Not even after back-to-back stoppage defeats to Robert Helenius did Adam Kownacki conceive the thought of finding another job.

The popular Polish heavyweight based has vowed to return to basics in his appearance as part of a July 30 Showtime tripleheader from Barclays Center in his Brooklyn hometown. Kownacki faces heavy-handed Ali Eren Demirezen (16-1, 12KOs) in a dangerous 10-round heavyweight showdown in his first fight since a repeat loss to Helenius last October in Las Vegas.

The fight is viewed as a new beginning for the 33-year old, who has not lost his passion for still striving to make history.

“I wouldn’t be doing this if I thought otherwise,” Kownacki told reporters during a recent virtual press conference on Thursday. “After this [fight], I still want to be the world’s first Polish heavyweight champion. That’s why I do this.

“I could’ve taken an easier fight, but I wanted a tough guy. Beating a guy like Ali puts me back in the mix. That’s where I want to be.”

Headlining the July 30 show, former two-division titlist Danny Garcia faces Jose Benavidez Jr. in a junior middleweight battle.

Kownacki entered the first fight with Helenius as a 20-0 heavyweight on the rise and fighting at his home venue for the tenth time in his career. Things were going well in their March 2020 Fox-televised main event, up until they weren’t. Kownacki suffered his second career knockdown and eventually his first pro defeat when he was stopped in the fourth round of the final PBC main event before the pandemic.

More than 19 months passed before Kownacki and Helenius would meet, this time in Las Vegas as part of an all-heavyweight Pay-Per-View event topped by the Tyson Fury-Deontay Wilder championship trilogy clash. Kownacki was once on a path to challenge for the divisions’ top prize but found himself on the outside looking in after he was stopped for the second time by Helenius, this time in the sixth round after being shut out on the scorecards to that point.

The fight with Turkey’s Demirezen is viewed by many as a dangerous assignment. Kownacki views it as a worthwhile investment into a future that he insists will feature a heavyweight title run.

“I never thought I was done,” insists Kownacki. “I always go out and do my best. My first boxing goal was to win the New York Golden Gloves, and I did that in my first year. My goal, now, is to win the world title and that’s what I plan on doing. We’re on the road back.

“I had a good 20 fights, I hit a bump in the road, but on July 30 I’m coming to get a win and then I’m back on the right track. I want to get a world title shot in the next year or two. I’m in great hands with Al Haymon and PBC, so I know they’ll help me make it happen.”

Jake Donovan is a senior writer for BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox