by James Slater – Though a large number of fans will have written him off after back-to-back losses, to Vitali Klitschko and Eddie Chambers, respectively, former WBC heavyweight champion Samuel Peter is not about to fade away just yet. A few days ago, ESPN.com ran a story reporting how “The Nigerian Nightmare” was to split from long time promoter Dino Duva and look to sign up with Top Rank. ESPN wrote that if the deal was done the former champ would make his return in Mexico on July 25th..
Well, according to BoxRec’s fight listings, Peter will be making his Mexican debut on July 25th, against journeyman Marcus McGee. Taking this into account, the Top Rank deal must have been made.
And Ivaylo Gotzev, Peter’s manager, the 30-3(23) contender has been working out at Big Bear with new trainer Abel Sanchez. According to Gotzev, who spoke to ESPN, his fighter is back looking hungry and is working hard.
“Samuel looks terrific and he will quite the naysayers,” Gotzev said recently. “He has recommitted himself.”
Let’s face it, after the poor, overweight, showings he gave against Klitschko and then Chambers, Peter HAD to do something if he wanted to carry on with his once very promising career. At one time, back when he was sensationally laying out guys like Jeremy Williams in highlight reel fashion, Peter was being given a real chance of becoming the heavyweight division’s new terror. And though Peter did bounce back from his creditable points loss to Wladimir Klitschko well enough to gain himself wins over James Toney (twice) and Oleg Maskaev (in which he won the WBC belt), much of the lustre had gone by then due to an ever-expanding waistline.
Then, after capitulating so disappointingly against the comebacking elder Klitschko in October of last year and then waddling through ten dull rounds against “Fast” Eddie after that, the curtain looked as though it had fallen on a once proud warrior’s career. But no, Peter is back and ready to rumble once more.
On the under-card of the bill topped by Julio Cesar Chavez-Jason LeHoullier and Giovanni Segura-Sonny Boy Jaro to be held in Nayarit, Mexico (to be shown on HBO Pay-Per-View) the 28-year-old will hope to get back in the win column. Against the nothing special McGee, 22-16(11) Peter should almost certainly do so.
But what then? After he’s wiped out the man who has been stopped five times in a give-it-a-go career, in McGee, will the fans be willing to give Peter another chance? A whopping 265-pound against Chambers back in March, Peter’s weight for this fight will possibly give the fans some clue as to whether or not he is serious and whether or not they should give him some more of their time. If he comes in at, say, 245 or 250, and looks as though he has indeed “recommitted himself,” then maybe, just maybe Peter will make some fans want to tune into his next fight after McGee.
Really though, it’s just too tough to see how Peter can do anything more at top level at heavyweight. He’s already lost to both Klitschkos and his chances of becoming a two-time world champion, surely the reason he is fighting on, look slim. This is not to say there aren’t a few attractive-looking fights out there that Peter could feature in – a clash with the unbeaten Chris Arreola would be a good seller – it’s just does he deserve them?
If he can get some momentum going, and if he can fight regularly at an acceptable weight, maybe Peter can get himself one more big fight in the future. But it’s a big if at this point.