Wladimir Klitschko Beats Tough As Nails Mariusz Wach

Wladimir Klitschko got it done in the main event which unfolded at the 02 Arena in Hamburg, and ran on EPIX, fighting for the first time without Manny Steward in his corner since 2004. Wlad showed the skill and strategy and composure honed in him by the Kronk sage in spades; the judges saw it 120-108, 120-108, 120-107 for the champ, who was surprised, as I dare say virtually most all were that Wach wasn't simply a clumsy oaf there to get sawed down to size.

Klitschko (58-3 entering; age 36; born in Ukraine, lives in LA mostly; 6-6 ) was 246.9 and Wach (27-0 entering; age 32; from Poland, lives in NJ; 6-7 1'2 inches) was 249.1.

In the first, the IBF, WBA, WBO, IBO heavyweight champion Klitschko got cooking right out of the gate. His jab was peppy and the Pole didn't like it. But Wach got his legs and some confidence a few rounds in, after he discovered his chin would hold up. He buzzed Wlad a bit in the fifth, but his O wasn't there. One twos landed cleanly on him, but bless him, he kept standing. I gave Wlad 10-8 rounds in the seventh and eighth. But he pretty much figured out around round ten that it would be quite hard to stop Wach.

Wlad led 121 to 25 in power punches landed. Wach did better, with his chin and heart standing out, than most any experts predicted.

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