By Mike Indri (Photo by Richie Maldonado)
 
The Manhattan temperature hovered close to a blistering 100 degrees during last week’s "Boardwalk Brawls" press conference at the legendary Gallagher’s Steak House. While the thermometer won’t be anywhere near triple digits on September 24th, Wladimir Klitschko, once boxing’s brightest flame, taking on Samuel Peter, today’s hottest heavyweight, will most definitely provide a scorching, bomb filled main event sizzler at Atlantic City’s Boardwalk Hall.
 
Duva Boxing’s Dino Duva and Top Rank’s Todd Duboeff, the show’s joint-promoters, along with K-2 promotions, exulted their respective exuberance on the bigness and sheer importance that this fight holds on the overall landscape of today’s muddled heavyweight division.

"This is the fight that no one thought could be made, but we made it," proudly exclaimed Dino Duva, who quickly added "this is the greatest match up of significance between two top heavyweights in a very long time!"
 
This bout, a WBO and IBF mandatory box-off, pit’s the once considered indestructible, former world champion, Klitschko (44-3, 40 KO’s) against the now, thought to be indestructible, heir apparent to the throne, Samuel Peter (24-0, with 21 knockouts). Wladimir Klitschko, who has beat many of the division’s best: such as current IBF Champion Chris Byrd, Ray Mercer, Jameel McCline and Monte Barrett, will be the biggest test for Peter; known as the "Nigerian Nightmare".  Klitschko is looking to get back to a level where Peter has yet to reach. 

Simply put: while Samuel Peter wants to win this fight badly, Wladimir Klitschko badly NEEDS to win this fight!  

A loss against the heavy handed Peter will all but shatter Klitschko’s goal of being world champion simultaneously along with brother Vitali, the World Boxing Council’s (WBC) current title holder.

"That has always been our goal, and it remains our goal," Wladimir said.  "We have come close before, but when I had the title, he did not.  And when Vitali had the belt I did not.  Now he is the WBC champion and will be for a long time.  So, it is up to me again."

Klitschko, then heavily favored, shockingly lost his WBO title to Corrie Sanders, via a second round technical knockout, in March of 2003. 

After two "feel good" fights produced two quick knockouts for Wladimir (KO1 vs. Fabio Moli 08/30/03 and TKO4 vs. Danell Nicholson 12/20/03), Klitschko was given the opportunity to regain his belt in April 2004. 

Fighting against little known Lamon Brewster, (thought to be a very big underdog) for the then vacant WBO championship, Klitschko  punished Brewster throughout the entire bout and was well ahead on points.  After dropped his badly beaten foe late in round four, "Dr. Steelhammer" appeared to be cruising back to the championship that had embarrassingly slipped from his grasp just the year before.

Brewster, with the heart of a true champion, struggled to survive the round.  Desperate and determined, Brewster somehow turned the tide and started round five with a vengeance.  Fighting like a rabbit now with the gun, Brewster swarmed a hurt and exhausted Klitschko, who was decked and unable to continue.  Brewster’s fifth round technical knockout played out to be a true "Cinderella Man" story and proved to be a devastating loss for the once indestructible Klitschko.

The humble and likeable Ukraine-born Klitschko sees no surprises this time.  "Sam Peter has been trouble to his last twenty four fighters, but I will be ready."

Klitschko’s legendary trainer, Emanuel Stewart was not as reserved, "my specialty is training tall fighters to beat shorter, aggressive fighters, like Lennox (Lewis) against Tyson and Tommy (Hearns) against Duran," calmly explained Stewart, adding "I predict a knockout between 3-7 rounds for Wladimir."

Team Peter didn’t take too kindly to Stewart’s brash prediction and did not remain silent.
"Klitschko is in way over his head," countered Peter’s manager Ivaylo Gotzev.  Peter, draped in ceremonial Nigerian wear, angrily spoke in his native language; vowing not to translate his words until after the fight. 

HBO will be televising this highly anticipated heavyweight clash as part of their popular "Boxing after Dark" series.  The night’s co-feature is a main event in itself.

The undefeated, WBO Light Welterweight Champion, Miguel Cotto (24-0, 20 KO’s) will defend his title against the durable and deceptively tough Gianluca Branco (35-1-1, with 18 KO’s).

Atlantic City boxing fans are well aware of Branco and his capabilities as a solid fighter.  Fighting in the sold-out Boardwalk Hall last year, the Italian native challenged then champion Arturo Gatti for his IBF Jr. Lightweight title.  While losing a twelve round unanimous decision, Branco won the respect of the boxing community and earned his reputation as a skilled fighter.

Cotto, the rising star in the talent rich 140lb. division, has been labeled as "boxing’s next superstar" and his potential is truly unlimited.  More impressive with each fight, Cotto dismantled and TKO’d the dangerous Muhammad Abdulaev.