“Time for the first giant to fall!” growled WBC heavyweight Champion Samuel Peter at the news that former champion Vitali Klitschko had signed to face him on October 11. “I’ve been waiting a long time for revenge on the first giant (Vitali’s brother, IBF and WBO Heavyweight Champion Wladimir Klitschko) but now I get to knock them both out!.”
While there are still two cities competing for the opportunity to host the Samuel Peter- Vitali Klitschko megafight (Abuja, Nigeria and Berlin, Germany), Peter says regardless of where it’s held, his greatest hope is that Vitali actually shows up this time.
“He has already run from me many times, but now he has signed the contract. This time he must finally take his punishment like a man or get out of boxing forever..”
Peter’s manager, Ivaylo Gotzev of Elite Sports Management, claims that news of Vitali’s willingness to finally face his fighter makes their revenge scenario even sweeter. “This is the first half of Operation Giant Killer because we’re going to take out Wladimir’s brother before we settle the score with him. Vitali has been standing in Samuel’s way for a long time, but now we’ve got the opportunity to send both of boxing’s giants home with a beating.”
Gotzev says Vitali’s on-again/off-again comeback hopes have been a giant bump in the road to their plans for avenging the close decision Peter lost to brother Wladimir that included Klitschko hitting the canvas three times in 2005, but if Peter vs. Klitschko comes off as scheduled, it will lead to an important series of fights for the heavyweight division and the sport of boxing.
“This is one of the only meaningful fights in boxing at the moment. And Vitali has been standing in the way of even bigger business with his brother. Hopefully he will show up this time, so that the heavyweight division can settle things the right way and crown one true champion.”
Peter, who is set to begin training camp next week, says he has only one message for Vitali Klitschko: “Come and get the punishment you deserve so I can get your little brother next.”