Fighter Of The Week (6/19-6/25): Joe Cusumano
High-level exciting Heavyweight boxing has been on the shelf for quite some time, with the top names not willing to fight each other or fight much at all. However, all-out, brawl-out, heavyweight boxing returned to the Mecca of Boxing, Madison Square Garden, Saturday night as The "Sicilian Nightmare" Joe Cusumano, pulled a massive upset in a battle of attrition and stopped Adam Kownacki, originally of Lomza, Poland and now fighting out of Brooklyn, NY, in eight thrilling, back-and-forth rounds to put himself in the heavyweight title discussion, secure himself a massive payday, move his record to 22-4 (20), and takes home our Fighter of the Week award.
Cusumano was supposed to be a fan-favorite ticket seller but ultimately a sacrificial lamb for Adam Kownacki's comeback. Kownacki was on the verge of a heavyweight title fight in 2019-2020 and has never gotten back. Saturday's at the Garden was supposed to be his get back. From the opening round, when the Sicilian landed a massive right hand, it became clear as day, that was not going to be the case. In a back-and-forth battle of attrition, slugfest, it was obvious conditioning was going to be the deciding factor. That proved to be the case, as the 35-year-old Cusumano got going in the second half of the scheduled 10-rounder. After both fighters were examined by the ringside physician to start the sixth round, the Italian got going. Cusumano scored with a right uppercut to the body and another upstairs. Kownacki's face began showing the signs of a beaten fighter. He fought valiantly but had no answers for the Sicialian Nightmare, who had his man in a world of trouble after a barrage of power shots at the end of the seventh. The writing was on the wall, and the big Sicilian had all the momentum. He kept the rally going with two big right hands that again buckled the Polish heavyweight and sent him reeling into the ropes, and his corner threw in the towel as the Sicilian Nightmare jumped for joy as he secured the biggest win of his career.
Cusumano is going to be a ticket seller, given his Italian background and fan-friendly performance at the Mecca. He is in a really good position to secure a big fight. That fight could be Anthony Joshua at the Garden it could be a name like Jared Anderson or Frank Sanchez. He would be a massive step up and test for either of those guys. An all-Italian showdown with Top Rank prospect Guido Vianello should he survive his showdown with Simon Kean on the Beterbiev vs Callum Smith card in August. Cusamano, at the age of 35, has put himself in a position he has never been in before, he can sit and wait for a big-time, big-money fight!
