By Alexey Sukachev

Poland - At 40 years of age, former two-division world champion and long-time heavyweight contender Tomasz Adamek (52-5, 30 KOs) is struggling along but still finding a way to get another W in his record.

This time Goral, fighting in front of passionate home crowd, got a hard-fought decision over Cameroonian Fred Kassi (18-7-1, 10 KOs), two years his junior. Final scores were: 97-93 and 96-94 (x2) - for the Pole.

Adamek started rapidly despite weighing almost 18 pounds over his best weight.

An accidental headbutt opened a cut over the Pole's forehead, which was stopped bleeding later - thanks for the work of cutman Tomasz Skarzynski.Adamek got a big round three but Kassi mounted a comeback in the fourth with his hard hooks at the ropes.

A trench warfare prospered through the fifth.Kassi suffered a cut of his own in the sixth, while Adamek failed to capitalize despite showing his killer instinct.

The seventh was even, and Adamek took the eighth, but Kassi replied with a strong round nine in his favour. Adamek finished the fight strong but he lacked a couple of rounds to get the job done.

Kassi, 38, is now 0-5-1 in his last six fight and hasn't banked a notable win since August of 2013.

Also on the card, Cruiserweight Adam Balski (11-0, 8 KOs) scored a workmanlike unanimous decision against American veteran Demetrius Banks (9-3, 4 KOs) but didn't impress in process, failing to shine in his debut with a new trainer.

Balski was reportedly injured in the beginning of the fight and it resulted in tepid few rounds, as the Pole had been getting adjusted to a slick opponent. Balski put Banks down midst into the fourth on a hard right cross but Banks deliberately went down for what hasn't seemed to be an illegal punch to get a few moments of rest... and survival.

Balski failed to be as successful in the second part of the bout, cruising to wide scores: 80-70, 80-71, 79-72.