By Eric Thomas: IBF/WBA/WBO heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko (58-3, 51 KO’s) can’t afford to take chances against the hard hitting but primitive #14 WBA, #15 WBO contender Mariusz Wach (27-0, 15 KO’s) in this title defense for Wladimir on November 10th at the O2 World Arena, Altona, in Hamburg, Germany. Wach “The Viking”, isn’t anywhere close to being in the same class as the 6’6″ Wladimir in terms of talent and overall offensive weaponry and defensive skills. However, Wach has a powerful right hand and if he lands it flush, he’s capable of knocking anyone out in the division.

What Wach has going against him in this fight is that he’s so painfully slow that it makes it difficult for him to land his best weapon because it takes so long for the shot to get there. Wladimir should be able to get out of the way of most if not all of Wach’s attempts to land his right. Where Wladimir may have problems, though is if he gets a little too brave and gets caught while looking to throw one of his own bombs. Wladimir no longer throws his left hooks anymore, perhaps because there was too many opportunities for him to get hurt when throwing that punch. Wladimir now mainly throws jabs and long right hands. Wladimir’s hard to hit when he throws jabs, but when he throws his right hand he’s very vulnerable. That’s all it could take for Wach to connect with one of his big fight hands while Wladimir is looking to throw his own big shot.

Wach’s experience is kind of limited for someone fighting for a world title. His toughest fights have come against Kevin McBride, Jason Gavern and Tye Fields. This is going to be a really big step up for Wach in facing Wladimir. You don’t normally want to see someone take that kind of dangerous step against someone as good as Wladimir. Normally, it’s better to ease into the fight, but Wach can’t afford to because the fight was offered to him he obviously didn’t want to turn down the big payday against Wladimir because there may never be another like this.