Photo by Tom Casino – CANCUN, Mexico, February 27—WBC Interim Heavyweight Champion Samuel Peter continues his “best training camp ever” arriving in beautiful Cancun, Mexico, for his March 8 HBO date against WBC kingpin Oleg Maskaev.
The “Nigerian Nightmare” described his preparation “as the most serious ever,” arriving from Las Vegas two weeks ahead of the fight date. New head trainer, Stacey McGinley, joins Pops Anderson, and a world class conditioning group of conditioning trainers and nutritionists..
“I’ve been waiting for Oleg Maskaev to get into the ring with me for a year and a half,” said Peter, reflecting back to his September 2, 2006 triumph over James Toney which set the stage for the clash with Maskaev. “Not only am I going to knock him out, but I will punish him for the long wait. On March 8, he is going to feel like he is getting two years worth of physical punishment. I’m going to bring excitement back to the heavyweight championship.”
Dino Duva, president of Duva Boxing and Peter’s promoter, added that “Sam has something serious to prove on March 8. It was troubling watching Wladimir Klitschko, who by the way was knocked down three times by Samuel when they met three years ago. Klitschko dogged it in all 12 rounds last weekend in a so-called ‘Unification Fight.’ Now, the world is aching for Samuel Peter to surge to the forefront of the heavyweight division. Unfortunately for Maskaev, he is going to be the victim of Sam’s wrath. Sam Peter’s time has come as the savior of the heavyweight division.”
The Peter-Maskaev clash will be the first world heavyweight championship ever held in Mexico will take place in Cancun’s Plaza de Torros.
The two had been scheduled to meet in New York’s Madison Square Garden on Oct. 6, but a back injury forced Maskaev to pull out of the fight on Sept. 21.
The WBC Board of Governors convened on Sept. 24 and voted Peter its interim heavyweight champion. Peter chose to make a title defense on Oct. 6, winning a unanimous decision over Jameel “Big Time” McCline.
A tremendous co-featured main event will showcase a second world championship when undefeated World Boxing Association, International Boxing Federation and World Boxing Organization lightweight champion Juan “Baby Bull” Diaz (33-0, 17 KOs), from Houston, Tex., takes on IBF No. 1-ranked mandatory challenger Nate “Galaxxy Warrior” Campbell (31-5-1, 25 KOs), from Jacksonville, Fla.
Tickets priced at $1,000, 500, $300, $150, $100, $70, $50 and $10 are on sale now at all Ticketmaster outlets including www.ticketmaster.com or by calling Ticketmaster in Mexico at +5255 5325 9000.
Both fights will be televised live in America on HBO World Championship Boxing beginning at 9:30 p.m. ET/6:30 p.m. PT. “History in Cancun” is being promoted by Don King Productions in association with Duva Boxing, Pepe Gomez Promotions and One Punch Productions.
Maskaev (34-5, 26 KOs), from Kazakhstan and a U.S. citizen since 2004 with homes in Staten Island, N.Y., and West Sacramento, Calif., is riding a 12-fight winning streak that includes a 12th-round technical knockout over Hasim “The Rock” Rahman to win the WBC heavyweight crown in Las Vegas on Aug. 12, 2006.
Peter has now honed his boxing skills to the extent he beat Old School boxing master James “Lights Out” Toney in back-to-back appearances on Sept. 2, 2006, and Jan. 6, 2007—both on 12-round decisions. Those victories made Peter the WBC No. 1-ranked heavyweight and the mandatory challenger to Maskaev. After Maskaev pulled out of their scheduled October 6 title match, Peter was named WBC Interim champion.
Peter survived a scare from McCline, who agreed to face the Nigerian just two weeks prior to their Oct. 6 meeting as a replacement for Maskaev. McCline has a history of being dangerous early, having knocked out heavyweight contender Michael Grant in just 43 seconds and dropped then International Boxing Federation champion Chris Byrd early in the second round when they met in 2004.
Dino Duva, the president of Duva Boxing, has promoted great fighters and great fights during four decades in boxing. Growing up in a renowned boxing family, the Duva name has become synonymous with excellence in the fight game as the “First Family in Boxing.” Working closely with his Hall of Fame father, Lou, and his late, great brother Dan, Duva has been involved in the promotion of over 100 world championship fights including such titlists as Evander Holyfield, Lennox Lewis, Pernell Whitaker, Arturo Gatti, and Mark Breland. Duva is presently the promoter of Samuel Peter, regarded by many as the top young heavyweight in boxing.