Adam Kownacki Facebook: Boxed Blind in Left Eye After Round One of the Robert Helenius Rematch
By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent
Chicago, IL (October 15th, 2021)– According to his Facebook, heavyweight contender Adam Kownacki boxed blind in his left eye after round one of his rematch on Saturday night against Robert Helenius on the Tyson Fury Las Vegas undercard. Kownacki was disqualified for low blows in the sixth round by referee Celestino Ruiz at 2:38. Kownacki stated low blows were not intentional. Helenius is now the new mandatory challenger for the winner of Oleksandr Usyk-Anthony Joshua II. Kownacki was boxing close to Helenius to try to work the body inside, and somehow try to survive. While Kownacki could not see the majority of punches he was throwing, in reality he could feel where they were ultimately landing, so the DQ outcome was not a surprise.
On Facebook, Kownacki explained “Saturday (night against Robert Helenius in our rematch) did not go the way I would have wished for. The low blows weren’t intentional. I was trying to keep working the body and stay close to Robert (Helenius). With a broken orbital bone, I could not see with my left eye. It (I was fighting with) all (my) heart after round one. I would like to thank everyone that (my fans and friends who) reached out with their warm comments. Waiting for (my new) baby Teddy to come into this world (now) to take my mind off the fight. Love ya (all).” Love is nice, but not enough, to win key bouts.
There have been pressures for immediate rematches whenever promoters do not get their get desired results. Anthony Joshua against Oleksandr Usyk, Deontay Wilder against Tyson Fury, Kownacki against Helenius, Canelo Alvarez versus GGG, Dillian Whyte versus Alexander Povetkin. A lot has to do with which fighters did the most work, and which way judges swing in the promoter’s domains. If Helenius trains properly and does what he is supposed to do, as one of Deontay Wilder’s principal sparring partners, by size, reach and strength, Helenius versus Kownacki is not a close bout by the numbers. It was not, provided Helenius did the work and he did. It wasn’t exactly like Riddick Bowe versus Andrew Golota both times. Nonetheless, Kownacki, despite his statements and excuses, knew what he was doing, where he was going with his punches, and where he was taking the bout. Each bout is taken on its merits. Kownacki’s rematch did not have a better game plan, and simply got overpowered and out power punched from the get go. Helenius waited to get off the first time. The second time, he went right after what appeared to be a little fat target, sort of a modern day Joe Louis who had height and reach advantage, and tore away at the Tony Galento bullseye. If Kownacki intended to come in with a different approach, training regimen and fight plan, boxing fans did not see it. In the next bout, Frank Sanchez versus Efe Ajagba, Sanchez did outbox the taller, bigger Ajagba for ten rounds with the correct game plan. It can be done. Kownacki should study that bout before fighting again.
COMMENTS
English