BIG AND BAD FREIGHT TRAIN WALKER READY TO ROLL OVER ADAMEK
Travis “Freight Train” Walker, 39-7-1, 31 KOs, has waited a long time to make his move in the heavyweight division. The eight-year pro originally from Tallahassee, FL, has fought all over the world against major competition. But he will get his biggest opportunity to gain attention from the boxing public when he faces former two-time world champ Tomasz Adamek, 46-2, 28 KOs, in the 12-round main event at Newark, NJ’s Prudential Center on Saturday afternoon, September 8, 2012. Adamek’s IBF North American Heavyweight Title will be on the line in the fight.
“This is probably my biggest chance,” Walker said. “I’m very confident, and feel really good about it. I’ve been at this place before, and I’m very proud of myself for getting here again. It was a long, long road I travelled to get back here.”
At 6’4 ½” tall and weighing in at about 245 pounds, the 33-year old Walker is taller, heavier, and younger than Adamek. The Tallahasse native will look to leverage these advantages when he meets the former champ in the rare afternoon-set fight card.
Walker looked like a “Freight Train” in his last bout, when he brutally halted Kali Meehan in the sixth round of their IBF Pan Pacific Heavyweight Title Fight in March. Meehan could not take the punishment dealt by Walker, and the contest was stopped less than one minute into round six.
In contrast, Walker feels Tomasz Adamek had a tough night in his last outing–a 12-round points win over Eddie Chambers at Newark’s Prudential Center in June. Walker hopes that he can prove that Adamek’s difficulties with Chambers were signs of slippage that will help to improve his own chances.
“I don’t think he’s the fighter he was,” Walker said of his opponent.
With 31 knockouts in his 39 victories, it is clear that Travis will be looking to over-power the tough former champion, who is currently ranked #3 by the IBF. However, Walker knows that he will have to do it in Adamek’s adopted backyard.
Prudential Center has been “home field” for the Polish-born Adamek, who attracts big crowds of loyal and loud supporters every time he fights in Newark. Although competing in enemy territory is never easy, Walker has made a career of it, and he takes such assignments in stride. After being the underdog in distant locales such as Germany and Australia, fighting in New Jersey seems like a piece of cake.
“I’ve been doing it my whole life, so it’s nothing new to me,” Walker said. “I’ve been to everybody’s backyard. I’m going into this fight with the mind frame that I’m not going to win unless I stop him. I’m not going to force the knockout, but I really believe that I have to have one.”
On September 8th, the “Freight Train” pulls into Newark for his chance to shake up the heavyweight rankings. All aboard!
