One fight can make all difference in the careers of the two combatants. That was certainly the case when Samuel Peter met Wladimir Klitschko met in 2005. Peter was the hot prospect while that version of Klitschko had a weak chin and even more shaky mental game. "The Nigerian Nightmare" hammered away and dropped Klitschko down three times but couldn't put the Ukranian down for the count. Working Emmanuel Steward, Klitschko survived and when he was upright, schooled Peter from a technical standpoint and took a unanimous decision. Since then Klitschko has won nine straight fights and risen to undisputed No. 1 big man in the world while Peter has battled his weight, a lack of motivation and poor promotion.
Peter gets the gift of lifetime this weekend with the opportunity to finish what he couldn't five years ago. A fill-in for Alexander Povetkin, Peter battles Klitschko (54-3, 48 KOs) on Saturday in Frankfurt, Germany. He says he won't blow it this time.
"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. "The loss was a bad mistake. This time I am going to prove that I can become a champion again. I don't have much to say because I know that my gloves will speak for me in the ring."
Peter, who just turned 30, doesn't want to leave it to the judges.
"The victory and my judges I have in my right hand and the judge is my left hook," said Peter (30-3, 27 KOs). "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."
The biggest key for Peter is his conditioning. Klitschko has become a brilliant volume puncher who wears down his opponents with an awesome jab. If Peter plans on wailing away like a mad man he can't come in at the bloated 260-plus we've seen him at in the past. His trainer Abel Sanchez says Peter has been dedicated during the eight-week training camp spending much of the time in Big Bear, Ca.
This fight and Vitali Klitschko's October fight will be on American television. Well, sort of. Since HBO bailed on the heavyweight division, the ESPN family of channels is making an effort to latch onto the powerhouse brothers. Expected to be waged in front of 45,000 fans, the fight at Commerzbank Arena, can be seen live on ESPN3.com at 5 p.m. ET. ESPN Deportes will replay the fight at 8 p.m. ET and there will be a replay on ESPN the next day at 4:30 p.m. ET.
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