“BIGGER, BETTER, STRONGER”
DECEMBER 22nd
NBC BROADCAST 4PM ET, 1PM PT
ADAMEK VS. CUNNINGHAM
HAMER VS. GLAZKOV
Photo Credits to Mike Gladysz
DON’T PICK FIGHT OF THE YEAR YET – ONE BIG ONE STILL TO COME
BETHLEHEM, PA – It’s almost that time of year again, time to select the “2012 Fight of the Year”. But don’t make your pick yet. There is still one major fight remaining on the calendar, and it looks like a sure bet to be in the running for this coveted annual distinction.
Today, at 4PM ET, 1PM PT, in an old-school Saturday afternoon fight card NBC will broadcast Tomasz “Goral” Adamek, 47-2, 29 KOs, and Steve “USS” Cunningham, 25-4, 12 KOs, in a rematch of the 2008 thrill-ride that swept in at the end of that year and claimed the honor as 2008’s best fight on numerous boxing lists.
The first time around, Adamek and Cunningham brawled for 12 gritty rounds with the IBF cruiserweight crown on the line. Champion Cunningham out-boxed the challenger much of the way, but Adamek dropped Cunningham three times during the fight and left Newark, NJ with a narrow points win on his record and the IBF belt around his waist.
Much water has passed under the bridge since that memorable fight. Both fighters moved on with their careers. Adamek defended his cruiserweight title twice before moving up to the heavyweight division. USS Cunningham set sail for Europe, and regained and defended the IBF 200-pound title, before deciding to test the waters at heavyweight himself.
Now four years after the first fight, the pair will finally meet again, but this time they will do it as heavyweights! There has been much speculation on how the added pounds will affect this classic combo, but it is likely that Adamek-Cunningham II will be “Bigger, Better, Stronger”, just like the poster says. If the slogan turns out to be true, then the 2012 Fight of the Year is about to go down this afternoon. If the first fight was good, then the rematch should be great.
Tickets are sold out at Sand Casino Resort Bethlehem so be sure to tune in to NBC today at 4PM ET, 1PM PT to judge for yourself!
DECEMBER 22 FIGHT INFO:
December 22nd at Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem in Pennsylvania. The main event features current IBF North American Heavyweight Champion Tomasz “Goral” Adamek (47-2, 29 KO’s) of Kearny, N.J. vs. Steve “USS” Cunningham (25-4, 12 KO’s) of Philadelphia, Pa., in a 12-round heavyweight fight.
In the co-feature, Tor Hamer (19-1, 12 KO’s) of New York, N.Y., takes on Vyacheslav “Czar” Glazkov (13-0, 9 KO’s) of Langansk, Ukraine, in an 8-round heavyweight bout.
The main event and co-feature will be broadcast on NBC network TV beginning 4PM ET. The card is presented by Main Events and Ziggy Promotions in association with Peltz Boxing, DiBella Entertainment and Pushka.
2012-2013 NBC FIGHT NIGHT SCHEDULE
(All times ET and subject to change)
Saturday, December 22 4 p.m. – 6 p.m. NBC Sands Resort Casino Bethlehem
Saturday, January 19 9 p.m. – 11 p.m. NBC Sports Network Mohegan Sun Casino, CT
Saturday, February 23 10:30 p.m. – 12:30 a.m. NBC Sports Network TBA
Saturday, March 9 10 p.m. – 12 a.m. NBC Sports Network TBA