By Dave Lahr: Former WBC heavyweight champion Samuel Peter (34-3, 27 KO’s) has always done remarably well when facing weak-chinned fighters like IBF/WBO heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko (54-3, 48 KO’s). In fact, Peter is almost unbeatable when facing a fighter with a soft chin. The only loss that Peter suffered to a weak-chinned fighter was to none other than Wladimir Klitschko back in 2005. But in that fight, Peter probably would have won the bout had the referee had limited Wladimir’s excessive clinching to a minimum of 5 per round. Instead, Wladimir was able to clinch nearly 24/7 in that fight and that was a big factor in keeping Peter from getting his shots off like he wanted to.

To his credit, Peter was still able to knock Wladimir down three times in between being clinched him. But all that ugly clinching that Wladimir did really put a damper on this bout and kept Peter from walking away the winner. But this time, Peter has a plan B, C and D to use once Wladimir starts up with his customary clinching. Wladimir is going to be in for a big surprise when he tries to wrap his arms around Peter for the first time in the fight, which will likely occur in the opening seconds of the 1st round. Peter is going to tap Wladimir’s weak chin and show what I already know by hurting Wladimir.

I don’t expect Peter to knock Klitschko out in the 1st round, but I do see him hurting Wladimir and giving him an attention getter. Once Wladimir realizes that he can’t get away with mauling Peter all night long in ritualistic clinches, he’s going to be forced to fight him in a normal bout. At that point Peter will tear into Klitschko like no tomorrow and batter him to a pulp. I’d like to think that the fight will go six to ten rounds so that the German crowd can get their monies worth, but it won’t happen.

Peter’s shots are going to be the equivalent of knockout gas and Wladimir is going to be flat on his back before long with both of his eyes completely shut tight while the referee signals for the ringside doctor to enter the ring to assist Wladimir.This will be one of those highlight reel knockouts for Peter. I just hope the Germans have a stretcher handy to have Wladimir carried out of the ring. It makes things a lot nicer rather than having dragged out.