Mariusz Wach
| Mariusz Wach | |
|---|---|
 Wach in 2014 | |
| Statistics | |
| Nickname(s) | The Viking |
| Weight(s) | Heavyweight |
| Height | 2.02 m (6 ft 8 in) |
| Reach | 210 cm (83 in) |
| Nationality | Polish |
| Born |
14 December 1979[1] Kraków, Poland[1] |
| Stance | Orthodox |
| Boxing record | |
| Total fights | 36 |
| Wins | 33 |
| Wins by KO | 17 |
| Losses | 3 |
Mariusz Wach (Polish pronunciation: [ˈmariuʂ ˈvax]; (born 14 December 1979) is a Polish professional boxer who competes in the heavyweight division. He is a former WBC International heavyweight champion and is best known for his 2012 world title challenge against Wladimir Klitschko.[2]
Early life
Mariusz Wach was born 14 December 1979 in Krakow, Poland. He emigrated to North Bergen, New Jersey as an adult.[1][3]
Amateur career
Wach first became acquainted with boxing in 1990, amassing a 90-fight amateur career that saw him represent his native Poland in numerous amateur tournaments. Among his greatest achievements during that period were winning two gold medals and a bronze in the Individual Polish Championships and a silver in the 2004 European Union Championships. Wach later represented Poland in the 2004 Summer Olympics as an alternate.
Professional career
Early career
Wach turned pro in April 2005 and defeated Deniss Melniks by first round knockout in Świebodzice, Poland. He made his American debut in January 2006 by defeating Adele Olakanye by decision on the undercard of Arturo Gatti’s destruction of Thomas Damgaard at the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, NJ. Wach won seven fights that year, including five in America which was highlighted by winning the Polish International heavyweight title by a ninth round knockout of Arthur Cook in Illinois. A few months later he won a belt in TWBA federation. On April 2009 in Jaroslaw, Poland Wach blasted out his American opponent Julius Long and defended his title of the World Champion in TWBA. Mariusz has also served as a sparring partner for several well-known boxers, including former heavyweight champion Samuel Peter. In 2010, after being sidelined for a year due to injury, Wach returned to the ring in great shape and turned in one of his best performances as a professional, knocking out Christian Hammer in six rounds in Germany.
In September 2010, Wach was invited by Mariusz Kolodziej, CEO of Global Boxing Promotions, to move to the United States and train at Global Boxing Gym in North Bergen, NJ. Under the guidance of former heavyweight champion Michael Moorer, Wach began his 2-month training camp in preparation for his matchup with Jonathan Haggler. In his first fight of 2011 – against Haggler in Newark, NJ – Wach scored a third round knockout to win the WBC Baltic heavyweight title. After this fight, Wach signed a promotional agreement with Mariusz Kolodziej of Global Boxing Promotions and Jimmy Burchfield of CES.[4]
Wach’s first big test came in July 2011, when he faced off with Kevin McBride, who ended Mike Tyson’s career as a boxer. Wach was quicker and sharper, and with one right cross, knocked McBride out cold in the fourth round winning the WBC International heavyweight title.
Wach returned to the Mohegan Sun Arena just four months later with another statement-making performance, this time knocking out Jason Gavern in six rounds at the "November Reign" event.
On 24 March Wach showed that he is a force to be reckoned with after scoring a six-round TKO over another giant, Tye Fields (49–5, 44 KOS). The event took place at the Resorts Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey and got coverage form ESPN's Friday Night Fights.[4]
World title challenge
Wach vs Klitschko
Wach fought Heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko on 10 November 2012, in Hamburg, Germany.[5] 32-year-old Wach was the fourth Polish contender in history to try to win the world title in the heavyweight division.[6] Wach said at the weigh-in "My fellow countrymen Adamek and Sosnowski did not have what it takes to beat a Klitschko. I am not a former cruiserweight (like Adamek) but a real heavyweight. Klitschko will take a lot of hard punches before I knock him out. I will be the first Polish world heavyweight champion."[7] Wach went the distance, losing the fight by judges' decision (120–107, 120–107 and 119–109). He did manage to land a huge right hand to Klitschko's jaw in the last twenty seconds of the 5th round that temporarily stunned Klitschko, but was not able to knock his opponent down.
Failed drug test
Wach failed a doping test after losing a world heavyweight title fight against Wladimir Klitschko. He admitted to doping in the bout against Klitschko and got sanctioned by the Federation of German Professional Boxing, but said that he plans to continue his career no matter how harsh the penalties are.[8][9]
Professional boxing record
| Professional record summary | ||
| 36 fights | 33 wins | 3 losses |
| By knockout | 17 | 2 |
| By decision | 16 | 1 |
| No. | Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round, time | Date | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 37 | N/A | N/A |  |
N/A | – (10) | Nov 10, 2018 | |
|
| 36 | Loss | 33–3 |  |
TKO | 9 (12), 1:02 | 11 Nov 2017 | |
|
| 35 | Win | 33–2 |  |
UD | 12 | 18 Mar 2017 | |
Won vacant IBF East/West Europe heavyweight title |
| 34 | Win | 32–2 |  |
UD | 10 | 14 May 2016 | |
|
| 33 | Loss | 31–2 |  |
TKO | 12 (12), 0:50 | 04 Nov 2015 | |
For WBC Silver Heavyweight title. |
| 32 | Win | 31–1 | |
TKO | 6 (10), 2:39 | 19 Jun 2015 | |
|
| 31 | Win | 30–1 |  |
UD | 10 | 14 Mar 2015 | |
|
| 30 | Win | 29–1 | |
KO | 6 (10), 2:30 | 12 Dec 2014 | |
|
| 29 | Win | 28–1 |  |
UD | 8 | 07 Oct 2014 | |
|
| 28 | Loss | 27–1 |  |
UD | 12 | 10 Nov 2012 | |
For WBA (Super), IBF, WBO, IBO, The Ring & Lineal Heavyweight titles. |
| 27 | Win | 27–0 | |
TKO | 6 (12), 1:44 | 24 Mar 2012 | |
Retained WBC International Heavyweight title |
| 26 | Win | 26–0 | |
TKO | 6 (12), 1:03 | 06 Nov 2011 | |
Retained WBC International Heavyweight title |
| 25 | Win | 25–0 |  |
KO | 4 (12), 2:25 | 29 Jul 2011 | |
Won WBC International Heavyweight title |
| 24 | Win | 24–0 | |
KO | 3 (10), 1:22 | 29 Feb 2011 | |
Won WBC Baltic Heavyweight title |
| 23 | Win | 23–0 | |
TKO | 4 (6), 2:48 | 12 Nov 2010 | |
|
| 22 | Win | 22–0 | |
KO | 6 (8), 1:56 | 17 Jul 2010 | |
|
| 21 | Win | 21–0 |  |
TKO | 7 (10), 2:17 | 24 Apr 2009 | |
|
| 20 | Win | 20–0 |  |
UD | 6 | 07 Feb 2009 | |
|
| 19 | Win | 19–0 | |
PTS | 10 | 21 Nov 2008 | |
|
| 18 | Win | 18–0 | |
UD | 8 | 07 Aug 2008 | |
|
| 17 | Win | 17–0 | |
TKO | 7 (8), 1:53 | 11 Jul 2008 | |
|
| 16 | Win | 16–0 | |
KO | 1 (8), 2:57 | 13 Mar 2008 | |
|
| 15 | Win | 15–0 |  |
UD | 4 | 15 Dec 2007 | |
|
| 14 | Win | 14–0 | |
UD | 6 | 16 Nov 2007 | |
|
| 13 | Win | 13–0 |  |
TKO | 4 (12), 1:58 | 16 Dec 2006 | |
|
| 12 | Win | 12–0 | |
RTD | 5 (6), 3:00 | 20 Oct 2006 | |
|
| 11 | Win | 11–0 |  |
RTD | 9 (10), 0:01 | 23 Jun 2006 | |
Won Republic of Poland International Heavyweight title |
| 10 | Win | 10–0 | .svg.png){kind=small} |
UD | 6 | 03 Jun 2006 | |
|
| 9 | Win | 9–0 | |
TKO | 2 (6), 1:34 | 06 Apr 2006 | |
|
| 8 | Win | 8–0 | |
UD | 6 | 10 Mar 2006 | |
|
| 7 | Win | 7–0 | |
UD | 4 | 28 Jan 2006 | |
|
| 6 | Win | 6–0 | |
UD | 6 | 17 Dec 2005 | |
|
| 5 | Win | 5–0 |  |
UD | 4 | 01 Dec 2005 | |
|
| 4 | Win | 4–0 | |
UD | 4 | 27 Oct 2005 | |
|
| 3 | Win | 3–0 |  |
UD | 4 | 01 Oct 2005 | |
|
| 2 | Win | 2–0 |  |
TKO | 2 (4) | 05 Aug 2005 | |
|
| 1 | Win | 1–0 | |
TKO | 1 (4) | 29 Apr 2005 | |
|
References
- 1 2 3 "Mariusz Watch – Boxer". BoxRec. Retrieved 1 September 2013.
- ↑ "Wach mistrzem WBC International po ciężkim nokaucie". Ringpolska.pl. Retrieved 8 October 2011.
- ↑ "Wach to battle Irish contender at Mohegan Sun". The Jersey Journal/NJ.com 29 June 2011. Accessed 12 November 2012. "Undefeated heavyweight contender Mariusz Wach, of North Bergen, originally from Krakow, Poland, will face his biggest test – literally – when he meets Kevin 'The Clones Colossus' McBride on July 29 at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn."
- 1 2 Boxing news, Polish boxing news, boxing in Poland, Polish boxers, Tomasz Adamek. English.bokser.org. Retrieved on 23 August 2012.
- ↑ Klitschko to defend titles against Wach. AFP via sports.yahoo.com (22 August 2012)
- ↑ In the Klitschko vs. Wach – press conference on August 28th Wach said Boxingnews24.com (13 August 2012). Retrieved on 2012-08-23.
- ↑ Wladimir Klitschko to defend title against 6-foot-7 Mariusz Wach. Espn.go.com (24 August 2012). Retrieved on 2016-05-14.
- ↑ Wach admits to doping in bout against Klitschko. rt.com (6 January 2013)
- ↑ Magno, Paul (7 January 2013) Wach Admits to Doping for Klitschko Bout, Closes Chapter on the Year of the PEDs Scandal. sports.yahoo.com
External links
 |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Mariusz Wach. |
| Sporting positions | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Regional boxing titles | ||||
| Vacant Title last held by Tomasz Bonin |
Republic of Poland International heavyweight champion 23 June 2006 Vacated |
Vacant Title next held by Andrzej Wawrzyk | ||
| New title | WBC Baltic heavyweight champion 19 February 2011 - November 2011 Vacated |
Vacant Title next held by Andrzej Wawrzyk | ||
| Vacant Title last held by Bermane Stiverne |
WBC International heavyweight champion 29 July 2011 - November 2012 Vacated |
Vacant Title next held by Johnathon Banks | ||
| Vacant Title last held by Werner Kreiskott |
IBF East/West Europe heavyweight champion 18 March 2017 - Present |
Incumbent | ||