By John F. McKenna (McJack): Legendary trainer Emanuel Steward acknowledges that he is worried about the bob and weave style of challenger Jean Paul Mormeck (36-4, 22 KO’s). Mormeck faces (super) WBA/IBF/WBO/IBO and The Ring heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko (56-3, 49 KO’s) on Saturday night at the ESPIT arena in Dusseldorf, Germany.

Klitschko will be making a mandatory defense of his IBF title when he squares off against Mormeck. Steward concedes that this is a fight in which “Dr. Steelhammer” has everything to lose and very little to gain.

Steward was quoted in Sky Sport saying:

“The biggest concern is that he’s fighting a guy who is a bob and weave get low type short guy – and that is something he’s not fought in the past.

“I think Wladimir is at his peak right now. The ways he’s looking in terms of his speed and punching power and his desire and interest in the sport he will stay at that peak for at least another three years.”

Wladimir believes that Mormeck will use a style that is very similar to that of former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson. Jean-Paul at 5’11 ½” will have a huge height disadvantage against the 6’6” Klitschko, and will be outweighed by approximately 30 pounds.

Realistically looking at Mormeck’s chances he has not been impressive at heavyweight and has not fought since December of 2010 when he outpointed Timur Ibragimov by a split decision. And though it is possible for a shorter fighter like Mike Tyson to defeat a much taller opponent, Jean-Paul has not demonstrated thus far that he has anything like Tyson’s KO power or speed. In addition a fighter who is challenging for the heavyweight championship of the world needs to stay relatively active which Mormeck has not done.

Mormeck may very well put on the fight of his life against Klitschko and Wladimir may have problems fighting a fighter who is short and bobs and weaves to get inside. Jack Dempsey used the bob and weave tactic against big Jess Willard, who was roughly the size of Wladimir. The big difference however is that Dempsey had approximately 18 fights in the year before he challenged Willard for the heavyweight championship of the world. In addition, Dempsey may have been the most destructive puncher pound for pound who ever lived. It is unlikely that Mormeck can rise to the occasion and pull off the kind of upset Dempsey did when he annihilated Jess Willard.