Has the time has come to create a new division – a superheavyweight division?

09/15/201611/12/2012 ESB

Has the time has come to create a new division – a superheavyweight division? Rob Moore: After watching another Wladimir Klitschko win, this time over the even bigger Mariusz Wach, I had to face up to the fact that my interest in watching much of what the heavyweight division has to offer, has waned considerably . The same division that that used to excite me and initiated my lifelong interest in the sport.

So many fights are truly underwhelming with guys showing limited range of skills, movement and conditioning, leading me to bore my kids with accounts of quality of fighters who graced the division in the past. You could never accuse Wladimir of not coming in in top condition and Wach showed great heart, but was the fight really top quality boxing and entertainment?

Unfortunately it seems like my diminished interest is shared by many, particularly in the US which just isn’t good for the sport’s future. There is certainly a valid point made by many that the Klitschko brothers have dominated the division for so long that it has hurt the division outside of Germany. While there is some mileage in that view, I see the problem as being more fundamental, and can be largely attributed the sheer size and weight of modern day heavyweights and the limitations this brings.

Wach should take a long break to recover from loss to Wladimir

11/12/201211/11/2012 ESB

By Kevin Chittenden: Heavyweight Mariusz Wach (27-1, 15 KO’s) should take a long break from boxing to recover from the one-sided 12 round beating he took from IBF/IBO/WBA/WBO heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko (59-3, 50 KO’s) last Saturday night in Hamburg, Germany. Wach was hit a reported 425 times by Wladimir in the fight with 115 of them being hard right hands to the head and the other 310 coming from powerful jabs.

Klitschko Outpoints Wach; Helenius Beats Williams

09/15/201611/10/2012 ESB

By Michael Collins: In a fight that was somewhat interesting to watch during portions of the action, IBF/IBO/WBA/WBO heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko (59-3, 50 KO’s) defeated a way out of his depth Mariusz Wach (27-1, 15 KO’s) by a 12 round unanimous decision tonight at the O2 World Arena in Hamburg, Germany. The only round you could possibly give to the 32-year-old Wach was the 5th when he landed a good hand to the head of Wladimir after backing him up agaisnt the ropes.

Wach unloaded everything but the kitchen sink on Wladimir trying to get him out of there. Unfortunately for Wach, he missed on pretty much every punch he threw. Had he landed at least one of the dozen punches he threw he might have been able to drop Wladimir. After that brief moment in the fight, it was Wladimir from then as he upped his workrate and punished the Pole with jabs and right hands to the head.

The 8th round was one where you can argue that the referee should have stopped the fight because Wladimir smacked Wach around the ring at will and it was pretty hard to watch because of all the punishment that Wach absorbed.

Klitschko vs. Wach this Saturday

09/15/201611/05/2012 ESB

By Rob Smith, photo: michaelsterlingeaton.com – IBF/IBO/WBA/WBO heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko (58-3, 50 KO’s) will be defending his titles this Saturday night against the huge and lumbering Mariusz Wach (27-0, 15 KO’s) at the O2 World Arena in Hamburg, Germany. Wladimir says he’s taking this fight against the inexperienced Wach because none of the other top heavyweights want to fight him.

It’s hard to imagine that being true when there are arguably at least 20 heavyweights that Wladimir could pool from that would give him a tougher test than the 32-year-old Wach. Perhaps the more likely reason that Wladimir selected Wach, besides him being an easy mark, is because of the large Polish fan base that Wach has.

Setting up a fight with Wach is a good money bout compared to some of the other more dangerous options. This is why Wladimir will likely take on another Polish heavyweight in Tomasz Adamek next year in what shapes to be about as bad a mismatch as Wladiimr’s fight against Wach.

Interesting Match-Ups Await “Dr. Steel Hammer” – are Wach, Povetkin, Boytsov/Fury soon to give Wladimir a real fight?

09/15/201611/01/2012 ESB

By James Slater – Those fans who have been waiting oh, so long to see heavyweight king Wladimir Klitschko’s formidable skills tested to the full might, just might be about to see the 36-year-old in a real fight. Hardly pushed at all since his first encounter with the hard-hitting Samuel Peter, way back in 2005 (although to be fair, David Haye did win a couple of sessions during his July 2011 challenge of Wlladimir), Klitschko has gone through the likes of Ruslan Chagaev, Jean Marc Mormeck and, last time out, Tony Thompson, like a hot knife through warm butter.

But the seemingly laughably easy fights may be at an end for the unified WBA, WBO, IBF, IBO ruler. Next up for Wladimir is unbeaten but unproven (at the highest level) Polish banger Mariusz Wach. No, this fight, set for Nov. 10th, doesn’t look exactly like an ultra-dangerous fight for Wladimir, but the outside chance of a potential banana skin awaits him all the same. Not only is Wach, 27-0(15) a pretty stiff puncher, with the right hand especially, he is also able to look Wladimir directly in the eye. Much has been made of the fact that never before has Wladimir faced so tall an adversary, and, with the sad passing of his long-time trainer and friend Emanuel Steward, this fight could possibly prove difficult for Klitschko.

Klitschko vs Wach: Wladimir has to avoid Wach’s big right hand

09/15/201610/30/2012 ESB

By Dwight Chittenden: IBF/IBO/WBA/WBO heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko (58-3, 50 KO’s) defends against one of the harder punchers in the heavyweight division in 32-year-old Mariusz Wach (27-0, 15 KO’s) on November 10th at the O2 World Arena, in Hamburg, Germany. Wach’s KO percentage isn’t all that high, but you have to remember that he didn’t really learn to punch properly until three years ago. Before that, Wach was more of a diamond in the rough and was throwing wild looping right hands that were more like wallops than punches.

Javan “Sugar” Hill: “There is no replacement for Emanuel Steward in Wladimir Klitschko’s training camp”

09/14/201609/30/2012 ESB

(Picture credit: Michael Freitag) By Joseph Herron: While camp is just getting underway at Wladimir Klitschko’s customary training facility in Austria, many have pondered the question concerning who will serve as the Heavyweight Champion’s chief second in Hamburg, Germany on November 10th.

Due to an unexpected ailment suffered by Wladimir’s longtime trainer, friend, and mentor, Hall of Fame boxing legend Emanuel Steward, “The Steel Hammer” will find himself in a very unusual situation when he faces undefeated Heavyweight contender Mariusz Wach.

While the usual band of fighters, coaches, and supporters will be on hand to help prepare the popular fighter, the incomparable master strategist and motivator will be unable to reprise his role as head trainer for a title defense that is set to take place in just 41 days.

Emanuel Steward’s nephew and longtime Kronk Gym trainer Javan “Sugar” Hill expounds on the current situation.

Mariusz Wach Shows Sharp Sense Of Humour – Says He’s Not Sure If He Wants To KO Wladimir Klitschko Or Not, Doesn’t Want To Hurt Him!

09/14/201608/29/2012 ESB

(Photo: Michael Freitag) By James Slater: You’ve got to hand it to unbeaten upcoming world heavyweight title challenger Mariusz Wach: not only is the Polish giant the biggest, tallest challenger of Wladimir Klitschko’s career to date, “The Viking” is also in possession of a gigantic sense of humour.

Today, at a second press conference to hype the November 10th clash set for Hamburg, Germany, Wach, 27-0(15) let loose with some good lines. Not showing any nerves at all, Wach, who does seem to truly believe he will win against the odds in November, managed to slightly annoy the cool and calm “Dr. Steel Hammer.”

“It will be almost impossible to win against a world champion like Wladimir Klitschko on the scorecards,” Wach said in Warsaw. “So, most likely, I have to knock him out. I just don’t know if I want to do it, because I’m not sure if the last guy I knocked out is still in the hospital or not.”

Wach seems to have full belief in his punching power, and being the first fighter that can look directly into Klitschko’s eyes, Wach has fans wondering if he can get some bombs off on Wladimir’s chin. Klitschko goaded his upcoming challenger to try his best to KO him – “I heard a lot about my so-called glass chin,” Wladimir said. “Wach is just one of my previous opponents predicting a KO” – and the defending champion said all the pre-fight talk is nothing more than “fun and games.”

Steward sees Wach as a tough opponent for Wladimir

09/14/201608/26/2012 ESB

By Michael Collins: Trainer Emanuel Steward has some concerns about the 6’7 1/2″ unbeaten heavyweight contender Mariusz Wach (27-0, 15 KO’s) as being a tough fight for IBF/IBO/WBA/WBO heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko (58-3, 51 KO’s) in their fight on November 10th at the O2 World Arena, Altona, in Hamburg, Germany.

Steward told fightsaga.com “I have my work cut out for me with this assignment. Wach will not only be the biggest opponent Wladimir has fought since we’ve been together, he will also have the mentality of an undefeated fighter when he steps in the ring.”

Wach has won all of his 27 fights, but he’s also not fought anyone that you could call good. He’s still at the Tye Fields level, and now he’s being put in with Wladimir. I’m sure Wach wants the fight and the payday that goes along with it, but he’d have been better off waiting until he’d at least fought two or three contenders so that he could pick up more experience before fighting for a world title. Wach has excellent power in his right hand, but that’s about all he’s got. His jab is like like limp spaghetti noodle, and his left hand is virtually nonexistent. But perhaps the biggest flaw in Wach’s game, besides the lack of a punch arsenal and experience, is his slow hand speed.

Wladimir Klitschko-Mariusz Wach Definitely On For Nov. 10th In Hamburg; Wladimir Tells Emanuel Steward It Will Be Tough Finding Sparring Partners

08/24/201208/24/2012 ESB

By James Slater: Yesterday, there was some concern over whether or not the Wladimir Klitschko-Mariusz Wach heavyweight title fight, reportedly set for Nov. 10th in Hamburg, Germany, would actually go ahead (see article below). Well, it has been confirmed today, by Fightnews.com and by Ringtv.com, that the Ring Magazine, WBA, IBF, WBO, IBO title clash will most certainly take place as planned.