WARSAW, Poland—Polish hip-hop band Funky Polak’s tune “Remember” was national hero Tomasz Adamek’s choice for his grand entrance into the ring Saturday night. World heavyweight boxing championship night, that is.
“Don’t forget where you come from
Don’t forget where you were born …”
The delirious crowd belted out the lyrics battle-cry style, trying to psyche up the immensely plucky Polish contender, in for the fight of his life. Well, one of a series of fights of his life that is.
“In those memories your power is harnessed
So remember my son …”
Adamek has painstakingly powered his way through three weight categories, winning belts as a light heavyweight, cruiserweight, and heavyweight (WBO and IBF federation titles). But Adamek was going to need all the help he could get, from frenetic fans also, as he readied to go toe-to-toe for the WBC world heavyweight title with the reigning champion, Ukrainian Vitali Klitschko—a.k.a. “Dr. Ironfist” (no doubt because of his doctorate in sports science).
A deadly combination of brains and fists of fury make the good doctor a stone-cold lethal pugilist; that and the fact that he stands a head taller than Adamek and weighs 30 lbs more.
“A brutal school of life...[…]
I knew nothing would come easy
Same hard questions, again and again -
Go back or make it and stay …”
Such a big deal this fight was (the first pay-per-view held in Poland, apparently!) that even Prime Minister Donald Tusk weighed in:
“All the metrics are in favor of Klitschko, but if sport were all about reach, weight, bicep size, and statistics it would be boring. But fortunately, sport is unpredictable. Adamek has a huge spirit … in a slightly smaller body, but his spirit is at least as big as both Klitschko brothers put together.” Vitali’s younger brother Wladimir is also a multititle-holding heavyweight champ.
“So remember my son …
The white and red colors,
The symbol of the eagle and the crown”
Tusk’s main political rival, the right-wing Law and Justice Party leader Jaroslaw Kaczynski jumped into the fray, too. The main contender for the prime minister’s job in next month’s national elections (promising to be quite a scrap) digressed from presenting his party’s electoral program at a press conference to ad lib about a different kind of fight night:
“This evening in Poland, an exceptional event is going to take place. A Polish boxer will be fighting for the world heavyweight title. This is an exceptional boxer. Very likeable, very Polish, you might say. I’d like to wish him all the best. … I hope he wins and becomes world champion.”
Flanked by an entourage of steely-eyed bodyguards, the contender makes his way through the cheering crowd. At the front of the procession, two crossed flags. A Polish flag and a U.S. flag, that is.
“This is America, land of opportunity
Hunting for work with a newspaper in your hand
Renting a cheap, run-down apartment
Cockroaches on the wall …”
“Does anyone know where Adamek lives? I want to get his autograph.” The blogosphere was abuzz with prefight hype, gossip, and the naive questions of starry-eyed fans.
Jersey City, New Jersey, U.S.A., it turns out.
“Don’t forget where you come from
Don’t forget where you were born
In those memories your power is harnessed
So remember my son …”
The fight went 10 rounds, edge-of-your seat, David versus Goliath. Adamek held on for 10 rounds and shook off countless heavy blows. But the climax was a technical knockout in favor of Klitschko. The referee stopped the fight as Adamek began to swoon, dropping his guard as Dr. Klitschko’s surgically precise blows bloodied the Polish fighters face more and more.
“I have a lot of respect for my opponent, because he demonstrated to the whole boxing world what true fighting spirit is,” said Klitschko at a post-fight press conference.
But while the good doctor may clearly have a hard noggin, Adamek adds he’s no bonehead, either.
“I felt the fight wasn’t going according to plan, so I tried to fool and outsmart my opponent, but he was too clever. Every hard blow sapped my energies, but I always fight to the end ...” said Adamek.
“Sad birthdays and lonely holidays
Deep reflection and cursed longing
Letters from home
Same questions again and again
Go back or make it and stay …”
The song “Remember” was written by Funky Polak and was first released as a single in 2004. The English is the unofficial translation.
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