Skip to main content

Pawel Wolak reveals options: Sensible Top Rank fight or MMA

Phil D. Jay 
WBN Editor
Recently retired fighter may box on…for now

Pawel Wolak has explained to WBN what his plans are for 2012 after announcing his retirement following his loss to rival Delvin Rodriguez in December at Madison Square Garden.

The 31 year-old is currently intent on beginning training for a career in Mixed Martial Arts, although the ‘Raging Bull’ is still contracted to previous employers Top Rank until October this year and could be set for one last fight before swapping the prizefighting ring for the octagon.

“There are basically three options,” Wolak told World Boxing News.

“Top Rank accepts my request to let me out of my contract early and I go into MMA and have my first fight this summer or Top Rank asks me to fulfil my contract obligations and gives me an opponent and opportunity that makes sense and I will honour my contract.

"The third option is Top Rank asks me to fulfil my contract obligations and gives me something that makes no sense and in that case I would decline and just train for MMA until the contract expires in October."

The Polish-born American has admitted he has become disillusioned with the sport of boxing and needs a fresh challenge to re-ignite his appetite. His last performance against Rodriguez was definitely not the Wolak we all know and he believes that the time is right to step away from professional boxing.

“The biggest issue for me right now in boxing is that nobody, whether it’s me, Vanes (Martirosyan), (James) Kirkland, Delvin (Rodriguez), Paul Williams and a bunch of other really solid fighters who deserve the opportunity in 154 are not being given the opportunity to get titles,” explained Wolak.

“So why do it if you can’t get a chance at the grand prize? Canelo is fighting Mosley, Cotto against Floyd and the IBF seems to recognize only three guys in Bundrage, Powell and Spinks.

“So it is tough to come back knowing that and wondering what would be next if I win the next fight against a good fighter as these champions aren’t being forced to fight real 154 contenders and there are a lot of them.

“If I commit to something in boxing I would be 1000% dedicated. I have not fought my last 2 fights as well as I expect myself to and while there were some personal issues outside the ring during my second fight with Delvin (every guy has those), I won’t make excuses as Delvin beat me by fighting smart and very well.

“I just don't know if it would be a one and done if I came back or I would keep going no matter if I win or lose based on what I said earlier about guys’ not getting shots at the title as well as my interest in MMA.

“After all, my background is as a successful kickboxer and wrestler. You could tell that just by watching me box and how square I get sometimes which is wrestling 101 and a no no in boxing.”

Labels:

Popular posts from this blog

The Tragedy of Billy Collins Jr.

Phil D. Jay WBN Editor  Collins after the fight Williams Ray Collins Jr. or Billy Collins Jr. as he became known, was born to a boxing father in Antioch, Tennessee in 1961. His father William Sr, once fought Welterweight Champion Curtis Cokes and wanted his boy to follow in his footsteps, so decided to train Billy himself. Collins Jr. turned pro in 1981, a welterweight, just like his father before him and impressively won his first 14 professional contests, 11 by knockout with eight inside the first three rounds. It was 1983 and Billy was matched up against Puerto Rican journeyman Luis Resto on the undercard of Roberto Duran v Davey Moore at Madison Square Garden in a ten rounder. Resto wasn’t known for his punching power but Billy took a sustained beating for the full ten rounds, his face, badly damaged and his eyes were almost shut. After the fight, which Resto won on decision, Billy’s father shook Resto’s hand and noticed there wasn’t much padding in his gl...
Read more

Rico Ramos captures world super- bantamweight title with KO

Phil D. Jay WBN Editor ‘Suavecito’ scores 20th straight win over Shimoda Undefeated Californian Rico Ramos produced a world-class left hand in the seventh round of his WBA title challenge against Japan’s Akifumi Shimoda to rip the belt away from the older southpaw in his first defence. The 24 year-old looked far from a world champion in the first five rounds, only gaining a foothold in the fight in round six, but ultimately produced the equalizer in the seventh to take the crown. Shimoda, 26, will be furious with himself as he bossed the majority of the fight and was up five rounds to one on my card going into the seventh round. One lapse in concentration with only thirty seconds left in round seven and Shimoda hit the canvas. The champion tried to get up at the count of nine, but stumbled over and the referee counted him out. The now former champion stayed down for a full minute before being helped to his feet and realising he no longer held the WBA belt. Also on the card i...
Read more