IBF, WBO and IBO heavyweight champion, Wladimir Klitschko fights Samuel Peter at the Commerzbank Arena in Germany on Saturday.
Their 2005 encounter turned out to be one of the most exciting heavyweight bouts in a while, since the days when Lennox Lewis was present in the sport, when Wladimir was dropped a number of times but still managed to win a unanimous decision over Peter.
Now, 5 years later, the two meet in the ring again, but with the two boxer’s careers taking different paths, one for the worse and one for the better, it should be a very different bout in contrast to the original.
Peter was retired in a fight by Wladimir’s brother, Vitali, when he challenged for his WBC heavyweight title in 2008 and then followed that up with a split decision loss to Eddie Chambers in 2009.
Samuel has racked up a 4 win streak but I got the feeling his best days are behind him now and one has to wonder how he even deserves a title shot after that 4 win streak has consisted of winning over guys with records such as 22-16 and 18-12!
Wladimir, himself, hasn’t lost in 6 years and is much technically improved since his war with Peter and shares a portion of the heavyweight crown with his brother.
Beating everyone he has faced since becoming champion, I struggle to think of anybody who can give him a serious challenge.
Alexander Povetkin pulled out of a fight with Wladimir citing a sinus problem but has since gone very quiet and you have to wonder if he even really wanted the fight or if trainer Teddy Atlas thought he was ready.
British WBA heavyweight champion, David Haye, has been keeping silent lately since his 9 round TKO win over John Ruiz, only recently making a statement that he will tell all about the negotiations between himself and the brothers soon, not that many people are really that bothered at this point, what with Haye talking the talk but not walking the walk and already having pulled out of a fight with Wladimir and failing to come to an agreement with Vitali.
So, the Klitschko train steams ahead with the two Ukrainian’s continuing to dominate the division with defenses that are only of interest seemingly to those that do not live outside Germany and the Ukraine.
I fully expect Wladimir to dominate Peter this time en-route to a midway stoppage and to keep making these type of defenses until Haye finally steps up to the plate and give us the heavyweight fight boxing fans really want!
