Wladimir Klitschko defends his heavyweight titles against Sam Peter this Saturday in Frankfurt, Germany. This will be the second meeting between the two as Klitschko won a unanimous decision over Peter in 2005. The fight can be seen on SKY in the United Kingdom while American fight fans will have to watch the contest on ESPN3.com
Wladimir Klitschko vs. Sam Peter II
Money Line: Klitschko -1400; Peter +700
IBF/WBO Heavyweight Title
Wladimir Klitschko (54-3, 48 KOs) has been a wrecking ball in the heavyweight division. The last time Wladimir struggled, in fact, was his 2005 bout against Sam Peter. Wladimir was down three times in the fight but Peter couldn’t finish the job. The scores were all 114-111 for Klitschko as the defending champion worked his jab throughout the fight and outlanded Peter 2-1 over 12 rounds.
Five years younger than brother Vitali, Wladimir Klitschko has been an unstoppable force in the heavyweight division since defeated Peter in 2005. Wladimir has stopped eight of the nine challengers he has faced since getting the decision over Peter. His chin hasn’t quite been challenged since the Peter fight, and that will always be a criticism of Klitschko, but Wladimir uses a sharp jab to beat the will out of his opponent before they decide to swing for the fences.
Sam Peter (34-3, 27 KOs) was at the peak of his career when he first faced Wladimir. He was the Nigerian Nightmare, an undefeated terror that boasted 21 KOs in his first 24 bouts, most coming within five rounds. Even though Peter’s weaknesses were exposed against Wladimir in the loss, he still maintained his aura as a fearsome puncher.
After the Wladimir loss, Peter had two wins over James Toney (one deserved) and KOs of Jameel McCline and Oleg Maskaev to set up a bout with Vitali Klitschko in 2008. Two years later, we’re still waiting for Peter to show up for that fight. Peter took a one-sided beating from Vitali in a bout he seemed disinterested in the entire night. Peter is hoping a new team combined with five more years of ring experience will propel him over Wladimir this time around.
Staff Predictions
Corey: The last time Wladimir was in a competitive heavyweight fight was against Sam Peter five years ago this month. Despite tasting the canvas several times in that bout, Klitschko dominated the rounds and won the obvious decision. And that was a Wladimir who was hurting in the confidence department, having been knocked out for the third time in his career and basically told by HBO to sink or swim against a hungry and undefeated Peter. Klitschko has been swimming since, and while Peter has improved somewhat, he’s still susceptible to being completely outclassed by a big man who can box, as was the case against Wladimir’s older brother Vitali just two years ago. Peter quit on his stool in that fight, and if he hasn’t done the same come round 9 against Wladimir, he’ll be stopped on someone else’s authority shortly thereafter. Klitschko ends Peter’s night in round 10.
Trent: Let’s all hope that Sam Peter actually shows up this time around. His performance against Vitali Klitschko was the most disappointing of his career. Even though Peter put Wlad down three times the first time out, let’s not forget who had his hand raised in the end. Peter certainly thinks he’s improved since that night in 2005. But for as much as Peter thinks he has improved, Wladimir has improved twice as much. In 2005, Wlad was less than two years removed from losses to Corrie Sanders and Lamon Brewster. This is not the same Wladimir today. Peter was garbage against Vitali and it’s hard to foresee him being any more effective against Wladimir. Wladimir by 8th round stoppage.
Paul: Klitschko foes are now being recycled. I don’t see a lot of intrigue in this one despite the fact that Peter was the last fighter to give Wlad a tough time. My thinking is this: If Samuel Peter, at his best and most hungry, couldn’t beat Wladimir Klitschko at his worst, I don’t give him much of a chance now. Peter may think he has a puncher’s chance based on their first fight, but within two rounds that illusion will be gone and he will go into his usual shell. TKO 8 or 9 for Klitschko.
Will: Wladimir Klitschko should win this fight relatively easily, with the gulf in talent between the two having widened since the two met in 2005. The question is whether Klitschko’s more aggressive attitude when talking to the press will be reflected in his boxing, with the consensus number one heavyweight trying to use the fight to send a message to David Haye and the boxing world. If he is able to find it within himself to start the fight against Peter like he ended the fight against Eddie Chambers, then Saturday should be a very short night for the Nigerian Nightmare. More likely though is that Klitschko starts cautiously and then works his way through the gears before finishing a tiring Peter in the second half of the fight. I do, however, hope that Peter gets in Klitschko’s face early-on, and makes the opening rounds uncomfortable for Dr. Steelhammer. Wladimir Klitschko by KO in the 7RD
