by James Slater: Former World Boxing Council heavyweight champ Samuel Peter knows about as much as any currently active heavyweight when it comes to fighting the Klitschko brothers. And “The Nigerian Nightmare” is about to get even more experience at battling one half of the Ukrainian duo next month. Set to meet Ring magazine, IBF and WBO king Wladimir Klitschko in a rematch of their competitive 2005 clash, Peter will step into the ring with a Klitschko for a third time. Will September 11th’s bout see the hard-hitting 29-year-old prove how the old saying, third time lucky, comes true?
The number three proved to be a somewhat lucky number for Peter; as it was three times that the Nigerian based in Las Vegas put Wladimir down back in September of 2005. Without those three officially-counted knockdowns that night in Atlantic City, New Jersey, Peter would have not been in the fight as much as he was, and he would’ve lost even wider than he did on the three official scorecards. More importantly, the fact that Peter had some success against Wladimir gives him belief today that he can actually get a win in the return. Okay, most fans feel Peter is in for his third straight disappointment when it comes to attempting to stop a Klitschko, but at least Peter himself is entering next month’s fight with a puncher’s chance to go along with his self belief.
And while fans were more excited about/interested in seeing “Dr. Steel Hammer” meet some new blood in the form of the undefeated Alexander Povetkin on September 11th, it’s not the 34-year-old’s fault that Team-Povetkin felt he still wasn’t ready for his first world title challenge. So Wladimir goes over old ground, in the process giving the seemingly rededicated Peter a chance to reign for a second time. What chance does Peter have?
Peter did have some good rounds five years ago, and he did (with some shots to the back of the head) excite the fans with those three official knockdowns. However, back then Klitschko was still recovering, mentally at least, from his awful night against Lamon Brewster. Three fights before facing Peter, Wladimir had what he refers to as “that strange night”, when he suddenly grew exhausted from hitting “Relentless” and lost via painful and shocking 5th-round TKO.
The Wladimir Peter will face this time is a peaking and all-conquering heavyweight champion, though, and despite the string of comeback KO’s he has scored since quitting on his stool against Wlad’s big brother Vitali, Peter is sure to realise this pretty quickly next month – and today’s Wladimir Klitschko may well overwhelm him. Peter has at least gradually dropped weight and toned up his body since his back-to-back losses to Vitali and Eddie Chambers respectively, but wins over limited opposition have done nothing to help other recent challengers of the Klitschkos; why should they help Peter?
Unless Peter, 34-3(27) comes out smoking and catches the cautious and slow-starting champion with a hail Mary shot to the chin, chances are he will face the customary steady beatdown so many previous Klitschko brother opponents have experienced. If he’s in tip-top shape (and he promises he will be) and he is willing to take the fight right to Wladimir, Peter at least has a legitimate shot at making things interesting for a number of rounds, and could Wladimir suffer flashbacks to the first fight; from when he was being chopped down? Maybe.
Looking at things realistically, however, it is likely to be Peter who suffers from bad flashbacks; of his time shared with the two big men from Ukraine. After a real effort early on, Peter will begin to tire and lose hope. A second quit job is always possible from a fighter once he’s already sought safety by remaining on his stool, and this move is always one Peter could take next month. Instead, I see the younger man by five years gutting it out until the later rounds, before he’s taken out, puffed of face and bleeding, in around the 9th or 10th.
The Klitschko dominance will not be ended by Samuel Peter, and third time will not be a charm for next month’s heavyweight title challenger.