by James Slater – It’s strange how things work in boxing sometimes. Only moments after he’d opted to remain on his stool after the 8th-round of his quite poor WBC heavyweight title fight defence against the come-backing Vitali Klitschko, the career of Samuel Peter looked as good as over at top level. But, instead of fading away, Peter fought on – first losing another fight, to Eddie Chambers, and then dropping some weight and clubbing the overmatched duo that was Marcus McGee and Ronald Bellamy to inside the distance wins..
Losing some much needed poundage and keeping busy seems as though it may have served “The Nigerian Nightmare” well. For as all those fans who have read about the Alexander Povetkin situation will be aware, Peter is in the frame for a fight with the unbeaten Russian in an interim IBF title fight. The aforementioned “Fast” Eddie Chambers is first in line to face Povetkin (in a rematch) for the interim version of the title Wladimir Klitschko holds, but Chambers, being the mandatory for Wladimir with the WBO, may decide to pass on the rematch fight and wait for his earned shot at “Dr. Steel Hammer” instead – and who could blame him?
That would leave Peter as the next highest IBF ranked fighter for Povetkin to get it on with. Imagine then: Peter could be just a few months or less away from yet another heavyweight title fight! It will be interesting to see how the fans will react if Povetkin-Peter does indeed get made. No doubt a good number of people would condemn the way the man who gave up his WBC crown in such disgraceful fashion had been rewarded with another big pay day and a further shot at glory.
But, and it may sound a dumb question, could the big-hitting Nigerian perhaps upset the apple cart in a major way and actually defeat Povetkin? In his last fight, back in September, 29-year-old Peter weighed-in at a much more acceptable 239-pounds, some four pounds lower than in his fight before that. Has Peter regained a desire to train and keep his bulk down? Back when he was clearly out-pointing James Toney in their rematch fight, Peter was seen by many as the best, or certainly most powerful, big man in the sport. And had he signed to fight Povetkin later that year, Peter would likely have been the favourite to win. Is it at all be possible the powerful fighter with the 32-3(25) record has matured mentally, has yet to reach his peak and will go on to beat Povetkin in 2009 or 2010 instead?
Again, it may sound silly asking such a question; especially as the sour taste of his no-show display against Vitali Klitschko is still pretty fresh in the mind. But strange things happen in this sport, and maybe, just maybe, the undeserving Peter is about to get a shot at the interim IBF belt and win it. As good as Povetkin is, he’s not unbeatable, is he? And a fully motivated and in shape Peter would always have a puncher’s chance of derailing the former amateur standout.
Sure, Povetkin would be my pick to win if he did actually wind up facing Peter some time either later this year or early next, but what if Peter upset the odds? It would certainly stir things up at or near the top of the division, wouldn’t it?
Another, even more crazy possibility, is one that says a victorious Peter could then wind up going back in with Wladimir Klitschko! As interim champ, Peter would have a chance of getting to fight again for the real thing. How on earth would the sport take to Klitschko-Peter II!?!