By Dave Lahr: After five years of facing mostly weak punchers, IBF/WBO heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko (54-3, 48 KO’s) will finally be taking on a knockout artist in 29-year-old Samuel Peter (34-3, 27 KO’s) in a rematch on Saturday night at the Commerzbank-Arena, Frankfurt, Hessen, Germany.

Klitschko, 34, defeated Peter by a 12 round unanimous decision five years ago at the Boardwalk Hall, in Atlantic, City, New Jersey. Wladimir did little to prove that he was the better fighter in that bout, as he clinched at every opportunity he could get and ran from Peter for 12 rounds. Peter knocked Wladimir down three times in the fight and came close to stopping him on the 3rd and final knockdown in the 10th round but ran out of time when the clock ran out just as he had Wladimir on shaky legs and ready to go.

Peter has improved greatly since then, whereas Wladimir looks slower and more stationary. Pete’s trainer Abel Sanchez sees Peter winning by a knockout, saying in an article at Next “There is too much chatter about Wladimir Klitschko getting a knockout victory. I think this is bull****. It’s going to be a short fight, and it’s going to be Sam who will win by knockout, and at most he’ll get it by the 6th round.”

Yes, this is how I see it as well. Sanchez is a wise and brilliant trainer. Wladimir is going down and staying down on Saturday night. Peter will be much too powerful for the Ukrainian fighter this time around, and without being able to run like he used to or clinch continuously, Wladimir will quickly be knocked out. I think it will be a good thing for the heavyweight division because it will bring a new exciting heavyweight to the front of the division and then we can start seeing Peter fight regularly on HBO. Wladimir won’t have the chin to stand up to Peter’s shots in this fight. I have a feeling that we could see Wladimir down in the 1st or 2nd rounds, depending on how long it takes Peter to land his first hard shot.

I don’t think Wladimir will be able to stand up to one big shot from Peter without folding like a cheap suit. Peter hits too hard and is in prime condition ready to take Wladimir’s head clean off. This is going to be an excellent fight for Peter. I just hope they bring in a good medical team so that they can assist Wladimir after he’s knocked out by Peter.