By Mark Vester

Samuel Peter, the WBC's interim-heavyweight champion, is looking to change his status when he meets the full champion Oleg Maskaev on March 8 in Cancun, Mexico. After winning two WBC eliminators with James Toney, going through a legal battle to block a proposed Maskaev showdown with Vitali Klitschko and then waiting for months as Maskaev recovered from injuries, Peter finally gets his crack at the title.

Speaking with Tides Sports, Peter vowed to win convincingly by stopping Maskaev inside of three rounds.

“Listen, my friend I am going to knock him out in the third round, period," Peter said. "And, in doing so, I will win convincingly for everybody to cheer. I am in good shape and in high spirit waiting to pounce on Maskaev to settle our scores once and for all. For this, I will also do Nigeria and Africa proud by defending the WBC heavyweight belt, as well as bring honor and glory to Nigeria."

The winner of Maskaev-Peter will have to defend the title against the recently unretired Vitali Klitschko.

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