“BIGGER, BETTER, STRONGER”
DECEMBER 22nd
NBC BROADCAST – SANDS CASINO RESORT BETHLEHEM
ADAMEK VS. CUNNINGHAM
HAMER VS. GLAZKOV
“PICK-EM” PRELIMINARY BOUTS FILL DECEMBER 22nd CARD
BETHLEHEM, PA – Before Tomasz Adamek and Steve Cunningham lock horns in the nationally televised main event at the Sands Events Center in Bethlehem, PA on Saturday afternoon, a full slate of “pick-em” preliminary bouts are scheduled for the live ringside audience.
In the 8-round televised co-feature, Vyacheslav “Czar” Glazkov, 13-0, 9 KOs, battles Tor Hamer, 19-1, 12 KOs, in a showdown of rising heavyweights. Both men are looking to make a name for themselves and have a golden opportunity to do so. They will fight before a packed house and a big NBC television audience. Hamer, of New York, is a little better known on the East Coast, but Ukraine’s Glazkov, fighting in the USA for just the second time, will look to use his punching power as his introduction to boxing fans. The fight opens the NBC 4 PM ET TV broadcast.
In a terrific match between two local lightweights, Naim Nelson, 8-0, 1 KO, takes on Osnel Charles, 9-4-1, 1 KO, in an 8-round bout that just could steal the show. Nelson, 22, of Philadelphia, won 70 out of 77 amateur fights and five Philadelphia Golden Gloves titles before turning pro midway through 2011. Nelson won the vacant Pennsylvania state lightweight championship in his last fight with a 10-round decision over Philly tough guy, Victor Vasquez. This will be his sixth fight in 2012.
Charles, 28, is a crowd-pleaser in his backyard Atlantic City casinos. A pro since 2009, Charles also holds a points win over Victor Vasquez, as well as victories over three one-time East Coast prospects, Danny McDermott, Chris Green, and Anthony Flores. His 2011 KO of Flores was a classic one-punch stunner.
Popular heavyweight William Miranda, of Allentown, returns to Bethlehem on Saturday’s card in a 4-rounder against David Williams of Philadelphia. Miranda, 34, survived cuts over both eyes September 21 at the Sands Event Center, but rallied to post a six-round decision over Pedro Martinez, of Philadelphia. His record is 6-5-1, with every bout a crowd-pleaser.
35 year old Williams, 6-6-1, 2 KOs, nearly pulled an upset in his most recent fight, but lost on points to Patrick Farrell, in a 4-round brawl at the Prudential Center, in Newark, NJ, on June 16th.
Amateur standout Jerome Rodriguez, of Bethlehem, takes on Edwardo Stith, of Philadelphia, in a four-round junior welterweight contest. Rodriguez is 1-0-1, and Stith makes his pro debut.
In a contest of hard-luck Philadelphia welterweights, Korey Sloane, 2-5-1, meets Tyrell Boggs, 0-5, in a four rounder. Both fighters have been matched tough throughout their young careers, but always come to fight.
The main event between Adamek and Cunningham is a 12-round fight for Adamek’s IBF North American Heavyweight Title, and is a rematch of their classic 2008 cruiserweight championship bout. This time they fight as heavyweights and are expected to be “Bigger, Better, Stronger.”
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.
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.
To purchase the remaining tickets while they last, contact the Sands Bethlehem Event Center box office 610-297-7414, Main Events 973-200-7050 and Peltz Boxing 215-765-0922, Ticketmaster, http://www.ticketmaster.com/Tomasz-Adamek-vs-Steve-Cunningham-tickets/artist/1794999 , and Ticketmaster Sales: during regular hours 800-745-3000, Ticketmaster Express: automated phone line for self-service ticket sales, even after hours, 866-448-7849.
For additional information on the event, seating arrangements, or ticketing, visit the event page located on the website. www.sandseventcenter.com
As in September, I once again ran out of gas in the 10th & 11th championship rounds of October & November with this column, but I recovered to complete them and will unleash a few more flurries to close out the 12th and final round.
In the first week of October, Hassan N’Dam won a UD over Curtis Stevens in an eliminator for the right to challenge Jermaine Taylor who defeated aging Sam Soliman to regain the IBF Middleweight title. How Taylor even earned this title shot is another story altogether, but it is all irrelevant as he is now the champion. However he will not have too much time to savor his victory as he has assault and battery charges pending against him and an upcoming court fight that may turn out to be the toughest fight of his life, just when things started to look up for him in boxing, we wish him luck.
