HAMBURG — One of the hardest punchers in the heavyweight boxing division will try to relieve Wladimir Klitschko of his four titles this weekend.
Report by SuperSport
The Ukrainian veteran has to defend his IBF, IBO, WBO and IBF titles against undefeated Mariusz Wach in Hamburg, Germany, tomorrow night.
The 32-year-old Wach, a Pole who is 2cm taller and a little heavier than Klitschko, has beaten his last seven opponents inside the distance. He comes into the fight with a professional record of 27-0, including 15 knockouts.
Early in his career, Wach tended to storm in and throw wild rights, but in the past three years he has learnt to punch with authority.
He may be relatively untested, but he could be a threat to Klitschko, who is 36 years old and must be slowing down. The champion’s professional record stands at 58-3, with 50 knockouts.
Klitschko was not extended in his two most recent fights. He stopped Jean-Marc Mormeck (36-5; 22) in the fourth round in March and wiped out mandatory IBF challenger Tony Thompson (36-3; 24) in July.
In Los Angles, also tomorrow night, WBC super-bantamweight champion Abner Mares (24-0-1; 13) faces tough Panamanian Anselmo Moreno (33-1-1; 12).
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The 27-year-old Moreno is the WBA bantamweight champion and a skilful fighter who has beaten good opponents such as Nehomar Cermeno, Vic Darchinyan and Wladimir Sidorenko.
His victory over Darchinyan was a one-sided affair, but Mares struggled to beat the Russian on a split decision.
On the same card, Nathan Cleverly makes the third defence of his WBO light-heavyweight when he takes on Shawn Hawk, a late substitute.
The 25-year-old Welshman is undefeated in 24 fights and has stopped 11 of his opponents. Hawk, an American, has a record of 23-2-1; 17. He lost to Eleider Alvarez in his latest fight.
In Singapore, Chris John makes the seventh defence of his “super” WBA featherweight belt when he faces Chonlatarn Piriyapinyo on Friday night.
John, who has a record of 47-0-2; 22, has been named WBA Fighter of the Decade. Chonlatarn, who has won his three fights this year inside the distance, is undefeated after 44 bouts and has stopped 27 of his opponents.
IBO featherweight champion Daud Yordan (29-2; 23) will defend his title against Choijiljavyn Tseveenpüre (36-5; 24) on the same bill.
