By John F. McKenna (McJack): Previously unbeaten Polish contender Mariusz Wach (27-1, 15 KO’s) surprisingly survived twelve rounds against WBA/IBF/WBO/IBO and Ring heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko (59-3, 51 KO’s) Saturday night in Hamburg, Germany. If nothing else the “Viking” as Wach is known to his fans, demonstrated that his lantern jaw is made of granite. Maruisz withstood not only all of Wladimir’s powerful left jabs, but numerous right hand hammer shots and left hooks as well.

Mariusz did catch “Dr. Steelhammer” with his vaunted right hand near the end of the 5th round that appeared to momentarily rock him, but he was not able to capitalize on it. In the 6th round Klitschko resumed his relentless attack once more. In the 8th round Wladimir fired off an assortment of unanswered lefts and rights and for a time it appeared that the fight would ultimately have to be stopped.

Klitschko appeared to take his foot off the gas in the 9th and 10th rounds due to the high volume of punches he had thrown in the 8th round, but even in those rounds he threw far more punches than Wach. Wladimir again picked up the pace in the 11th round and again appeared to be going for the KO in the 12th round.

Even though Klitschko did not achieve the desired KO he had hoped for it was clear that he was at the top of his game. His left jabs were accurate and landed with authority, as did his right hand bombs. Towards the end of the contest it became a question as to how much punishment the Polish challenger could absorb.

Within seconds of the opening bell it was evident that Mariusz was out of his league and not up to the task before him. To his credit, though totally outclassed, Wach never stopped trying and there was no quit in him.

Klitschko demonstrated once again that he stands head and shoulders above anyone in the heavyweight division and is destined to go down in history as one of the greatest heavyweights of all time. Wladimirs has not lost a fight in over eight years and at age 36 has an outside shot at topping the 25 consecutive title defenses of the great Joe Louis, a record that until recently had seemed unobtainable.