By William MacKay: With this weekend there being the heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko defending his IBF/WBO titles against challenger Tony Thompson, I thought this would be a good idea to discuss the fighter behind the scenes, the one that may probably be the best heavyweight on the planet at this time and that’s none other than the hard-punching Nigerian Samuel Peter (30-1, 23 KOs). Three years ago, after his 12-round unanimous decision loss to Wladimir Klitschko, few people would have ever considered Peter as the best fighter in the heavyweight division.

However, since that time, Peter has learned a lot, having faced James Toney twice, beating both times, also beating the gigantic Jameel McCline and WBC heavyweight champion Oleg Maskaev, who Peter stopped in the 6th round in March. In that time, Peter has evolved from a formerly crude slugger to that of a boxer/puncher with the boxing skills to either slug or box at the drop of a hat.

In a big way, Peter’s style reminds one of a larger version of welterweight champion Miguel Cotto, who can bang away on the inside with his opponents, but also beat them at long range with an excellent jab. Armed with his new jab, and a more polished defense, Peter has turned into a fighter that is almost unbeatable on any terms. This is bad news for his taller opponents like Wladimir and Vitali Klitschko. Peter would be the first to admit that he had big problems dealing with Wladimir’s long jab in their 2005 fight in which Peter lost by a decision.

However, that was before Peter had a jab in his boxing toolbox, and was forced to fight the entire bout without a jab as he came pressing forward trying to land his huge shots against Wladimir. Without a jab or the ability to box, Peter’s chance at beating tall fighters like the Klitschkos or other tall opponents like McCline or Nikolay Valuev, were almost impossible. Due his immense power, he would always have a chance at scoring a knockout at a moment’s notice, but if the knockout didn’t occur, then Peter was in for big trouble and likely to get boxing lesson.

Even without a jab or the ability to pick off shots, Peter was almost on even terms with both the Klitschkos, but now that he’s learned how to fight, I’d have to place him a notch above either of them at this point. This is something that Vitali will be soon finding out, for he has a fight with Peter on October 4th at the 02 World Arena, in Berlin, Germany.

Vitali has been out of boxing four years now and hasn’t fought once since his retirement in early 2005. He’s going to be in for a tough task when he meets up with Peter, who still has a bone to pick with Wladimir after his loss to him, and will likely want to take it out on his older brother Vitali.