On Saturday afternoon, when Tomasz Adamek, 49-2, 29 KOs, and Czar Glazkov, 15-0-1, 11 KOs, go to war in their 12-rounder to claim the #2 spot in the IBF heavyweight rankings, the two fighters won’t be the only ones with their reputations on the line. Just as proud and equally eager for victory as Adamek and Glazkov, are Roger Bloodworth and Don Turner, the legendary trainers that have guided these heavyweights into this critical bout.
Adamek and Glazkov fight live on NBC broadcast television, beginning at 2:30 PM ET/11:30 AM PT, Saturday afternoon, November 16th. Both the ringside crowd at the Turning Stone Resort Casino and the large TV audience watching at home, will be focused on the boxers in the ring, but an evenly competitive matchup will be going on in the corners between the two renowned trainers.
Don Turner, the trainer of Vyacheslav “Czar” Glazkov, is best known for his championship tenure with the great Evander Holyfield. Turner guided “The Real Deal” to his pair of legendary wins over Mike Tyson in world heavyweight championship fights. The old-school trainer has been in the sport for more than 50 years, and has also worked with other world champions and top contenders like Larry Holmes, Aaron Pryor, Mike McCallum, and many others. In Glazkov, Turner believes he has the next serious title threat at heavyweight.
Don Turner and Czar Glazkov
Turner said, “I have been in this game a long time. I’ve seen a lot of fighters and trainers come and go. I know that on the 16th I will have done everything I can to get my fighter prepared for whatever comes at him. We’ll be ready. We’ll see if Roger can say the same thing.”
Like Turner, Roger Bloodworth, has been kicking around the sport for decades. Bloodworth made his bones working with the likes of Pernell Whittaker, Andrew Golota, Fernando Vargas, David Tua, and Eddie Hopson. But it is his work as head trainer for current charge, Tomasz Adamek, that has cemented his reputation as one of boxing’s best trainers. Bloodworth helped Adamek transition into a heavyweight contender, after winning world titles in two lighter weight classes. That’s no easy trick. Yet Adamek has been victorious in all but one of his heavyweight starts, and is a win or two away from another try at his third world championship.
“It’s not about me, it’s about Tomasz,” said Bloodworth. “I don’t worry about what Don Turner is doing. We both have a job to do and I can’t speak for him, but I know I’ve done mine well. I’ve given Tomasz the tools he needs to win, now he just has to use them on the 16th.”
The trainers’ credentials are an even match, and each of them believes that come Saturday afternoon, they will have the correct game plan to carry their fighter to victory.
Of course the winning boxer, Adamek or Glazkov, will get all the glory, but true boxing fans understand that the fighters couldn’t do it without the right trainer in their corner. Lucky for Adamek and Glazkov that, on Saturday, two of the best trainers in the business will have their backs.
Adamek vs. Glazkov? Bloodworth vs. Turner? Let the games begin.
