Adam Kownacki is hoping to remain a relevant heavyweight. Ali Eren Demirezen is trying to get there.
Kownacki, who faces Demirezen on the Danny Garcia-Jose Benavidez Jr. card Saturday in Brooklyn (Showtime), had been a hot contender but his momentum was crushed as a result of back-to-back knockout losses to Robert Helenius in 2020 and last year.
If there were ever a must-win fight, this one is it for the offense-minded Kownacki (20-2, 15 KOs).
“I’m looking to come forward, attack the body and get him out of there,” the Polish-American said. “I’m trying to show the whole division that I’m back. The last couple fights didn’t go my way, but I’m going to show that it was just a bump in the road.”
Big man with the moves 💨🥊@AKbabyface hitting the mitts now on IG 🔥#GarciaBenavidez pic.twitter.com/gcWR3hFM6z
— SHOWTIME Boxing (@ShowtimeBoxing) July 27, 2022
Kownacki’s style has been to attack with reckless abandon, which worked in his first 20 fights but might’ve played a role in his demise against the hard-punching Helenius.
He said he and his team have worked on attacking aggressively but more methodically, keeping defense in mind to protect him from unnecessary punishment.
The chunky heavyweight added that he’s never been in better condition than he is now.
“I lost six percent body fat and turned it into muscle, so I’m feeling great,” he said. “I want to be the old Adam and take no more steps backwards.”
And the Brooklynite’s goal hasn’t changed in spite of his setbacks.
“I’m trying to win the title for Brooklyn,” he said. “There’s still a lot I want to accomplish in the sport, including one day fighting back home in Poland.”
Meanwhile, Demirezen (16-1, 12 KOs) has won five consecutive fights since he was outpointed by Efe Ajagba in June 2019.
That includes an eighth-round TKO of Gerald Washington last January and a one-sided decision over Kevin Johnson in May. The 2016 Olympian for his native Turkey is on a roll.
He expects to make a big statement on Saturday.
“This is a big moment in my career,” he said. “… I’m going to do everything I can to have my hand raised. I know how important this fight is for my career. I said before the Gerald Washington fight that I’m here to stay.
“I want to achieve my dreams in the U.S. After this fight, the fans will know my name even better than before.”
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