By Eric Thomas: 6’7 1/2″ Mariusz Wach (27-1, 15 KO’s) is probably feeling pretty bad physically and mentally today after taking a terrible beating from IBF/IBO/WBA/WBO heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko (59-3, 50 KO’s) in losing by a 12 round unanimous decision in a fight that was more of an organized whipping than actual fight at the O2 World Arena in Hamburg, Germany.

Wach took a terrifying amount of punishment in the 8th round alone, getting hit with 44 head shots from Wladimir in that one round. To Wach’s credit, he stayed on his feet but it might have been better had he taken a knee and bowed out of the fight or had his trainer throw in the white towel of surrender.

Wach took needless punishment from the 7th round on when it was clear that he was spent. Wach had his moment in the 5th when he connected with a right hand that got Wladimir’s attention, but because he was so slow Wach was unable to capitalize on the moment as Wladimir dodged a flurry of shots thrown from Wach.

After the fight Wladimir said this as quoted by Dan Rafael of ESPN “I have a lot of respect for Mariusz Wach. I didn’t know a man could take so much punishment. There was no shot that would take him out.”

Normally, Wladimir’s soften up his opponents and he’s able to come behind it with a big shot to finish them. But with Wach, his head was like a concrete wall and nothing seemed to hurt him. He didn’t show signs up pain, he didn’t flinch and he showed little emotion. It was as if Wach was made to take shots. Unfortunately he wasn’t made to throw them because he was just too slow last night, and despite having excellent right hand power, he didn’t have the vehicle to deliver it.

What good is having great power if you don’t have the hand speed to land your shots? That’s not to say that Wach can’t beat some of the top fighters in the sport, but it will take a lot of timing for him to be able to land his big punches because he doesn’t have the hand speed. He’s got the chin but not the speed.