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Heavyweight Champion Samuel Peter Talks About Upcoming Bout With Vitali Klitschko

WBC heavyweight champion Samuel “The Nigerian Nightmare” Peter who may be the hardest puncher in the division since a prime Mike Tyson or George Foreman, is putting his title on the line next weekend against former titleholder Vitali Klitschko in what is anticipated to be an intriguing match. Taking place in Klitschko’s backyard of Berlin, Germany, Samuel Peter should have his hands full against the taller, more technically superior challenger. This despite the fact Klitschko has not stepped foot in a ring in over three years.

On the upcoming bout, the champion is in the process of settling in Germany and seems fired-up and ready to go.

“I just want to thank God for everything and giving me an opportunity to redeem myself. It's been a short time, but now I’m the champion and I’m happy we put this fight back together right here in Germany. I'm still the WBC heavyweight champion of the world. I don't know what gives him a right to step in my spotlight. We have a very big fight coming up on October 11th. I'm ready, ready to go. I've never given up on any fight. I thank God for that. Anybody who wants to fight Samuel Peter, I'm ready for you. But I don't know what gives him a right to step in my heavenly.”



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Peter snatches belt from Klitschko, storms offstage before fight

BERLIN -- Samuel Peter ripped the WBC belt from Vitali Klitschko's hands and stormed off the stage Monday at a news conference to promote their heavyweight title fight.

In their pre-fight news conference, Samuel Peter, right, ripped the WBC belt from Vitali Klitschko's hands before storming off the stage.

The two fighters -- both called champions by the WBC -- were engaged in the routine pre-fight stare-down with both holding the belt. Peter, urged by trainer Stacy McKinley, then snatched it from Klitschko's grasp. Klitschko looked surprised, then bemused.

"What happens here is a show," said Klitschko, who fights Peter on Saturday at O2 World Arena. "The real fight is in the ring."

Peter was reportedly angry that the conference was conducted mostly in German -- which Klitschko, a Ukrainian, speaks fluently -- and responded by answering the few English questions posed to him in his native Nigerian tongue.

Peter's American promoter, Dino Duva, didn't hide his displeasure about being in Europe.

"I'm a little upset that everyone is speaking in German," Duva said. "I didn't want to fight in Germany. But [German broadcaster] RTL paid the most money and that's why we're here -- I make no bones about it."

The 37-year-old Klitschko (35-2, 34 KOs) has been out of the ring since an eighth-round win over Danny Williams on Dec. 11, 2004. He lost the WBC belt in 2005 after withdrawing from a title bout because of a torn right knee ligament.

The WBC made him "champion emeritus." But Klitschko, a powerful but injury-prone puncher, said he's ready to reclaim the title outright and quell any doubts about his age and health.

"I know people thought I would get injured in training," Klitschko said. "No. I'm healthy. I'm ready to fight."

The 27-year-old Peter (30-1, 23 KOs) took the WBC interim title by easily beating Jameel McCline on points in September 2007. During that bout, McCline dropped Peter to the canvas with a sharp uppercut in the second round.

"All the great heavyweight fighters have been knocked down," McKinley said. "What's important is that you get up again."

Earlier this year, Peter took care of Oleg Maskaev with a devastating sixth-round knockout in a Cancun bullfighting ring, a fight that strengthened his grip on the WBC belt.

After that victory, Peter called for -- but didn't receive -- a rematch with Wladimir Klitschko, Vitali's younger brother and the holder of the IBF and WBO heavyweight belts. It was the younger Klitschko who dealt Peter his only loss.

Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press

He stole the belt? Classic