Garrett Wilson replaces sick Adamek

VERONA, NY - A press conference was held today at the Turning Stone Resort Casino to announce the reconfigured card for Saturday afternoon's NBC Fight Night in the Afternoon boxing show.

Vyascheslav "Czar" Glazkov will take on last minute sub Garrett Wilson of Philadelphia in the ten-round main event. Meanwhile, somebody's "0" has to go when Long Island's Mike Brooks faces Karl "Dynamite" Dargan in a battle of unbeaten lightweights which has been changed from an 8-rounder to a 10-round co-main event. That fight has now been sanctioned for the vacant USBA Atlantic Coast Regional Lightweight Championship.

The last minute changes became necessary when veteran Tomasz Adamek was felled by a nasty stomach virus yesterday. This morning he was not feeling any better and was forced to pull out of the fight.

The afternoon broadcast will begin at 2:30PM ET on NBC.

Kathy Duva: "Yesterday when we were on our way here (Turning Stone) we got calls informing us that Tomasz Adamek, who was scheduled to appear in the main event and who has fought 51 times in his career and never pulled out of a fight, has been stricken by the flu. He has a stomach flu of some kind and it is not going away. He was being advised by his doctor not to fight. He asked us for another day, that perhaps a little more rest and time would take care of it, but he called us this morning and said he isn't feeling better, he is feeling worse.

STATEMENT FROM TOMASZ ADAMEK: "For the first time in my career I have had to pull out of a bout. I apologize to all of my fans, but the stomach flu has hit me so hard that it is impossible to go through with Saturday's bout."

"I was hoping that against the odds I would recover sufficiently to compete. However, that has not happened. My doctor has told me that I should not fight and, very honestly, I feel awful. Therefore, I had to inform Main Events that I could not compete on Saturday."

"Again, I apologize, but the circumstances are beyond my control."

Kathy Duva: "So in a brilliant display of their matchmaking abilities, our matchmakers, most notably Jolene Mizzone who has been carrying the ball here, and Russell Peltz who had a hand in helping us find a replacement, went out and did what I would have considered impossible 24 hours ago."  

Kathy Duva "To his credit he (Czar), said I don't care who it is...he was fine with everybody (we suggested) and I just want everybody to remember what a great competitor he is, because that has been his attitude from day one.

Kathy Duva: "Just as 2 Philly fighters stepped into the ring and saved us back in January two years ago, another Philly fighter has decided to step up and take advantage of the opportunity of a lifetime to fight on broadcast television in front of millions of fans...and that is Garrett Wilson. Garrett is the quintessential Philly fighter. He is a guy who has stepped in at the last minute many times in his career because he is always in the gym. He works as a personal trainer, he's always in shape, he is always ready to go. He jumped at this opportunity, he didn't hesitate. He understands that if he is able to pull off an upset he will literally make his career. He has fought at the world level for a while, he is a great fighter, way better than his record might indicate...this is going to be a tremendous fight because Garrett is coming here and he is going to do everything in his power to take advantage of the opportunity." 

Kathy Duva: "Another thing we are going to do to make up for the change in the card is we have a tremendous co-feature between Mike Brooks and Karl "Dynamite" Dargan. Two undefeated lightweights who are really in a position to really take a step up and literally steal the show if they can do it. That fight is being promoted to a 10 rounder from an 8 (and has been sanctioned for the vacant USBA Atlantic Coast Region Lightweight Title)." 

Joe Higgins, Brooks Trainer: "If you fight a four round fight you train for six rounds, if you have a six round fight you train for an eight round fight. We were training for an eight round fight so in essence we were training for a ten round fight. Mike is absolutely ready to do ten hard rounds if need be."

Mike Brooks: "I am undefeated, I worked very hard to get here and I want to give a good show. I have full aspirations to go forward in this sport."

Brother Naazim Richardson, Dargan Trainer: "I didn't remember Mike when they gave me the name. My son reminded me and I remember him from the amateurs. Dynamite is a special young kid that I have had in the gym since he was seven years old. He has been involved in camp in every level of boxing. He has had conversations with legendary fighters who have told him how to seize these opportunities and I think he has the demeanor and mentality to take this to the next level in boxing and we are here to cultivate this young man."

Karl "Dynamite" Dargan: "It's been a long successful camp. Much respect to Mike and his camp as well. You are going to see two fighters clash that are trying to keep their '0'."

Egis Klimas, Glazkov Manager: "We don't know the new opponent. What we do know is that Glazkov is not afraid of anyone. We know that he came to this fight very well prepared, and any opponent you put in front of him will be dealt with."