By Przemek Garczarczyk
Photo: Lucas Noonan/PBC –
“I know what’s expected from me: to deliver a great fight on NBC in front of a big American audience. I’m fine with that. I’ve already proved that I can get hit and hit back harder. For me, knocking out Huck and hopefully do the same to Cunningham in Barclays is just a start. I’d like to be champion for a long time,” – said undefeated WBO cruiserweight champion Krzysztof “Head” Głowacki (25-0, 16 KOs). After a sensational win over Marco Huck, Glowacki will defend his title against former IBF champion, Steve “USS” Cunningham (28-7, 13 KOs) on April 16 at Barclays Center.
Steve Cunningham is connected to Polish fighters in championship bouts like no other. Two cruiserweight championship bouts with Krzysztof Diablo Wlodarczyk, and the already a classic championship bout when he fought Tomasz Adamek. Now, on April 16 at Barclays Center, it’s your turn defending the WBO title.
I know, it’s unreal. I can tell you that I was very happy when Steve decided to leave the heavyweight division and come back as a cruiserweight. I always wanted to fight him and now my wish will be granted. I don’t pay attention to how many years he’s spent in boxing. What I’m paying attention to is how well he’s always prepared, the problems his enormous reach causes, and how smart Cunningham is in the ring.
It will be your first experience fighting Steve, but for your trainer Fiodor Lapin, who was in Diablo’s corner with one win and one loss in championships bouts, it’s business as usual…
This is why Fiodor is watching all the Cunningham tapes and looking for perfect sparring partners while I’m just walking into the gym asking ‘What are we doing today, coach?’ You know that I never get too excited. I’m always calm. Nerves are never something I have to worry about. Before the Marco Huck fight, when almost no one thought I could win, I knew what I had to do to beat him – and it happened. Same thing now . I’ll arrive in New York early and do what my trainer tells me to do – just a routine. No extra jitters because this is my first world title defense. It’s not me.
Your first U.S. fight against longtime titleholder Marco Huck won Premier Boxing Champions’ “Fight of the Year” award. Cunningham fights differently than Marco, he’s more controlled, takes less risks. What will be the biggest adjustment you have to make?
I’m convinced that it will be Cunningham who’ll have to make adjustments to whatever plan he has when our fight starts… I know what’s expected from me: to deliver a great fight on NBC in front of a big American audience. I’m fine with that. I’ve already proved that I can get hit and hit back harder. For me, knocking out Huck and hopefully do the same to Cunningham in Barclays is just a start. I’d like to be champion for a long time. Just like my friend Diablo Wlodarczyk, who just knocked out Valery Brudov and wants to get back his WBC belt. Why shouldn’t Poland have two cruiserweight champions? I have to do my part first.
www.fightnews.com/Boxing/glowacki-i-always-wanted-to-fight-cunningham-328330