Mariusz Wach is credited with having one of the best chins in modern heavyweight boxing.
The durable Polish veteran has stood up to heavy blows from Wladimir Klitschko, Dillian Whyte, Alexander Povetkin, Martin Bakole and Jarrell Miller without touching the canvas.
It took until his 44th professional outing against Russian slugger Arslanbek Makhmudov for Wach to finally be lifted off his feet, and even then, he beat the count before the referee compassionately waved it off.
The only other man to deck Wach at the time of writing is British heavyweight sensation Moses Itauma.
Wach had been drafted in to give the precocious talent rounds amidst a streak of blisteringly quick stoppages.
However, the Krakow native was floored by a flurry of punches and halted against the ropes inside two stanzas.
Wach insists it is the hardest he has ever been hit during his 21-year professional boxing career.
Speaking exclusively to talkSPORT.com, Wach said: “It would be Itauma, who hit the hardest.
“It was the speed and explosiveness of the punches.
“But, of course, everyone at heavyweight hits hard.
“Wladimir Klitschko also had a very powerful punch.”
Asked how far he thinks Itauma can go, Wach added: “I think Itauma’s next fight [with Filip Hrgovic] will prove how high his ceiling is.
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“If he can pass that test with flying colours, then I believe he can go on and become the undisputed champion. He is very talented.”
Wach’s next assignment comes on Friday in Pattaya, Thailand when the 46 year old locks horns with two-time heavyweight world champion Tyson Fury.
The bout is designed to warm Fury up for a blockbuster all-British showdown with Anthony Joshua.
Providing Fury beats Wach and Joshua wins his own tune-up bout with Kristian Prenga one day later, then there are plans in place to host the domestic dust-up at the back end of the year.
While most expect Fury to cruise past Wach, ‘The Gypsy King’ will have to put everything behind his punches if he hopes to blast through his adversary’s bullet proof jaw.
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