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Heavyweight boxing contender Tomasz Adamek enjoys tennis
One of the best active boxers in the world today, Tomasz Adamek has recently begun to play tennis. “I like every sport, I like playing tennis, soccer, basketball, swimming,” says the former Light Heavyweight and Cruiserweight champion. “Every sport for me is interesting because I’m a boxer. But I like tennis more than other sports, maybe because in Poland it’s small place for tennis. It’s very expensive sport in Poland. Now, here, court is everywhere, free. In Poland, every court you pay. It’s expensive sport. I play once or twice a week when I have break from boxing.”
Adamek, who turned pro in 1999, is rated by “The Ring” Magazine as one of the top 30 boxers in the entire sport today. He moved up to the heavyweight division last year and has won all four of his duels so far, against Andrew Golota, Jason Estrada, Chris Arreola and this past Saturday night August 21 a 12-round points win over Michael Grant at the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ in front of over 10,000 fans. With a record of 42-1 with 27 KO’s, Adamek is expected to get a lucrative world title shot next year against the Klitschko brothers.
He says the appeal of tennis for him is simple: it’s the intelligence aspect. “It’s a nice sport, it’s physical,” says the 33-year-old who moved to Kearny, N.J. with his wife and two daughters two years ago. “Tennis is smart too. You have to be smart to do a few good shots in the corner. You have to be smart because when you lose first few games, you have to figure out how to win the games. If you not, you lost. You have to be smart to be a champion in tennis.”
In the ring, 6-ft, 1-in, 217-lb. Adamek is known as a very exciting, quick-fisted technical boxer with an excellent jab, right hand, left hook and excellent footwork and mobility. Most of all, it’s Adamek’s fearless warrior spirit that fascinates fans – he will fight any dangerous opponent, and even if winning comfortably on the scorecards, he will confidently ignore risks and aggressively push forward for the knockout, like he did vs. the 6-ft, 7-in, 261-lb. Grant who stunned him with a right hand in the final round. Adamek’s only ring defeat came five years ago as light heavyweight champ (175 pounds), losing on points to American southpaw Chad Dawson.
On the tennis court, Adamek describes his style: “I’m amateur. I play left-hand. In soccer, basketball, everything I’m lefty. That’s why my left hand is strong in boxing – I have the jab for me is very good. I like backhand, one hand, but forehand is better, it’s easier.”
Adamek’s favorite tennis players to watch? “Polish sisters Radwanska (Urszula and Agneiszka) and Wozniacki. She’s my friend. Federer the champion. Agassi. I liked watching Peter Sampras, for me was #1.”
Comparing the sports of tennis and boxing, Adamek immediately points out a difference. “In tennis you can lose the game. You can lose today, tomorrow – but you can win the next tournament. In the ring, if you lost, you’re going down (the rankings and have to rebuild credibility, respect and marketability).”
Adamek says he has never witnessed a live WTA or ATP or Grand Slam match but might visit one very soon. “Big game – I never see. Wozniacki invites us last year U.S. Open. But I don’t have time because I prepare for fight. Maybe I will go this year.”
Adamek was invited by friend Wozniacki to U.S. Open
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