05.04.07 – By Dave Domenico: Well, It was recently reported that Sam Peter will now face Oleg Maskaev for the WBC boxing title next, not Vitali Klitschko. I, for one, feel that Vitali was slighted, but whatever, it is a dead issue now. As of now, Peter will face Maskaev, no later than this summer. In the end, I am glad this matter is now over and we’re getting on with it because frankly, it was dragging on too long and was becoming absurd. Garbage like this has tested the patience of an avid boxing fan like myself as well as many others. Now, here is my list of speculations about this situation..
1. Oleg Maskaev stands little change of beating Peter, from my perspective. Peter is too strong for the aging and plodding champion. Unless Maskaev puts on the boxing clinic of his life, he most likely will not fend off the pressure of Peter for long, resulting in a likely TKO for Peter.
2. The promotional team that backs Peter really makes out in this situation simply because Peter will very likely snatch the WBC belt, which is a trinket his team has been after for quite a while. (You must read between the lines to get my meaning.)
3. Although Vitali’s “Emeritus” guarantee was given long before, Peter was in line for the boxing title shot, this still may not be a bad thing if Vitali is now indeed guaranteed to fight the winner as Peter was. Let us hope there is no funny business with that issue!
4. Perhaps Vitali should take a tune up fight before he challenges for a title after all. Since he has been out of the ring for over two years on injuries, he may well indeed need a tune up if he is likely to face a limited but bull strong fighter in Sam peter.
5. This brings us to my where do we go from here summary. With the Maskaev/Peter fight taking place over the summer, Vitali Klitschko stated in an interview he is now planning to take a boxing tune up bout over the summer as well. An opponent was not mentioned as of yet. So, whom should he face? Who would be a good opponent? It does him no good taking a tomato can who is a complete nobody, sot he first opponent who came to mind was Hasim Rahman. I feel Vitali should fight Rahman in his comeback for several reasons.
1.) They were scheduled to fight on three separate occasions back on 05’, so as far as I’m concerned they have unfinished business.
2.) This is attractive to Vitali because if he beats Rahman it will silence any critics who claimed he was afraid of Rahman.
3.) This fight is attractive to Rahman, mainly because his boxing career is nowhere at the moment and if he can defeat a potential ring rusted and aged Klitschko, that will jump start his career.
4.) It will no doubt be a very good payday for both fighters provided it is marketed correctly.
5.) I believe Rahman is still in the top five in the WBC, so politically the fight looks good on paper considering the winner will get a title shot. There you have it; we will see where it goes from here.