Adamek wins decision

The two had battled over twelve rounds last May in Chicago with Adamek getting a majority points decision and this battle was just as explosive on the Don King promotion at the Allstate Arena in Chicago on Saturday night."I'm very happy. It was a long time not being in the ring," said Adamek. "It was a long layover that was one year. That's why I didn't look so good tonight. I thought I hurt him a couple of times.""Look at my face and look at Adamek's face," said a disappointed Briggs, after the loss. "I knocked him down. He had a point deduction for low blows. I blocked many of his punches but the Polish fans cheered regardless. My only guess would be that the judges were swayed by the Polish fans."Dressed in blue trunks with white trim, 30 year-old Briggs 25-3 (18) came out aggressive in round 1, throwing hard punches as Adamek looked for range on the outside. Adamek, in white trunks with red trim, was jabbing and coming on, when suddenly Briggs dropped him to the canvas with a straightening left hook which landed right on Adamek's jaw. The champion regained his feet beating the count and boxed to the bell. "We hurt him, then you were jabbing again, we don't want that," trainer Johnny Lewis told Briggs in the corner.29 year-old Adamek 31-0 (21) was exchanging and landing in round 2, showing no ill effects of the knockdown. Landing a double jab and uppercut, then a series of right hands. The taller Adamek looked sharp as a small cut appeared high above Briggs' left eye. "You've got to go in their with the right hand," Lewis told Briggs. "You've got to go in there and dictate."The Polish fans of Adamek were singing at the beginning of round 3, as Briggs came forward. Adamek worked the body. There were body shots from Adamek and a hard left jab from Briggs. A right hand from Briggs landed as Adamek crouched. "You got to work the body more, too much head hunting," trainer Buddy McGirt told Adamek.Adamek came out working in round 4, while Briggs was looking to maximize the use of his right hand. There was not much footwork from the Australian, as he stood right in front of Adamek. Some good right hands from Briggs saw Adamek's nose bleeding. Another right hand from Briggs in round 5 landed and Adamek responded with a nice combination. Trainer Lewis did some great work on Briggs' eye cut and it was not a factor throughout the fight. A lead right hand from Briggs landed as the pace slowed slightly. Adamek was backing off as Briggs trapped him in the corner to end the round, landing another right hand.In round 6 Adamek's longer jab was winning him the exchanges. A left hook from Briggs exploded and Adamek's nose was bleeding again, just as it was in their first fight. The two boxers were right in front of each other as Briggs landed two right hands flush on the nose with Adamek on the ropes. The Pole now on the back foot moving away. "Paul, keep the pressure on him," pleaded Lewis. "You're walking around not throwing punches."A nice exchange toe to toe from both boxers opened round 7. There were left jabs from Adamek who was on the move on the outside. A right hand from Briggs landed and Adamek went to the body. Briggs leaned in and got caught as Adamek landed nice combinations to end the round.With the same WBC world title that Lewis had trained Jeff "Hitman" Harding to in 1989 on the line, the great Australian trainer urged Briggs on in round 8. "I want you to be non stop this round," he urged Briggs. Adamek was up on his toes punching well. The two stopping to stand toe to toe. Briggs was wild with his punches and got hurt with a returning right hook Briggs battled on, standing right in front of Adamek trying to come back. Briggs was fighting back as a right hand from Adamek landed. The action now back and forth. "Back yourself son," Lewis told Briggs.Round 9 and a low blow from Adamek saw Briggs writhing down on the canvas. The referee ruled an accidental low blow and Briggs was given time to recover. Adamek was warned to get his punches up. Not long after the action recommenced, Briggs was hurt by a right hand and backed up on the ropes. As Adamek punches cascaded onto him, Briggs fired back with a right hand. Hooks from Adamek landed and Briggs is forced to cover up. Briggs explodes with a right hand and a second follows as the crowd is in raptures at the action. Another low blow from Adamek and Briggs turns away in disgust. The champion is penalized one point by the referee. "You've got to win these three rounds," says Lewis. "Do you want to be world champion? Don't tell me, do it!" There is an exchange of jabs early in round 10. Movement from both men as they try to avoid more of the brutal punishment they have received. A right hand from Briggs and Adamek responds to the body. It is a slower round as Briggs takes punches on the gloves. A right uppercut from Briggs starts round 11. There is an exchange of jabs, but not punching from Adamek.Round 12 and Briggs is jabbing forward. Adamek is down from a slip and there is blood all over his face from a cut over his left eyelid. Adamek is jabbing and Briggs gets caught as he comes in. Adamek is unloading but Briggs keeps coming forward. A big right hand from Adamek lands and Briggs is back onto the ropes. Adamek's face is swollen and he looks the worse off of the two boxers. Adamek is picking Briggs off with his long jab. Adamek unloads to finish the fight and Briggs explodes back in another 'fight of the year' contender. Both men raising their arms in victory at the final bell.Regarding the two low blows he delivered, Adamek would later say, "One of the blows was low, the other was borderline."Two judges scored the fight for Adamek 114-112 and 115-111, with the third scoring a draw 113-113. This writer had Adamek winning 114-112. The first time they fought, Adamek prevailed 115-113, 117-113 and 114-114."I had control of the fight the whole time," said Adamek. "I was not hurt at all. My nose was okay. I can't wait to fight again. I want to thank all of my Polish and American fans.""I've never been shy about a challenge," said Briggs. "I want to thank HBO for giving an Australian a chance. I was really in shape for this fight and I gave it my all. The judges didn't see it my way but that's the way it goes."Also on the card, heavyweight Kevin McBride 34-5-1 (29), who ended the professional career of Mike Tyson last year, was upset by 26 year-old Mike Mollo 17-1 (11) who won the vacant WBA Fedelatin title with a 2nd round knockout. 33 year-old McBride was down in round 1 from a series of right hands, crashing into the ropes. Down early in round 2 from a series of left hooks, Mollo finished him off with another monster left hook.In other fights in Chicago;Nate Campbell W12 over Matt Zegan in an IBF Lightweight Title Eliminator. Judges scored the fight for Campbell 120-106, 119-107 and 118-109.Former WBC middleweight champion Keith Holmes W10 over Corey Cummings. Judges scored the fight for Holmes 99-91, 98-92 and 97-93.At middleweight, Louis Turner W6 over David Estrada. Judges scored the fight for Turner 59-55, 58-56 and 58-56.At junior lightweight, Anges Adjaho W6 over Edgar Vargas. Judges scored the fight in a majority decision for Adjaho 59-55, 58-56 and 57-57.At heavyweight, Bermane Stiverne KO2 over Charles Brown at the 2:03 minute mark.