By Chris Williams: Not wanting to take things easy after his 9th round stoppage loss to Vitali Klitschko in October, former World Boxing Council heavyweight champion Samuel Peter (30-2, 23 KOs) is once again ready to take the heavyweight division by storm by challenging Chris Arreola (26-0, 23 KOs) to a fight later this year. According to the news, Peter, 28, is upset that Arreola has chosen the nickname “Nightmare” as his moniker, which happens to be the partial nickname of Peter, who goes by the nickname “Nigerian Nightmare.”
Peter wants to fight Arreola with the winner of the bout being able to continue using the Nightmare nickname and the loser giving it up. Of course, this is all window dressing and not the real reason that Peter wants to face Arreola.
Ranked #5 in the WBC and WBO, and #6 in the IBF, Peter would stand to be moved up considerably in the rankings should be able to defeat the number #2 ranked WBC/#3 ranked WBO heavyweight challenger.
Apparently, Arreola‘s promoter Dan Goosen has been contacted by Peter’s promoter, Dino Duva about a potential fight in 2009. However, Arreola is reportedly waiting to see if he can land a fight with one of the Klitschko brothers for later on this year and wants to wait to find out if that fight can happen.
If that bout doesn’t materialize for some reason, then perhaps Arreola may be looking on Peter’s direction. To be sure, it would be a great fight, easily one of the best on paper in 2009. Both fighters have crushing knockout power, are known for their one direction style of fighting and tendency to pressure constantly.
Arreola has the size advantage at 6’4” compared to Peter’s 6’0”, but then again Arreola fails to use his reach in his fights, tending to stand directly in front of his opponents, wailing away at them with huge punches. That’s not a style that works well against a slugger like Peter, who does well against stationary fighters.
When Peter has a fighter that stays directly in front of him, he’s very hard to beat due to his powerful, clubbing punches. Arreola has already been knocked down, getting dropped and hurt by big Travis Walker in November.
Arreola, though, would turn around and hurt Walker and stop him in the 3rd. He might fight that more difficult against Peter, who except in his fight with Jameel McCline where Peter was dropped three times in the first two rounds, Peter has never touched the canvas.
He has more problems with taller fighters the Klitschko brothers, who used their jabs to fend off Peter’s attacks. It’s doubtful that Arreola could learn to use his jab, even if he tried. Arreola’s jab is mostly a setup punch for his right hand and is rarely used in his fights. Peter would have a big experience advantage going for him if he were to fight Arreola.
Peter has been in with talented fighters like both Wladimir and Vitali Klitschko, McCline, and James Toney (twice), whereas Arreola has only faced Walker, Cliff Couser and Chazz Witherspoon as his best opponents of his career.
Though Peter did quit on his stool in his fight with Vitali, it was only out of frustration because he wasn’t able to fight competitively with the huge 6’8” Klitschko. Against his younger brother Wladimir, Peter was able to knock him down three times and come close to stopping him.
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