The rematch between Victor Ortiz and Andre Berto is being targeted for June 30.
Ring Ratings Update: Cruiserweights' loss is heavyweights' gain
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Adamek (40-1, 27 knockouts) vacated his RING cruiserweight title to campaign fulltime in the sport’s glamour division after his second heavyweight bout, a unanimous decision over 2004 U.S. Olympian Jason Estrada on Feb. 6. The former cruiserweight champ is scheduled to fight heavyweight contender Chris Arreola on April 24 in Ontario, Calif. Adamek has been dropped from THE RING’s cruiserweight rankings as a result of his decision to remain at heavyweight. “Due to relinquishing THE RING cruiserweight championship to campaign as a heavyweight, Tomasz Adamek is removed from the 200-pound division,” said Nigel Collins, Editor-in-Chief of THE RING magazine. “However, his accomplishments at heavyweight are not yet sufficient to earn a rating in his new weight class. Naturally, if Adamek beats Chris Arreola, who is currently ranked No. 6, he will then be rated among THE RING’s Top-10 heavyweights.” Adamek’s move is sad news for the cruiserweight division, which has lost its second talented and exciting champion in the last two years (the first being David Haye, who also moved up in weight and is currently ranked by THE RING at a heavyweight). But it’s good news for the heavyweight division, which is in need of entertaining fighters and matchups. It’s also good news for the fans, who Adamek had in mind when he made his decision to step up to heavyweight. “It was all about the fans,” Adamek told RingTV.com when he was asked why he wanted to fight Arreola. “I fight for the fans. Without them, there is no sport. So having a relentless guy who comes forward like Chris fight me, a guy who loves to punch people in the mouth, guarantees that fans will get what they want. It’s a good fight for me, for Chris, for the fans and for HBO.” Adamek, who weighs around 220 pounds at heavyweight and has yet to prove that he's carried his punch up in weight, has his work cut out against Arreola (28-1, 25 KOs), who often weighs around 250 pounds and is known for his heavy hands. However, Adamek is confident that he can pull off the upset. If he does, he plans to continue fighting exciting heavyweights by targeting Haye, a bona fide KO artist at cruiserweight who has at least retained his speed and athleticism at the higher weight. “I don't want to waste any time (in the heavyweight division),” Adamek told Joseph Santoliquito, managing editor of THE RING, after he defeated Estrada. “I want to move right now. One more fight and I want to face someone like David Haye after Arreola. That would be the best fight for me, a great fight, punch after punch after punch.” A showdown between Adamek and Haye, who currently holds a heavyweight title, has ‘Fight of the Year’ written all over it. Adamek is no stranger to barnburners. His light heavyweight battles with Paul Briggs and his cruiserweight title-winning decision over Steve Cunningham were all Fight of the Year candidates. Kudos to Adamek for wanting to continue his entertaining ways at heavyweight. “If I moved up to heavyweight just to fight some boring guys, would anyone care?” Probably not. RING RATINGS UPDATE FEATHERWEIGHTS: Martin Honorio (No. 7 last week) departs as he has moved up to the lightweight division. Those rated No. 6 or below last week advance one spot each, which makes room for Daniel Ponce De Leon to enter at No. 10. POUND-FOR-POUND: Celestino Caballero (No 8 last weeks), slides down to No. 10 due to inactivity, which pushes up Chad Dawson (No. 9 last week) and Paul Williams (No. 10 last week) to No. 8 and No. 9, respectively. |
