30.08.05 – Interview by Geoff McKay: On September 24, at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City New Jersey, Samuel “The Nigerian Nightmare” will square off against Wladimir “Dr. Steelhammer” Klitschko in the most highly anticipated heavyweight fight of the year. I caught up with Samuel in between training sessions, and he was gracious enough to take the time to answer questions about himself, his faith, and his sport.
GM: Hello Mr. Peter, thank you for taking the time to speak with us.
SP: Hey, how you doing? No Problem.
GM: It is obvious that you are a deeply spiritual man. Why do you think boxers on the whole seem to be more overtly spiritual than other professional athletes?
SP: In Football and Basketball they just run and pass the ball, boxing is a dangerous game you know, you can go anytime, you can get damaged. Football you play you run you jump and throw the ball, you clap hands, you’re happy, you can’t tell any basketballer to come and be a boxer. Boxing is just like a war, your face to face with somebody for 45 minutes, you always have to thank god that you don’t have an injury..
GM: I noticed during one post fight interview you held your daughter in your arms. How has fatherhood affected you as a fighter and as a person?
SP: I love my kids, that’s one thing I was warned but It doesn’t affect me, their mom takes care of them, so I don’t worry about that, they are my true heart, they are the only thing I have in this world. If I go today they are going to represent me.
GM: I know from speaking to Mr. Gotzev (Samuel Peters Manager) that you have quite an intense training schedule. How has training camp been going?
SP: Nice, I’ve got some strong guys that I am working with, like Ray Austin; he has been giving me a good workout. We’ve got another guy Maurice Harris, they are good people, good guys you know, so again, no problem.
GM: I read in an interview you predicted you would KO Wladimir in round 1 and…..
SP: Definitely, Definitely I am going to knock him out. Anytime I feel like knocking him out. I don’t really have a problem with Wladimir Klitschko, I‘ve got a problem with Steward; I’ve got a problem with his trainer. He said he’s going to knock me out, I’m going to prove to him that he’s wrong, He can’t predict a loss for me, I’m predicting a loss for them, there gonna lose.
GM: Do you see Wladimir’s jab becoming a factor?
SP: It won’t be anything, my jab is a screw, I’m going to screw something into his brain.
Gm: It’s well known that you have sparred with Wladimir in the past. Do you see that familiarity as helpful in your preparation?
SP: I can’t see anything bad because I am not a backward man, I am a forward man. When we were sparring he had over 40 fights, I was 3-0. If they have that kind of mentality they are losers. He didn’t do anything to me, I was 3-0, he was 40-45 fights, so what do you think. He didn’t take me out, or knock me, or do anything to harm me, so why are they having that in their brain, you know. Losers think about backwards, and I don’t want to think about backwards, I think about what I am going to do September 24.
GM: What kind of Klitschko do you expect to see on September 24?
SP: I don’t expect anything from him. He can’t off my bottle, but I’m going to lose his pants. (Laughs)
GM: There are a lot of boxing fans, me among them, that are surprised and pleased that this fight is taking place. The general consensus is that you both have a lot to lose. Who do you think has taken the bigger risk by agreeing to this fight?
SP: He’s taking a big risk because of Emanuel Steward. When I hit him, everything Emanuel Steward tell him from the day he signed to contract to the day of the fight he’s gonna forget.
GM: I take it you’re not a big fan of Emanuel Steward?
SP: No, because at the press conference he said that he was the one that was going to teach Klitschko how to beat me. I’m going to show him that I’m like the F.B.I. I’m going to surprise Emanuel Steward like the F.B.I. (Laughs)
GM: You have been called the Savior of the Heavyweight Division. How do you feel about that?
SP: I feel wrong because I am not a savior. The only man that name belongs to is Jesus Christ, so I’m not the savior of the heavyweight or anything. I’m just going to do my thing, you can’t take any glory from god, he’s the savior of everything. I am just going to do what I can do and I know heaven is going to back me up.
GM: Why do you think boxing is less popular now than it used to be?
SP: Because God put something there in Samuel Peter to bring it out again.
GM: You have said you think your style matches up well with Vitali Klitschko. In order for you to meet down the road you must first beat Wladimir, and Vitali must defeat Hasim Rahman. Who is your pick between Vitali and Rahman?
SP: I say the best man will win.
GM: What is the boxing scene like in Nigeria? Is it a popular sport there?
SP: Before it wasn’t, but after 1995, a lot of people love boxing.
GM: Who do you see as the real heavyweight Champion?
SP: Well, I don’t really see any exciting heavyweight, but you gotta give respect to any champion, anybody that hold the heavyweight championship belt, you know, you gotta give respect because it’s not easy, you know, but I’m coming to send them packing.
GM: Thank you very much for your time Samuel. Is there anything you would like to say in closing?
SP: Yes, it is very important that I thank all my fans, I know that they are praying for me, you know, and I know that there god are my god, you know, we believe in the true god, you know what I’m saying. We know that god is gonna back us up, you know, with all my fans, and were gonna come out victorious by knocking this guy out, you know, making the whole heavyweight boxing be proud.
(At this point Samuels Manger, Ivailo Gotzev came on the line to make some closing comments.)
GM: Hello Mr. Gotzev.
IG: Hello, I just wanted to add some things but Samuel covered all bases. I just wanted to make sure but he already said it himself about Emanuel Steward because he’s the one who’s going to end up looking like a fool at the end of the night. He’s been nothing but a used car salesman the way he sounds right now. He’s trying to sell a used car right now, you know, the one that’s been in a major wreck. He’s trying to sell us a salvaged title right now, something that looks good on the outside and we know it’s been broken down before. He (Emanuel Steward) is going to create a lot of problems for Klitschko, because basically we are going to expose Emanuel Steward to the world as being the biggest B.S. artist. He’s always been overrated and now it’s time for him to go where he belongs, you know.
GM: Do you think Emanuel Steward is the wrong trainer for Wladimir Klitschko?
IG: Samuel put it best. He might be good but he’s not the greatest, he’s not this hall of fame, all time best, which he is trying to represent himself to the world as. You know, he is getting good press, he’s a good self promoter, and right now what he’s doing, he’s going overboard because he’s in a desperate position, you know. His big time middleweight champion Vivian Harris went down on his face so now he’s in a rebuilding stage, and he’s going a little bit out of his way to sell something that’s going to fall on its face once again. I mean listen, we got a lot of respect for Klitschko, let’s not kid around, you know. I mean, Klitschko is a well accomplished athlete, he’s got the package, he’s got the body, he’s got the physique, but I mean there is no way on this earth he can match Samuel punch for punch, heart for heart you know. This is so simple to us; we can’t even think about it, we can’t even worry for one second. They are really in dreamland, but their dream will turn into nightmares come September 24th. Samuel is very humble, he doesn’t like taking the position of being the savior but we all know what is going on. He’s here for a purpose. We’re going to make history with this kid.
After our conversation I played the tape over a couple of times. I looked for those always present but often subtle clues that let us know what a person is really thinking. I came away with the impression that Samuel is confident, but that he also has real respect for Wladimir Klitschko. His tone belied the fact that he knows this fight is huge for him, not just another match up. I for one know I’ll be watching come September 24th.
I would like to thank Samuel Peter’s Manager, Ivailo Gotzev, for his much appreciated assistance in setting up this interview.
Comments or Questions may be sent to: geoffmckay@monarch.net