Klitschko-Peter: “You [Vitali] Can’t Be The Champion Until You Beat Me, And You Can’t” – Peter

By Boxing News - 08/28/2008 - Comments

vitali43.jpgBy David Lahr: At yesterday’s press conference, World Boxing Council heavyweight champion Samuel Peter (30-1, 23 KOs) had some bold words for former WBC champion Vitali Klitschko (35-2, 34 KOs), commenting ”I want to clear up one thing: I am the true heavyweight champion.” This was said in part because of Vitali’s champion emeritus status, which has allowed him to leapfrog over the other higher, probably more deserving, top ranked fighters in the WBC to land a shot against the 27 year-old Peter without even having to fight his way to the top number #1 spot.

This obviously was a great benefit for the injury-prone Vitali, who has had a problem with trying to make it into his bouts without sustaining one kind of injury or another. Perhaps the worst of Vitali’s injuries involves his right knee, which he previously had surgery on in 2004. However, he’s also had problems with his back and shoulder as well, both of which have led to fight cancellations in the past. Obviously, Vitali is going to be extra-careful while training for this bout, as this may be his final chance for a title shot in his career.

Although he could probably work his way back into a title shot if he did experience another injury, but given his age and his history of injury, I’m not so certain that he will even try if he injures himself this time. Part of what keeps Vitali going is the Klitschko brother’s ambition to hold major titles at the same time, which would make the first time in boxing history that two brothers held heavyweight titles at the same time.

However, that’s still a long shot at this point because of Vitali’s injuries and the lengthy time – now four years – that Vitali has been out of action. Samuel Peter is probably in the prime of his career, and a pressure fighter of the first order. It seems that unless Vitali is able to have both wheels working at their optimum level, he’s going to have to depend on his once-sturdy chin to try and bail him out in this fight.

Of course, there’s also his stamina which is going to be something that he’ll have to hope is working for him on October 11th, because if he tires out, like he has shown in the past, Peter will put a world of hurt on him.

It was interesting to see the two fighters at the face of the fight yesterday, because Peter actually looked frightened of Vitali pretty throughout the entire show, especially when they stood facing each other. I don’t how much weight this kind of thing has in a fight, but it sure looked as if Vitali was in command the whole way through and had Peter looking psyched out.

Peter, though, has so much power and youth working for him, it probably won’t matter how scared he is come fight night, because he’ll be fighting on pure adrenalin and may open more than a few eyes by taking the old Ukrainian out well inside the distance.

Vitali, however, has enough power in his right hand to make things interesting for a few rounds, before he starts to tire out and lose his energy. Peter may end up making things easy for him by coming straight at him, letting Vitali find a home for his chopping right hands.