Daily Trust (Abuja)

Nigeria: Peters - Klitschko Won't Last the Distance

Samuel Peter is confident of scoring a knockout victory over reigning IBF and WBO heavyweight champion, Wladimir Klitschko, when both get to slug it out on September 11 in Frankfurt, Germany.

Five years ago, Peter had Klitschko in big trouble, having knocked him down three times, including twice in the fifth round, during their heavyweight fight in Atlantic City, United States.

But in the end, Klitschko rallied to win the bout, with winning scores of 114-111 on all three judges' cards. It has been a long wait for the Nigerian, but he now has a chance to redeem himself and become a world champion when he takes on the big Ukrainian five days after his 30th birthday. "I have a lot to prove. I have a chance to redeem myself from the 2005 fight. It is going to be a great fight. I am getting another chance to prove that I am the best heavyweight champion in all," said Peter, who will turned 30 on September 6. "The loss was a bad mistake. This time I am going to prove that I can become a champion again," said Peter. "For sure, on September 11 in Germany it is going to be a great fight. I don't have much to say because I know that my gloves will speak for me in the ring."

With a record of 34-3 that includes 27 knockouts, the Nigerian Nightmare's resume includes victories by split decision and unanimous decision over former world titlist, James Toney, as well as a March 2008 sixth-round knockout of Russian Oleg Maskaev that earned him the WBC belt.

In his next bout after beating Maskaev, Peter was dethroned as WBC champion via a knockout loss to Wladimir's brother, Vitali Klitschko, in October 2008. That bout saw Peter churning out a lacklustre display against the older of the Klitschko brothers which he followed up with yet another uninspiring performance in March 2009 against Eddie Chambers, which the Nigerian Nightmare described as the low point of his career.

"I will be looking for that boy again after this fight," said Peter. "I don't know how that boy did what he did but after this fight I will take care of him. Everything was frustrating at that time. I had lost the championship, and the promotion was so bad.

But I am okay now, and everything is straight up. I have the best promoter in the world, and the best coach in the world. I have the best manager in the world, and I am going to be the best."

Peter, who has been training with his trainer Abel Sanchez in Big Bear, California, said he is enjoying his training," he said.

But it might not be that easy for Peter has Klitschko has never lost a fight in his adopted nation, Germany. It was also in the European nation that Peter lost by TKO to Wladimir, but he is confident the upcoming title fight will not last the distance thanks to his punching power. "The victory and my judges I have in my right hand and the judge is my left hook," he declared.

"There will not be a decision this time around. This time he will not get up from my left hook. I am ready and I am prepared and I will not need a referee or a judge. This time around anyone I touch will not be standing up. I don't think Wladimir will be able to stand me after four rounds."


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