Kevin McBride: “Nobody Has Yet Tested Adamek’s Chin,” by Pavel Yakovlev
March 29, 2011) - Kevin McBride will be the opponent when he fights Tomasz Adamek two weeks from now at the Prudential Center in Newark. Adamek has won all but one of his 44 career bouts, and is being groomed for a big money fight against one of the Klitschko brothers. By contrast, McBride enters the bout having lost four of his last five fights. Truth be told, the 6’6”, 280 lbs McBride has been hand-picked for the fight so that Adamek can get comfortable hitting big men. At 6’1”, the Pole is a smallish heavyweight who is still perfecting tactics to be used against the giant Klitschkos. Thus, at first glance, the upcoming bout looks like batting practice for Adamek: another easy win en route to his showdown with the Klitschkos.
However, there is another perspective to take on this fight; it concerns the possibility of an upset, as remote as that chance may be. The hulking McBride has a puncher’s chance against Adamek. Known as the Clones Collosus because of his immense size and strength, McBride carries devastating power in his right hand. The Irishman has sent 29 opponents home early as knockout victims after catching them with this punch. The most dramatic display of McBride’s punching power, of course, came in 2005 when he smashed Mike Tyson into a sixth round kayo defeat. McBride entered the Tyson fight as a massive underdog, yet pulled off the upset. Naturally, McBride is hoping to stun the world again at the Prudential Center in two weeks.
McBride’s pulverizing right will definitely be a wildcard in the upcoming fight. Adamek is known for lunging at his opponents, and at those moments he is vulnerable to the right, especially the uppercut. If McBride brandishes his power punch at just the right moment, then the seemingly impossible – an Adamek defeat – just might materialize.
In this interview, McBride discusses his career and his preparation for the Adamek bout.
What are your thoughts about the upcoming fight? How do you see matters unfolding once the bell rings?
McBride: I don’t think the fight will go the distance. He’s the classier fighter, but he’s sixty or seventy pounds lighter than me. His people are underestimating my strength and power. It’ll be a good fight because he comes to fight. I’m the bigger, stronger man, and hopefully I’ll catch him on the chin. When I hit him, I’ll send him back to Poland. The Polish kids in his area are going to be there, and they’ll witness it.
Tell us about your preparation for this fight.
McBride: I’ve been sparring with different guys, fast kinds of guys. The other day I was doing four rounds with one guy who runs a lot, then another four rounds with another guy stands but boxes a lot, and who gets on his bike. The sparring is improving my timing and my speed. I can feel it; I have that feeling of getting closer, getting fitter. Getting that feeling reminds me of how much I love boxing. I’ve been boxing since I was nine years old, and I know that feeling. Also my mental preparation for this fight has been excellent. I’ve been seeing a hypnotist to help focus. I know that nobody gets anywhere if they give up on their dreams. No matter how many doors get shut, a person has to find a way to keep trying. I’ve been very focused on realizing my dream of being the first Irish born heavyweight champion of the world. The Irish abstract painter Sean Scully has been a tremendous inspiration to me, when we talk. It is so important to keep goals in focus. This chance against Adamek is an opportunity to make my dream come true.
What have you been doing to condition yourself for this bout?
McBride: I’m working a lot on strength. I’ve gotten stronger since starting training. Right now I’m bench-pressing 425 pounds, ten presses at a time. I run five miles every day, and I’m doing lots of sprints. To work on speed and timing, I do a lot of fast punching on the bag and mitts, and in sparring, I punch with higher intensity. I can feel the improvement and I love the feeling of getting closer. This is the biggest fight of my life.
Who is training you for this fight?
McBride: Goody Petronelli, Radavan Serbula, and Ermo Norrick. I’ve been with Goody a long time. Ermo is really good on the pads. Radavan is doing strength and conditioning. My manager Johnny Quinn will also be helping in my corner.
What do you know about Adamek? Can you tell us what you and your team have determined to be Adamek’s strengths and weaknesses?
McBride: I’ve seen some of Adamek’s fights. He’s a good fighter, definitely a world-class fighter, fast. As far weaknesses go, everyone has their weaknesses. I don’t really have anything to say about that. Adamek is a good, strong fighter, but I don’t know if anyone really has tested his chin. One thing he’s dealing with is pressure, because he’s going to have to look good against me. He’s facing that pressure.
I agree that the pressure is on Adamek to look good. For that reason, it’s an important fight for him. But for you, the fight is even more important because it represents a chance to gatecrash boxing’s big-time again.
McBride: I’m a big underdog, but I was the same for Mike Tyson. I beat Tyson, and I’ll do the same for Adamek. This fight is even bigger than the Tyson fight because Adamek’s rated up there in the top five right now. When I win this fight, I’ll be in a position to be the first heavyweight champion from Ireland. I’ll be the new Cinderella Man. I say you can run, but you can’t hide from McBride. All it takes is one punch to the chin. I have that punch, the ability to stop him with one punch. I’ve got 29 knockouts, so you know I can hit. I can hit as hard as any heavyweight in the world, including the Klitschkos. Years ago, Axel Schulz told me I hit him harder than anyone he ever fought, including George Foreman. The power is there.
One punch that Adamek may be vulnerable to is the right uppercut. Because he’s so much shorter than big guys like you, Adamek lunges while unleashing his left hooks and rights to the head. Against Michael Grant, Adamek took some heavy rights during these moments. What are your thoughts about using your right uppercut against Adamek?
McBride: I know when he’s hitting me, he’ll be pretty close. When he hits me anywhere on the body, arms, shoulders, whatever, he’ll be there to get hit. I’m going to throw plenty of punches, and I’ll mix them up. I have a good uppercut, I hit Mike Tyson with some good uppercuts. So hopefully I’ll catch Adamek and end the fight.
What are your memories of the experience of fighting and beating Mike Tyson?
McBride: The experience of fighting Mike Tyson was unbelievable. Growing up, I idolized him. I also idolized Muhammad Ali. After I beat Tyson, Muhammad Ali gave me a big hug. It was unbelievable. The experience of beating Tyson was sad in one sense, because I ended a guy’s career. But it was incredible because I shocked the world. Remember, that fight reminds me of how I love boxing so much, and how I always wanted to be the fist Irish born heavyweight champion of the world. Against Adamek, I have a chance to get there.
You are a native of Ireland, but you have lived in Boston since relocating to America. Is it fair to say that you are now one of the Boston Irish?
McBride: Yes, Boston is my home now. I have a lovely wife and two kids here. My daughter Grainne and my son Caoinhin were born in Boston. The Adamek fight is for two titles, and it would be nice to give one of the belts each to my daughter and my son. I’m fighting for my kids, for my life. I love this sport so much. I’m just so glad to get a second chance.