Tomasz Adamek's nickname in Polish is "Goral." It refers to highlanders or mountain people who are noted for their wisdom, bravery and work ethic. During WWII, they fought the Nazis as partisan freedom fighters.

Andrew Golota, a fellow Polish boxer whom Adamek beat in his debut at heavyweight, said you can kill a Goral but he will keep on fighting after he is dead.

Adamek, a former light heavyweight and cruiserweight world champion from Gilowice, Poland, needed those attributes to beat a valiant Vinny Maddalone at the Prudential Center Thursday night.