By Luke Furman

Polish heavyweight Mariusz Wach (31-1, 17KOs) is very well acquainted with his future rival, two-time Olympic gold medal winner Alexander Povetkin (29-1, 22KOs) of Russia.

The two fighters traded punches many times in the past. They will collide in a very important fight on November 4th in Kazan, Russia. The winner will receive a world title opportunity against WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder of the United States.

During their professional careers, both fighters suffered a single defeat, to the same man, WBA/IBF/WBO/IBO heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko.

Wach sparred with Povetkin several times in the past and even fought him as an amateur.

"I've sparred with him five or six times in the United States and Russia. The last time was before his fight with Wladimir Klitschko. But I'm not paying much attention to how he looked in sparring, because Alexander probably worked out certain elements [he had problems with]," Wach said.

"And I fought him as an amateur in 2002, and I lost. But it was my first big tournament, and he was prominent boxer. Since then, he's grown significantly, but I too have progressed even further. I think our fight will be something reminiscent of a chess match - where someone will be wiser and outsmart the other."

Luke Furman covers boxing for bokser.org.