NEWARK, N.J. (AP) - Tomasz Adamek unanimously outpointed Eddie Chambers in a 12-round bout Saturday night to capture the IBF North American heavyweight championship.
Adamek, a Polish fighter who lives in Kearny, N.J., has won two straight fights after losing a WBC heavyweight title fight to Vitali Klitschko last September in Poland.
Adamek improved to 46-2, receiving winning scores of 116-112, 116-112 and 119-109.
``The fight was very close, but I felt I fought my fight and I won the fight,'' Adamek said. ``I was looking to win the fight. If I start to look to knock someone out, you can lose. I felt I controlled the fight.''
Chambers, who lost to Wladimir Klitschko for the IBF and WBO heavyweight crown in March 2010, was fighting for the first time since February of 2011, missing two scheduled bouts due to injury.
Adamek dominated the early rounds, as Chambers could not muster any attack. Chambers apparently injured his left bicep in the first round, rendering his left hand as practically useless. Adamek continued his domination in the third and fourth rounds, switching up his boxing styles to keep Chambers at bay. Chambers failed to connect with a left at all in those two rounds, only scoring with his right.
``I'm sure I would have won the fight if I had both hands,'' Chambers said. ``I threw a hook off my jab and his big arm got in the way. I must have torn something in the bicep. I tried later to throw some punches with my left, but I couldn't muscle anything with my left. I had to figure out what to do.''
Chambers was asked if there was ever a thought of ending the fight.
``I wouldn't have it,'' Chambers said. ``I had to roll with it. If my arm fell off, I still would have been out there.''
Adamek scored at will in the sixth round, using a stiff right jab to keep Chambers moving backwards.
``Eddie was fast and very sneaky,'' Adamek said. ``I didn't know anything about his arm. Someone told me after the fight was over. I just had to be ready for anything.''
Chambers spent most of the round covering up and offering little offense. Adamek staggered Chambers in the seventh round, but appeared to do so while stepping on Chambers' foot.
Chambers finally scored with two straight right hands in the eighth round.
Chambers continued to score in the ninth round, pushing Adamek back on two occasions, giving it a game effort fighting with only one arm.
``I was unsure about the decision and if you're unsure, you can't say you won clear cut,'' Chambers said. ``I don't like to sound brash, but I would have won if I didn't get hurt. I worked so hard to get ready for this fight and I was in the best shape of my life.''
Adamek then controlled the last two rounds to win the decision much to the delight of the Adamek-dominated crowd, which chanted ``Polska, Polska,'' in favor of Adamek all night.
Chambers was fighting for the first time since the passing of his long-time manager ``Big'' Rob Murray, who died June 3. Murray's son, Rob, Jr. has taken over handling Chambers.
``It was an important thought going out there tonight,'' Chambers said. ``Big Rob meant everything to my life for so long. I can't thank him enough. I think about him every day.''
On the undercard, heavyweight Bryant Jennings continued his ascent up the heavyweight ranks with a convincing unanimous 10-round decision over Steve Collins. Jennings improved to 14-0 overall with his victory, capturing the USBA Heavyweight Championship in the process. Collins fell to 25-2 with the defeat.
Jennings hurt Collins with a solid left jab and right uppercut combination in the fourth round, knocking Collins into the ropes and causing a standing eight-count. Jennings continued to outscore Collins from that point on by a lopsided margin of scoring punches.
