Fonfara Feels More Motivation Despite Being The Favorite

By Jake Donovan

The days of Andrzej Fonfara sneaking up on the best fighters in and around the light heavyweight division are long gone. The all-action boxer from Poland – who now calls Chicago home – turned in a pair of impressive performances in a close loss to World light heavyweight champ Adonis Stevenson last May and most recently a one-sided stoppage win over Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. in April.

He now enjoys A-side status in a major fight for a change, as he welcomes Nathan Cleverly to his backyard when they square off October 16 at UIC Pavilion in Chicago, Illinois. The 12-round light heavyweight bout carries title fight implications (aside from the regional belt at stake), and a rare occasion where Fonfara is the favorite not just to win, but among the crowd who will be in attendance after having faced Stevenson and Chavez on the road.

Still, it’s business as usual for the light heavyweight contender, who is taking Cleverly just as serious as he has his past top challenges.

“There’s not a big difference,” Fonfara (27-3, 16KOs) said during a recent media conference call of preparing for road fights as opposed to training for a home game. “The only change is going to the mountains before Stevenson, when we spent 3-4 weeks in Big Bear.

“Before Chavez, I spent two weeks in Houston and then trained back in Chicago. For this fight, we once again trained in Houston and in Chicago. There’s not a real difference in the camps, only a couple of things. Strength and conditioning is the same. I feel much better now, much bigger and quicker in continuing with the same training.”

Cleverly (29-2, 15KOs) represents the second straight former champ to face Fonfara, who is in search of another world title shot after having come up short versus Stevenson in his lone title bid to date. Whereas the onus was on Fonfara to prove to the world he could upend Chavez Jr., the expectations now are for the Chicagoland light heavyweight – who turns 28 in November – to emerge victorious.

“Fight after fight I have more experience. I was the underdog and was motivated to win (versus Stevenson and Chavez),” notes Fonfara of the role he’s played versus the one he’s asked to perform at home next weekend.” I have much more motivation now because I fight in Chicago. This pressure motivates me. Of course I'm ready for this fight.”

The bout will air live as the headliner for the latest installment of Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) on Spike TV.

Jake Donovan is the managing editor of BoxingScene.com.

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