and work the body.
Tomasz Adamek vs. Paul Briggs – WBC Light Heavyweight Title
The undercard of Valuev/Barrett featured a rematch of last yea’s light heavyweight war that may have been the fight of the year if it weren’t for Corrales/Castillo. Their first fight was all-action and for the WBC Light Heavyweight title vacated by Antonio Tarver. Adamek won a majority decision that night but it was hard to tell if the second fight would be as intense as the first.
The HBO announce team said Adamek didn’t want the fight to go the way it did the first time around. He didn’t want to engage Briggs in a fight and thought it wiser to box this time around. It’s amazing how plans change when you get hit in the face. Adamek was working his strategy and controlling the fight in the first round when he suddenly found himself on the canvas due to one punch from Briggs. Adamek soon realized he was in a fight, not a boxing match.
Paul Briggs (pictured at right) suffered a cut in the second round and it wasn’t long before Adamek joined the bloodbath with a cut of his own. Adamek, from Poland, rallied from being knocked down in the first round but Briggs would not go away. Adamek was deducted a point in the ninth round for a low blow, his second of the fight. In a virtually even fight, the two warriors threw everything they had at each other and weren’t afraid to give a punch to take a punch. The fight went the full twelve rounds and the crowd erupted in thunderous applause at the final bell.
The result was another majority decision and yet again, Tomasz Adamek escaped with the win. Briggs landed the stronger punches and did more physical damage but Adamek was busier and landed at a higher volume. It was another thrilling fight between these two and a certain candidate for best fight of 2006.
Other Fights From Rosemont, IL:
– Nate Campbell dominated Matt Zegan in an IBF Lightweight eliminator. The Galaxxy Warrior put Zegan down twice and cut him above his right eye. The current IBF champion is Jesus Chavez.
– Kevin McBride, known for defeating Mike Tyson in 2005, was the victim of a 2nd round TKO against Mike Mollo.
– Keith Holmes scored a unanimous decision over Corey Cummings. Holmes is a former world middleweight champion.