Status: Heavyweight contender. Former IBF Cruiserweight and WBC Light Heavyweight champion. His record is 41-1 (27 KO’s).

Ht: 6-1 1/2 Wt: 217

DOB: December 1, 1976 in: Zywiec, Poland

Hobbies/Leisure Activities: “Every sport. I like soccer. Skiing. Swimming. Every sport.”

Nicknames: Goral, Tomahawk.

Favorite Music: “All hip-hop – I love to dance. 50 Cent, Eminem and Polish hip-hop, Frankie Polack.”

Last Book Read: “It’s the book about Pope John Paul II. His life story and his route to the papacy.”

Favorite Movie: “Action films.”

First Job: “Mechanic.”

First Car: “Fiat (green).”

Current Car: “Infinity (silver).”

Early Boxing Memory: “I wanted to be a world champion. I’m always looking at the boxers in the films of fights. I have too much energy. My father like the fights. Before I was born he wanted me to be a boxer. He told my mother this. He passed away from a bus accident when I was two.”

Favorite Meal: “Fish, sushi.”

Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: “No, but I like the special Polish cakes, stuff like that.”

First Boxing Memory: “I started boxing at age 12. The first fight that really stood out in my head, that it was the beginning of my career and what I wanted to accomplish was to be champion of the world.”

Boxing Inspiration: “There’s several boxers like Oscar De La Hoya, Roy Jones, Evander Holyfield, Muhammad Ali – a lot of different things that you can take away from them. Muhammad Ali – for his dancing. Holyfield – from his heart. Roy Jones – from his quickness and skills. My inspiration is several things I can take away from different boxers.”

Favorite Boxers To Watch: “The clear boxers, faster, good technical. Just to fight – I don’t like that. Technical fights I like. Like Oscar with Trinidad. There are many fighters I like.”

Pre-fight Feeling: “I only think about winning the fight.”

Pre-fight Meal: “Mostly pasta with very plain, naturall y blended sauces.”

Pre-fight Superstition: “I don’t have any. I don’t believe in any. I’m Catholic and I really follow my belief and the word of God. And that’s what’s going to guide me.”

Toughest Part Of Being A Boxer: “My answer is I’m a strong believer in God. I do have a talent that God gave me. My beliefs and prayers and being a strong Catholic – that’s what it’s going to take me to be and stay the world champion. The toughest thing to accomplish – it’s easy to win a world championship title, but it’s harder to follow my beliefs and the talent that was given to me.”

Greatest Sports Moment: “When I won the world titles against Paul Briggs (2005) and Steve Cunningham (2008).”

Most Painful Moment: “The worst thing that happened was when I got the nose broken before Briggs fight. The worst thing that ever happened.”

Funny Boxing Memory: “No.”

Training Routine: “Strength conditioning, some punching, running about five miles a day for the first four weeks. Then closer to the fight I’m doing shorter distances but with sprint initiatives. The last four weeks are more sparring. For the 12-round fight I had about 120 rounds of sparring with four spar partners.”

Toughest Opponent: “Paul Briggs. The first fight with Briggs (for vacant WBC light heavyweight title) is the fight I will remember forever. My nose was broken four weeks before in sparring. I did have the chance to back out of the fight. I said, No, I will fight this fight and I will be a world champion. Despite my broken nose. I couldn’t spar. But I was very determined to win the fight. And win the title.”

People Qualities Most Admired: “Normal, like me. No anger. Courteous.”

Family: Wife, Dorota; daughters, Roxana, Veronica.

Future Ambition: “To be a big champion in America.”

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