Wach 'one million percent' ready for W. Klitschko

Polish-born challenger Mariusz Wach is believed to be the first opponent who can stand face-to-face with RING heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko and look directly into his eyes.

That's because at 6-foot-7 1/2, the undefeated Wach (27-0, 15 knockouts) stands taller than the 6-6 Klitschko (58-3-1, 51 KOs), who will be after his 17th straight victory and his 13th knockout during that run when he defends his RING, IBF, WBA and WBO belts against Wach on Nov. 10 at the O2 World Arena in Hamburg, Germany.

But Wach brings the confidence of having won seven straight bouts by knockout heading into the clash with  Klitschko, who is coming off a sixth-round knockout of Tony "The Tiger" Thompson in a July 7 rematch of his 11th-round stoppage of Thompson in July of 2008.

"I promise a very hard and interesting fight. My goal is to take Wladimir‘s belts," said Wach, 32, of North Bergen, N.J., during a Tuesday press conference in Hamburg. 

"It is the most important fight in my entire career, but I have nothing to lose. I will be prepared by one million percent for this night."

Klitschko last fought in Hamburg in July of last year, when he dethroned David Haye (26-2, 24 KOs) as WBA beltholder by unanimous decision at Imtech-Arena, ending the loser's run of 15 straight wins that included 13 stoppage victories.

Klitschko's very first professional fight was a first-round knockout victory over Fabian Meza in November of 1996 at Sporthalle, Wandsbek, in Hamburg.

"Sixteen years ago, I started my professional career in Hamburg," said Klitschko. "It is always special to come back and have an event in this city. I expect from Wach that he will be as well prepared as never before."

DOCUMENTARY ON THE UKRAINIAN KLITSCHKO BROTHERS TO AIR ON SEPT. 8

Along with his 41-year-old brother, Vitali Klitschko (44-2, 40 KOs), Wladimir Klitschko, 36, will be part of a two-hour documentary called "Klitschko" that is slated to begin at 5:30 on HBO on Sept. 8 as it chronicles the siblings' lives.

WBC titleholder Vitali Klitschko will be after his 13th straight win and his 10 stoppage victory during that run against Manuel Charr (21-0, 11 KOs) at Olimpiyskiy Sport Hall in Moscow on Sept. 8.

The documentary will serve as the lead-in to an HBO-televised triple-header whose main event features a clash of RING champions between light heavyweight titleholder Chad Dawson (31-1, 17 KOs) and super middleweight beltholder Andre Ward (25-0, 13 KOs), whose WBA and WBC crowns will be on the line from the Oracle Arena in Ward's hometown of Oakland, Calif.

On the Ward-Dawson undercards, WBC lightweight beltholder Antonio DeMarco (27-2-1, 20 KOs) will make his third defense against John Molina (24-1, 19 KOs). Before DeMarco-Molina, HBO will televise the tape-delayed fight between Vitali Klitschko and Charr.

Photos courtesy of K2 Management

Lem Satterfield can be reached at lemuel.satterfield@gmail.com