Adam Kownacki will have to wait until this weekend to show off the work he’s put in the gym.
He didn’t even wait until the weigh-in, however, to flash the improved physique he will carry into the ring Saturday evening versus Joe Cusumano at Madison Square Garden’s Hulu Theater in New York City. The shirt came off as he was on stage for Thursday’s final pre-fight press conference, proudly flashing his muscles and considerably less flesh than he has carried in his recent outings.
“For sure, I’m in great shape,” Kownacki stated on stage at Hulu Theater while fielding questions from Matchroom Boxing’s Eddie Hearn who emceed the fight week event. “I’m going to look amazing and hopefully get a quick turnaround.
“I’m looking forward to getting the win and show that I wasn’t as focused as I should have been in these past three fights. You’re gonna see the old-new Adam Kownacki.”
Kownacki (20-3, 15KOs) has weighed as light as 229 ½ pounds, which came early in his 13-year pro career. Ironically, his last win came at his heaviest weight, when the Brooklyn-bred slugger from Loma, Poland outpointed Chris Arreola. Kownacki was a beefy 266 pounds for their August 2019 scorcher which shattered heavyweight Compubox records atop a PBC on Fox event from Barclays Center in his Brooklyn home borough.
Three straight defeats have followed—a pair of stoppages to Robert Helenius at Barclays and in Las Vegas; and a disappointing ten-round points loss to Ali Eren Demirezen last July 30 back at Barclays.
The 34-year-old heavyweight attributed a lack of focus to the trio of setbacks. That has changed under the recent tutelage of SugarHill Steward, best known as the nephew to the late, great Emanuel Steward and for his work with lineal and WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury (32-0-1, 23KOs).
“I want to look amazing,” Kownacki said of his upcoming DAZN co-feature on the Edgar Berlanga-Jason Quigley headlined show. “I had a great camp with SugarHill [Steward]. We’re ready.”
Jake Donovan is a senior writer for BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox