From WBC President Jose Sulaiman: The WBC is naming Jameel McCline from the USA as the next challenger for the new interim heavyweight champion of the world, Samuel Peter from Nigeria, in order to take special actions to save the date of October 6 at the legendary Madison Square Garden in New York, as the WBC heavyweight title can not continue being frozen after 10 months of inactivity, and at least for four more months for the recovery of the injured champion Oleg Maskaev.
McCline was taken out of number 9 position of the WBC ratings when he became unavailable for the WBC title by fighting the former champion of the WBA, Nicolay Valuev from Russia. McCline had won the first two rounds, but lost by TKO in the third round when he injured his knee and could not continue the fight.
The WBC had received an appeal from McCline’s manager, Mr. Scott Hirsch, which was answered favorably by the WBC because of the unquestionable merits of McCline to be rated within the first 10 of the world. The fighting record of McCline is of 48 fights, out of which he has won 38, 23 by KO, lost 7, and drawn 3. Samuel Peter has a record of 28 wins, one loss, and 0 draws, with 22 of his wins by KO.
The WBC Rules and Regulations give explicit authority to the WBC Board of Governors to take any action to resolve any special circumstance, as the WBC believes this to be the case. McCline has been training and in good shape, as he was training to fight Vitali Klitschko at the end of September before that fight was cancelled due to Vitali’s injury.
The WBC Board of Governors ruled to mandate Samuel Peter to make his next defense of the title against Jameel McCline.