By Mitch Abramson
Wladimir Klitschko may be fighting someone in Polish challenger Mariusz Wach whose mammoth chin would make Jay Leno envious. But K2 Promotions managing director Tom Loeffler chose to focus on Wach’s height (6-7) in discussing his match-up with Klitschko on Nov. 10 for Klitschko’s WBA, IBF, IBO and WBO heavyweight straps.
“It’s the first time Wladimir has fought someone that tall,” Loeffler said of Wach to BoxingScene.com. “It’s a great marketing concept as far as people accepting the fact that he’s just as tall as Wladimir. He’s undefeated; he has a lot of heart and we definitely know Wach will come to fight, and he has the support of his boxing fans, particularly from Poland, and it will be an interesting fight.”
Loeffler admitted it’s getting increasingly difficult to find viable opponents for Wladimir and brother Vitali, the WBC champion, who’ve beaten most of the established names in the division. Vitali faces Manuel Charr on Sept. 8 in Moscow on HBO, the first time Vitali has done a promotion in that city. Loeffler is unsure what American broadcaster will show Wladimir’s bout against Wach, mentioning Epix as a possibility.
“It’s challenging,” Loeffler said of finding opponents. “They’ve been champions for so long now; they’ve pretty much fought the biggest names out there. I mean, there are some younger guys coming up: you have Seth Mitchell, you have Deontay Wilder, Robert Helenius, who’s currently injured, but you do have some guys coming up who they haven’t fought. And we’re looking forward to next year having one or two guys, kind of, emerge as being potential contenders.”
Loeffler also mentioned the possibility of David Haye and the slimmed down Chris Arreola (in the U.S.) as possible opponents for the brothers next year.
Mitch Abramson covers boxing for the New York Daily News and BoxingScene.com.
