10.08.05 – By Scoop Malinowski / Boxinginsider.com: With the heavyweight division stalled by Don King’s apparent reluctance to attempt to unify the fragmented heavyweight titles – he controls Ruiz and Byrd and Brewster but has made no attempt to match any of them with Vitali Klitschko – we now have a very compelling fight to look forward to…Wladimir Klitschko vs. Samuel Peter..
This one is going to be very interesting. Two highly motiovated, hungry and powerful heavyweights colliding in a pivotal high-stakes showdown. Klitschko is on a quest to regain his status and credibility after a pair of tough losses and being ducked by IBF champ Chris Byrd earlier this year. Peter is the young explosive sensation out of Nigeria that everyone is buzzing about. The two will meet in Atlantic City on September 24 – for the right to challenge the winner of the upcoming though hardly enticing IBF title fight between Chris Byrd and DaVarryl Williamson.
Klitschko trainer Emanuel Steward is extremely confident in his man’s chances to gain the important victory. “This is the fight that I wanted so bad,” said Steward on Wednesday night. “I think Wladimir beats Peter. This is my specialty – having tall fighters to beat aggressive, strong, smaller fighters. I feel extremely confident in this situation…like with Lennox and Mike (Tyson), Tommy (Hearns) and Cuevas, Tommy and Duran. And I feel Wladimir is a much, much better fighter than people realize. And he needs this kind of victory, to take a risk like this, to get his credibility back.”
“I’m not worried about Wladimir’s image being fragile or insecure. This is a risk we have to take and we’re willing to take it. I have much respect for Peter, but I have a lot of confidence in Wladimir.”
When asked what strengths and weaknesses he sees in Peter, Steward replied, “I see a true puncher. I see a lot of aggression and spirit. Maybe what he’s lacking in fundamental techniques he makes up for in intensity and desire and raw strength. He’s a very explosive fighter. I think he’s never fought a fighter as physically tall and talented as Wladimir. You know, Wladimir has had more than 50 fights. I think we’re going to take advantage of the tremendous size and experience to neutralize all the assets this man has.”
Steward added that his man is very much looking forward to the challenge that will be presented by Peter. “Wladimir is very excited about this fight. He called me three times today, he’s so excited about this fight, talking about different techniques. We’re very excited for this fight.”
As is everybody who loves the sport. Since Lennox Lewis retired, and possibly the exception of the grudge match between Vitali Klitschko and Corrie Sanders, heavyweight boxing has been largely uneventful and unexciting.
This fascinating battle between Klitschko and Peter may be the shot of adrenaline the heavyweight division has been waiting for.
Who knows, maybe Don King will get in the spirit of exciting heavyweight competition and actually decide to risk Byrd, Brewster or Ruiz in a unification match with Vitali.