Adamek after loss to Szpilka: I think it’s time to say goodbye

- Immediately after losing to Artur Szpilka, you got on a plane and returned to the United States, to your family. Have you had the time and inclination to analyze the defeat and its causes?
Tomasz Adamek: No. I don’t know myself why it happened. It’s difficult to speculate and talk about it. I feel good, very good in fact, because I didn’t have a grueling fight. The day after the bout with Szpilka, there wasn’t a mark on me. It wasn’t a war in the ring. But I suppose you still want to ask what happens next with my boxing…

- In a moment. Have you watched what happened in Krakow yet?
TA: No, not yet.

- Dariusz Michalczewski said that you never really engaged in that fight.
TA: Let him say what he wants. It has always been this way, and always will be: people comment. I fought as well as I could and did what I was capable of, but I lacked speed. Before I entered the ring, I said that if I was fast and looked impressive, I could still aim for big fights. But I wasn’t. That means it’s slowly time to fade into the background.

- Why were you lacking speed? You said that after training in Gilowice, all your strengths had returned.
TA: What can I say? The years are passing. I’ve had many wars in the ring, always given everything I had, and now it’s gradually catching up with me. I can’t cheat time…

- I know you. Surely you’re tempted to try one more time.
TA: If anything could tempt me, it would be a good financial offer. I’ve fought my whole life. If serious money is put on the table, I may enter the ring. Otherwise, it makes no sense.

- Would you like to end your boxing adventure with a defeat?
TA: Of course not. I don’t think anyone would. That’s the first answer that comes to mind, but in truth I haven’t thought about it yet. I’m at home and spending time with my family, because I was away from my loved ones for a long time. We just haven’t been able to go away together for a vacation. At least I visited my mother, while my wife and the girls stayed home. We won’t be going anywhere now because the daughters have school. That’s life—they’ll have to wait until the next vacation.

- Let’s return to sport. Are you interested in a rematch with Szpilka?
TA: What would it achieve?

- Money?
TA: Honestly? I don’t see much money in it. We’ll see how everything develops.

- Today you already know that big fights are not for you.
TA: I know, I know… The moment of truth came on November 8 in Krakow. I told the fans, you and my trainer that. Everyone knew what had to happen for me to continue fighting. But I didn’t carry out the game plan in the ring. If I’m unable to do that, it’s a sign that Adamek’s time is over. With it, the chance for big fights has also ended.

- Are you now a retiree who might return to the ring for a brief spell?
TA: That’s how it looks.

- Do you have any idea what to do with your life next?
TA: Not for now. I’m in America and I’ll do something. I’ve only just returned home, but I don’t really need to rest because there’s nothing to recover from. I’m not tired, physically or mentally. Besides, why would I be, since it wasn’t some great fight…

- Even in your losing bout with Vyacheslav Glazkov, you were able to step up the pace in the final rounds, attack and take risks. I didn’t see that against Szpilka. Why?
TA: He wasn’t a comfortable opponent. Besides, I wasn’t myself. That’s another argument for the fact that the time has come to say goodbye to the fans.

- It was said that, if you won, you might face Alexander Povetkin or Marco Huck. Those would have been big-money fights. Victories like that would also have given you a lot from a sporting perspective.
TA: I’d heard something about it, but I wasn’t thinking about it. I’ve always focused on the task at hand, and it was the same this time. If I had won, we could be discussing today whether such a fight was realistic, and you would be wondering how much money was involved. But we’re back at square one. I lost, so there’s no point.

- Gilowice didn’t help you.
TA: That’s sport. Something begins and something ends. I trained well and hard. Looking back, I probably wouldn’t change anything. The problem was that I lost my strengths. I’m getting older, and there’s nothing I can do about it.

- Even if you ended your career now, you would still remain the most accomplished Polish professional boxer in history.
TA: It’s nice to know that. I was world champion twice and also won less significant belts. I did a little for Polish boxing. I’m also happy with my career at heavyweight. I had wars in the United States. Of course, I remember that I lost the toughest fight in that division, to Vitali Klitschko, but that’s sport. It teaches you how to win and lose. I’ve learned all the lessons.

- In your opinion, does Szpilka have the potential to achieve something great at heavyweight?
TA: He won because I was weaker. The real Adamek would have beaten him badly. But the years are passing, and I didn’t show what I used to. I wish Artur all the best. I would like him and the other Poles to succeed. He has his own style, but I don’t want to judge him in any way. I don’t like doing that.

- Does he have talent for this sport?
TA: It’s difficult to say. How are you supposed to judge that? We’ll see. It will be difficult for him, but let him fight.

Interview by: Kamil Wolnicki, przegladsportowy.pl