Boxing champ Klitschko faces taller, heavier Wach

By foxsports
Published

Wladimir Klitschko will fight a heavier and taller opponent when he defends his WBA, IBF and WBO heavyweight belts against Mariusz Wach of Poland on Saturday.

Klitschko weighed in at 247 pounds on Friday, while the 32-year-old Wach was 251.

The unbeaten Wach will be the first fighter Klitschko has faced who is taller. The 36-year-old Ukrainian is 6-foot-6, while Wach is 6-7 1/2 with a longer reach.

Klitschko goes into his 22nd world championship fight with a 58-3 (51 KOs) record. Wach has won 27 bouts, 15 by knockout, since turning pro in 2005.

Klitschko will fight for the first time since longtime coach Emanuel Steward died last month. It's his third defense this year after knockout wins over Jean-Marc Mormeck of France in March and American challenger Tony Thompson in July.

Sylvester Stallone, famous from his role in the Rocky films, will attend the bout. It's part of the promotional campaign for the Rocky musical.

Klitschko and his older brother Vitali, together with Stallone, had a hand in the production of ''Rocky: Fight from the Heart,'' which opens in Hamburg on Nov. 18.