Vito Mielnicki Jnr and Kamil Gardzielik both came in at the same weight, 159.5lbs, on Friday, ahead of their 10-round middleweight bout on Saturday night at Prudential Center in Newark, N.J.
Mielnicki, 20-1-1 (12 KOs), a native of Roseland, New Jersey who now lives and trains in Houston, is appearing at his home arena for the fifth time, as he seeks to make a big impression after having back-to-back fights in which he was not pleased with his performance.
“I’m not happy with my last two performances so I’m gonna use this stage and really showcase my talents and what I’ve been working for since I was a kid. Just translate everything that I’m doing in the gym and put it on the big stage on the television screen,” said the 23-year-old Mielnicki.
Gardzielik, 19-0 (4 KOs), of Warsaw, Poland will be fighting for the first time in the United States. The 32-year-old says he didn’t come to America just for a payday.
“I’m here to show the fans that the level of boxing in Poland is very high. And I came here to win,” said Gardzielik.
While the main event build-up has been marked by muted respectfulness, there’s been nothing muted about the build-up between Lorenzo “Truck” Simpson and Jahi Tucker, who clash in the middleweight co-main event. Simpson, who weighed 159.5lbs, and Tucker, who was 160lbs even, have traded barbs and threats on social media, but maintain that it’s just their competitive spirits shining through.
“It ain’t beef because where I’m from something would have happened but it’s competitive. He a good fighter; I’m a great fighter. It’s just competitive spirit,” said Simpson, 15-2 (9 KOs), of Baltimore.
“We old school fighters, it’s about respect. It ain’t for a record, we’re both young, we’re gonna have nine more years to compete, it’s about showing who’s better.”
The fights will air live on ESPN+, beginning at 5:30 p.m. ET.
Full weights:
Middleweights - 10 rounds
Vito Mielnicki - 159.5lbs
Kamil Gardzielik - 159.5lbs
Middleweights - 10 rounds
Lorenzo Simpson - 159.5lbs
Jahi Tucker - 160lbs
Heavyweights - 10 rounds
Damian Knyba - 254.5lbs
Marcin Siwy - 244lbs
Junior welterweights - 8 rounds
Brandun Lee - 143lbs
Elias Damian Araujo - 142lbs
Junior middleweights - 8 rounds
Dwyke Flemmings Jr - 154lbs
Demian Daniel Fernandez - 154lbs
Light heavyweights - 4 rounds
Arjan Iseni - 175lbs
Kaine Tomlinson Jr - 175lbs
Junior featherweights - 4 rounds
Lisandra Contreras - 121lbs
Montana Weems - 124lbs
Heavyweights- 8 rounds
Norman Neely - 249.5lbs
James Willis - 262.5lbs
Welterweights - 4 rounds
Muadh Abdus-Salaam - 144lbs
Roberto Cantos - 145.5lbs
Junior middleweights - 4 rounds
Kahshad Elliot - 154lbs
Titus Ashe - 153lbs
Cruiserweights - 4 rounds
Jamar Talley - 197.5lbs
Kurt Fleming - 204.5lbs