Wladimir Klitschko Beats Tough As Nails Mariusz Wach

[Editor Mike]

Wladimir Klitschko got it done in the main event which unfolded at the o2 Arena in Hamburg, and ran on EPIX, fighting for the first time without Manny Steward in his corner since 2004. Wlad showed the skill and strategy and composure honed in him by the Kronk sage in spades; the judges saw it 120-108, 120-108, 120-107 for the champ.
Klitschko (58-3 entering; age 36; born in Ukraine, lives in LA mostly; 6-6 ) was 246.9 and Wach (27-0 entering; age 32; from Poland, lives in NJ; 6-7 1'2 inches) was 249.1.
In the first, the IBF, WBA, WBO, IBO heavyweight champion Klitschko got cooking right out of the gate. His jab was peppy and the Pole didn't like it. But Wach got his legs and some confidence a few rounds in, after he discovered his chin would hold up. He buzzed Wlad a bit in the fifth, but his O wasn't there. One twos landed cleanly on him, but bless him, he kept standing. I gave Wlad 10-8 rounds in the seventh and eighth. But he pretty much figured out around round ten that it would be quite hard to stop Wach.
Wlad led 121 to 25 in power punches landed. Wach did better, with his chin and heart standing out, than most any experts predicted.

[brownsugar]

Couldn't get EPIX to work.

Sounds like WK got in some good work.
The bone density of Wach's chin looks heavy enough to break 2-by-4's.
Personally I wouldn't even try to hit WM on the chin.
Should be interesting to see later on Utube.

[Grimm]

Wlad was sharp, aggressive, pounded the left like never before, mixed with rights and even left hooks from early on, and gave his all trying to take Wach out. Wlad showed a mean streak, but Wach sported a Chuvalo-like chin and Balboa-like heart, if not much else. Wach took a terrible beating and had a hard time landing anything at all for most of the fight. He is tough enough to break some recognised names down, but also tough in the way that can ruin life when the fighting days are over.

[mortcola]

For all you Wlad haters out there, Wlad boxed like a nimble welter, and punched in numbers that would have made Diego Corrales proud. Wach is a chin freak. Punches would physically move him and shake him, and he would just keep coming forward. Doc put on a show in honor of Manny, and worked his *** off against a guy who wouldn't quit. Good show.

[fightscorecollector]

my article is in my signature. Of the 57 scores i got from press/fans only 3 gave Wach a round

[Bernie Campbell]

How bout Wach vs Wilder, Mitchell or Jennings? How bout all 3 at the same time?

[SouthPaul]

How about Wlad just retire and go away. He's a colossal bore. Zzzzzzzzz.

[brownsugar]

Wow I just caught the fight on Youtube, most entertaining fight I've seen involving WK the ring.
He fought with the movement skill, stamina and effectiveness we havent seen from heavyweights since the "Golden Era". Of course you can't expect a man that big to be a fluid as the former 215 pounders but he came very close.
For the first time, I witnessed WK fighting without the tentativeness, and ultra caution exhibited in previous bouts.
He did everything Stewart used to have to scream, holler, persuade and beg him to do without being told.
It wasn't even necessary for Banks to be in his corner because he was on autopilot the whole fight.

Honestly I don't know what the Wach camp was thinking as they watched their man take a brutal beating for 99% of the bout.
While they were hoping for a Wach to land a hail mary right hand.... they may have reduced Wach's career by 2 years as that kind of beating is almost always associated with side effects later on. ( I truly believe the fight would have been stopped for non-competitiveness and safety reasons if it had happened in the Garden or MGM).... in Europe however they don't stop heavyweight matches as long as the other guy has pulse and can stand up,..remember Vitali vs Briggs?)

WK's not slowing down, he's actually getting better, looking good enough to welcome him back on HBO and Showtime.

I have to re-assess my previous statements about guys like Price, Wilder and Mitchell meeting him in within a year or so.
After watching Wilder barely make it past a horribly mediocre Harold Sconiers, and barely surviving a knockdown it's evident Wilder needs much more work.... and while Price is probably more fluid, has better punch selection, and is a very competent body puncher... I don't think he could survive a fighter with a fighter who has as strong an offense, and solid 12 round stamina like WK does... Probably after Wk gets a few more gray hairs..... but not at this current stage of his career.

Mitchell will have his hands full with Banks...
If Mitchell can keep from having too many defensive lapses against Banks he should overpower him by the mid rounds but he's in no ways ready for a title shot.

Anyway like the readers have already said,.. WK did the memory of Stewart proud.. and opened up the eyes of many fans.

[mortcola]

Wow I just caught the fight on Youtube, most entertaining fight I've seen involving WK the ring.
He fought with the movement skill, stamina and effectiveness we havent seen from heavyweights since the "Golden Era". Of course you can't expect a man that big to be a fluid as the former 215 pounders but he came very close.
For the first time, I witnessed WK fighting without the tentativeness, and ultra caution exhibited in previous bouts.
He did everything Stewart used to have to scream, holler, persuade and beg him to do without being told.
It wasn't even necessary for Banks to be in his corner because he was on autopilot the whole fight.

Honestly I don't know what the Wach camp was thinking as they watched their man take a brutal beating for 99% of the bout.
While they were hoping for a Wach to land a hail mary right hand.... they may have reduced Wach's career by 2 years as that kind of beating is almost always associated with side effects later on. ( I truly believe the fight would have been stopped for non-competitiveness and safety reasons if it had happened in the Garden or MGM).... in Europe however they don't stop heavyweight matches as long as the other guy has pulse and can stand up,..remember Vitali vs Briggs?)

WK's not slowing down, he's actually getting better, looking good enough to welcome him back on HBO and Showtime.

I have to re-assess my previous statements about guys like Price, Wilder and Mitchell meeting him in within a year or so.
After watching Wilder barely make it past a horribly mediocre Harold Sconiers, and barely surviving a knockdown it's evident Wilder needs much more work.... and while Price is probably more fluid, has better punch selection, and is a very competent body puncher... I don't think he could survive a fighter with a fighter who has as strong an offense, and solid 12 round stamina like WK does... Probably after Wk gets a few more gray hairs..... but not at this current stage of his career.

Mitchell will have his hands full with Banks...
If Mitchell can keep from having too many defensive lapses against Banks he should overpower him by the mid rounds but he's in no ways ready for a title shot.

Anyway like the readers have already said,.. WK did the memory of Stewart proud.. and opened up the eyes of many fans.

NICE POST B-SUG! That's all I have. Coffee hasn't kicked in yet.

[brownsugar]

Thanks Mort..gotta call it like I see it...BTW Wach vs Valuev would have been a more evenly contested battle IMO.