Mt. Arlington’s Pawel Wolak is anxious to throw his name in the pot of top 154 pound fighters. Wolak, 26-1 (17 KO’s), who is amongst the biggest ticket sellers in the Garden State, feels he is just one victory away from doing so.
This Saturday, Wolak battles fellow brawler James Moore in a highly anticipated ten round bout as part of the Miguel Cotto-Yuri Foreman untelevised undercard at the new Yankee Stadium. With less than three days until fight night, Wolak took a few minutes to speak with us. Here’s what he had to say.
GSFS: You are going to be taking on James Moore Saturday on a big card at Yankee Stadium. Tell us about it.
PW: I am excited for the fight and am definitely ready for it. I have trained extremely hard for seven weeks, have done the proper weight training and proper running, so this should be a great fight for me. I can’t wait!
GSFS: What is your assessment of James Moore? Have you watched any tapes?
PW: Yes I have seen a number of tapes. James is tough and he definitely brings the fight, but I have seen some mistakes so I am going to try and expose them.
GSFS: James Moore is somewhat similar to you in the sense that he likes to come forward and has bleed in past fights. With that said you have been boxing a lot more lately and did a good job doing so in your most recent bout against Ishmail Arvin. Against Moore, are you planning to fight fire with fire or box and move like Yuri Foreman did when he defeated him?
PW: I am going to do a little bit of both and adjust as the fight goes on and we will see what works better. I am definitely a fighter that likes to come forward and land big shots but it all depends how the fight goes.
GSFS: A fight between Moore and yourself had been discussed over the last few years locally. Both of you have since suffered defeats and are somewhat on different paths at the current moment. Do you feel this is a good time to face him or do you wish you faced him earlier?
PW: It’s definitely a good time! This is the first card at the new Yankee Stadium plus its taking place in New York where it should be.
GSFS: Both Moore and yourself are big ticket sellers. This is a huge card with Puerto Rican fans coming for Cotto, Jewish fans supporting Foreman, the Irish backing Moore, and of course, the Polish fans who follow you. Will the crowd size play a factor since it’s such a big card?
PW: There is always pressure, but the pressure for me is to win and be impressive in doing so. The stadium isn’t going to add any extra pressure, but I just have to win and that’s it.
GSFS: I know you work with trainer Aroz “Terrific” Gist in Paterson. Yuri Foreman also trains in Paterson with Joe Grier. Have you two ever sparred?
PW: I have been in the gym with him but we haven’t ever sparred together. I have been doing a lot of work with (unbeaten prospect) Steven Martinez for this fight.
GSFS: Tomasz Adamek is the biggest draw amongst Polish fighters. Being that he is a heavyweight on the cusp of a huge payday, he is likely going to have to fight in a casino or over in Europe, so Newark may very well be out of the picture. Would you feel comfortable being billed as the next big time Polish fighter and do you think you can draw sizeable numbers in Newark like Adamek?
PW: Of course that is the whole point! I want to move into that spot. Hopefully my fights can be exciting and the fans will want to come and see them.
GSFS: Shortly after your bout against Moore ends, a junior middleweight match up between Vanes Martirosyan and Joe Greene will air on HBO. If Vanes wins, do you see a match up between you two happening since you have been working with Top Rank?
PW: Definitely! I would love to face Vanes for a title or in an eliminator or something of that nature. I am not looking past Moore, but if I look good, the next step is going to be a top guy at 154!
GSFS: In your only defeat, you were outpointed by a slick boxer in Ishe Smith. What have you learned since then?
PW: I learned that at the top level, I have to be smarter. I knew that I was strong but I made some changes since then and my style has changed since training with Terrific. I am definitely going to be ready for a big shot a few months after the Moore fight.
GSFS: What do you most likely see happening next? Is there a specific fight or scenario in your mind?
PW: I see a title eliminator coming next.
GSFS: You are in a 154 lb division which does have some good fighters along with guys moving in and out of the division such as Paul Williams and Sergio Martinez. There is also Sergiy Dzindiruk, Yuri Foreman and Cory Spinks along with exciting contenders like Alfredo Angulo. Where do you feel that Pawel Wolak fits in?
PW: The division is tough and there are a lot of good fighters, but I also believe it is anybody’s division. Whoever prepares properly and lives the best outside of the ring (amongst the elite) will be on top. I definitely feel I belong with the elite at 154 lbs!
GSFS: As a fan of the sport, what is your take on the main event?
PW: I don’t know what is going to happen, but I am good friends with Yuri so I wish him the best. Yuri has to box and move, while Cotto will have to cut of the ring, fight on the inside and bang to the body to slow Yuri down, so whoever executes better will be the victor.
GSFS: Pawel, thanks for the interview. Do you have anything to add in closing for your fans and the readers of Gardenstatefightscene.com?
PW: Thanks to all my fans out there and make sure to come out to Yankee Stadium Saturday night.
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